TheSkySearchers

The Springfield inspired mount I built for my 6" f7 in 1979 hasn't been working well lately.
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I've always used sticky dri-lube on the bearing surfaces. Some months back I decided to use bearing grease pumped in through a grease nipple. It's how the mount was designed. It works but this design of bearing, like a dob, relies on stiction, the bearing surface has to glide smooth but with some smooth resistance and it has to stop. The bearing grease was just too slippery. The instrument is beautifully balanced so even slippery as it is, it would hold position but it just pushes too easily so that if I have to stoop to look through the finder, I can easily push it off target as I move away. The OTA has full 360 degree rotation rings so that the eyepiece can be rotated to a position for comfortable viewing regardless where the mount is pointing. The bearing discs need more friction otherwise the mount shifts during the rotation.

So this morning I separated the bearings, cleaned off all the bearing grease and applied a waxy dri-lube stick.
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Motion feels good again

Since I have to inventory the contents of the astro shed for insurance i am going to be spending a few hours giving it all a good cleaning.
It is perfect weather for it, winds from 50-75 km/h and 20-30 mm of rain...

Lady Fraktor wrote: ↑Wed Jan 24, 2024 7:30 am Since I have to inventory the contents of the astro shed for insurance i am going to be spending a few hours giving it all a good cleaning.
It is perfect weather for it, winds from 50-75 km/h and 20-30 mm of rain...

Are you going to use that wind to blow the dust off the optics?

Joe

Well I do have insurance...

I learned last August through a biopsy that I have aggressive prostate cancer and besides getting a Pet Scan and an MRI, I have been taking very expensive pills that halt the growth of the cancer, and thankfully my health insurance is paying for the pills. I did not have any pain or other symptoms.

The pills have lots of side effects, mostly what I call Man-o-pause! They make me very tired but still able to work full-time. Unfortunately my observing has suffered and rarely have I been able to look through the telescope. That has been very frustrating!

Still waiting for radiation treatments to be scheduled and approved by insurance, and hopefully that will do it and I can beat this thing. I have a very positive outlook that I can be cured!

StarBru wrote: ↑Thu Jan 25, 2024 6:18 pm I learned last August through a biopsy that I have aggressive prostate cancer

Best of luck!

I've been looking at clouds / rain / snow / fog for a month now.

Best wishes with the treatment and hopefully done soon!

@StarBru
It sounds like you are following the Doctors orders! Stick with it and stay positive!

Hang in there and the radiation treatment should take care of it along with the meds ... Good luck

Hope all goes well and the insurance people get a move on! Wishing you all the best.

StarBru wrote: ↑Thu Jan 25, 2024 6:18 pm I learned last August through a biopsy that I have aggressive prostate cancer and besides getting a Pet Scan and an MRI, I have been taking very expensive pills that halt the growth of the cancer, and thankfully my health insurance is paying for the pills. I did not have any pain or other symptoms.

The pills have lots of side effects, mostly what I call Man-o-pause! They make me very tired but still able to work full-time. Unfortunately my observing has suffered and rarely have I been able to look through the telescope. That has been very frustrating!

Still waiting for radiation treatments to be scheduled and approved by insurance, and hopefully that will do it and I can beat this thing. I have a very positive outlook that I can be cured!

So sorry to hear this. My dad was diagnosed with inoperable advanced prostate cancer. They couldn't operate and other treatments were not indicated. They slowed the progression right down to almost nothing. He died ten years later of something else completely unconnected to the prostate cancer.

Hang in there.

Joe

pakarinen wrote: ↑Thu Jan 25, 2024 6:22 pm

StarBru wrote: ↑Thu Jan 25, 2024 6:18 pm I learned last August through a biopsy that I have aggressive prostate cancer

Best of luck!

I've been looking at clouds / rain / snow / fog for a month now.

Thank you!

Lady Fraktor wrote: ↑Thu Jan 25, 2024 6:26 pm Best wishes with the treatment and hopefully done soon!

