My LX200 Modifications
Current Modifications
Below is a list of all the projects/modificaions I've preformed to my LX200 setup. Feel free to do any of these yourself, but PLEASE NOTE: Some of the modifications WILL void your warranty!
To-Do list:
- Make a new Dew Heater to permenently mount to scope (Already started)
SuperWedge Improvements
A Wedge is used to put the fork-mounted SCT into "Polar" alignment for imaging purposes. The Wedge allows you to make fine adjustments to the alignment. However, the Meade SuperWedge is plagued with problems that make this aligning process frustrating.
With a few simple alterations and modifications, I have eliminated most of the probelms with the Meade SuperWedge. Best of all, these fixes cost me less than $10.00!!!
The first thing to do is to add Nylon washers to the various hinge points where the top plate pivots and slides along the side uprights. Simple enough.
The altitude is an easy fix, as you don't need to remove the knob from the threaded rod. Just add the nylon washers between the regular washers and cupped washers, and adjust the tension with the 2 nuts, then lock them tight together. You can use "BLUE" Loctite on those nuts to help hold it all togther.
The next stop is a bit tougher to do, as you'll need to remove the large adjusting knobs from the threaded rod in the azimith adjustment. It took me bit of time, and some leverage, but I managed to get them both off. You'll need to remove both, as you'll need to re-center them, since the washers being added will take up a little space. Once apart, you need to invision how the new washers are added. I put the nylon washer betweed the flat washer and "cupped" wahser, with the cupped one to the inside, cupping to the wedge. Then re-assemble the azimith rod and knobs. I used a drop of "BLUE" loctite on the knobs, along with the nuts to lock them in place. it takes a little adjusting to get the tension just right, but you have some time before the Loctite sets up.
If you are making a new Thrust Pin, procede to the next step BEFORE assembling the azimith rod!
The final mod I did actually involves making (or improving upon) the thrust pin. The original pin has too much "slop" in it when you need to reverse the direction of the alignment. To fix this, I addd a nut to each side of the pin. After removing the pin from the rod, I filed a flat on each side where the rod threads through it. This gives the nuts a flat spot to rest upon. This next step you'll need to be VERY careful while doing, or you'll "weld" the parts together to the rod! One at a time, thread the pin onto the rod, with 1 nut. Carefully adjust the tightness of the nut to the pin to the point where you can still turn the threaded rod by hand, but it has tightened up just a touch! At that point, put a SMALL AMOUNT of J-B Weld on 2 or 3 of the points where the nut toches the pin. Allow this to FULLY CURE without disturbing the rod. Once cured, REMOVE the pin from the rod, then fill the rest of the gaps with more J-B Weld, careful not to get any "bleeding" through to the inside. Again, allow to fully cure. Once this is all cured, put the pin back on the threaded rod, and repeat the procedure for the nut on the other side. (Yes, this process will take a few days!) Once the pin is fully modded and cured, you can sand or file any excess J-B Weld, clean up and paint. The last step is to assemble the Azimith rod, as described above.
There are a few more Mods that the Meade SuperWedge can use, but the few things that I have done will GREATLY improve it's function, making polar alignmen easier, and less frustrating.