Thank you!

Gordon wrote: ↑Thu Jan 25, 2024 7:25 pm @StarBru
It sounds like you are following the Doctors orders! Stick with it and stay positive!

Thanks so much!

helicon wrote: ↑Fri Jan 26, 2024 12:16 am Hang in there and the radiation treatment should take care of it along with the meds ... Good luck

Hopefully no surgery needed! Thanks!

DeanD wrote: ↑Fri Jan 26, 2024 1:12 am Hope all goes well and the insurance people get a move on! Wishing you all the best.

Thanks! The insurance really needs to get on the move and pay for what I pay them for! They are pre-authorizing the procedures and then refusing to pay for them! Because of that, I owe $27,000 so far.

OzEclipse wrote: ↑Fri Jan 26, 2024 7:22 am

StarBru wrote: ↑Thu Jan 25, 2024 6:18 pm I learned last August through a biopsy that I have aggressive prostate cancer and besides getting a Pet Scan and an MRI, I have been taking very expensive pills that halt the growth of the cancer, and thankfully my health insurance is paying for the pills. I did not have any pain or other symptoms.

The pills have lots of side effects, mostly what I call Man-o-pause! They make me very tired but still able to work full-time. Unfortunately my observing has suffered and rarely have I been able to look through the telescope. That has been very frustrating!

Still waiting for radiation treatments to be scheduled and approved by insurance, and hopefully that will do it and I can beat this thing. I have a very positive outlook that I can be cured!

So sorry to hear this. My dad was diagnosed with inoperable advanced prostate cancer. They couldn't operate and other treatments were not indicated. They slowed the progression right down to almost nothing. He died ten years later of something else completely unconnected to the prostate cancer.

Hang in there.

Joe

Sorry to hear about your Dad. I admit I should have checked sooner. I knew my PSA was high but I held back getting help because of the pandemic. Its really important to stay on top of it! With 1 in 8 men now getting prostate cancer, it's so important to get your PSA blood test done on a regular basis, and then act accordingly.

OzEclipse wrote: ↑Sat Jan 13, 2024 5:53 am The Springfield inspired mount I built for my 6" f7 in 1979 hasn't been working well lately.

Love it that you are an ATM'er! That's a nice looking mount!

StarBru wrote: ↑Fri Jan 26, 2024 6:52 pm I admit I should have checked sooner. I knew my PSA was high but I held back getting help because of the pandemic. Its really important to stay on top of it! With 1 in 8 men now getting prostate cancer, it's so important to get your PSA blood test done on a regular basis, and then act accordingly.

I'm a 90% disabled veteran. Most of my 'stuff' is PTSD and hearing, but it is mandatory that I visit the VA twice a year for complete blood tests and physicals. It's a blessing is disguise.

StarBru wrote: ↑Fri Jan 26, 2024 6:52 pm Sorry to hear about your Dad. I admit I should have checked sooner. I knew my PSA was high but I held back getting help because of the pandemic. Its really important to stay on top of it! With 1 in 8 men now getting prostate cancer, it's so important to get your PSA blood test done on a regular basis, and then act accordingly.

Hi Bruce

Thanks. Dad passed 12 years ago. He was another hold out even though his symptoms were screaming at him.

With our dad having had it, my brother and I each have a 50% chance of getting it too. So we've both had 6 monthly PSA tests done since aged in our early 40's. It's important to be tested before you have problems because that establishes a normal baseline making picking up the increase in PSA easier.

OzEclipse wrote: ↑Sat Jan 13, 2024 4:53 pm
The Springfield inspired mount I built for my 6" f7 in 1979 hasn't been working well lately.

StarBru wrote: ↑Fri Jan 26, 2024 6:52 pm Love it that you are an ATM'er! That's a nice looking mount!

Thanks for that. Since I fixed the lubrication and posted that, I haven't had any clear nights to try it out.
Oh well, patience is a virtue.

Joe