I deforked my Meade 8" Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope. But why?

Fork-mounted Schmidt Cassegrain telescopes were very popular in the 70's, 80's and 90's because they did not require counterweights. But they can be challenging to use visually and photographically due to the limited space when the tube has to rotate between the fork. What to do? Defork it!
I did just that, and it turned out to be not quite as easy as I expected. See how I did it (despite a bit of missing video due to me not having enough memory on my camera - oops!) and what I plan to do with the newly deforked SCT.
See what's up in the night sky with "Eyes on the Sky" videos, astronomy made easy.

[@RussellValentine]

I like forks. I think equatorial are a pain when looking at stuff around the zenith. I'd rather have good access around the zenith than the celestial pole. And you also have the whole flip situation after the meridian. To each their own, it is nice that you can still use the OTA on a eq mount if you want.

[@Eyesonthesky]

Completely understand! It definitely is a personal choice, and I am not saying everyone should defork, for sure. I don't mind the meridian flips or viewing at the zenith, so to me the fork is more of a pain. But I hear what you're saying, too. Thanks for watching and your thoughts!

[@Dennis-tf2cs]

Deforking my 10" Meade SCT was the best thing I could have ever done for it. For AP, the difference is Amazing! Very simple process and I now have it on an EQ6-R Pro mount, guiding is done with an OGA and the results are fantastic. I'd recommend and OAG over a guide scope especially at these longer focal lengths, you'll be glad you have an OGA for sure.

[@k.h.1587]

Looks like an old 70s celestron tripod under that wedge

[@themainediverschannel4495]

My eventual plan is to take my Meade 8" OTA and dovetail it to a Celestron Nexstar GoTo mount. I've found that Meade's Hand controller is not really user friendly compared to the Nexstar GoTo controller.

[@k.h.1587]

Refork, or better yet get some money back by selling to somone on a budget with an 8" meade tube. If I ever defork my 10, im definitely going to try to sell the forks wedge tripod, and original giant trunk case as a package

[@cyonata]

Anyone recommend a new go to mount for an 8" Schmidt-Cassegrain Meade.

[@Starman2440]

My experience is the fork is far easier to observe with than an equatorial mount. The EQ mount requires balancing & rebalancing and you have the horrible meridian flip. I have a 11" SCT--a big telescope. Great video and I enjoyed your enthusiasm. Seems you prefer the EQ ... God Bless!

[@Eyesonthesky]

Glad that works for you. I could never manage to observe anything within 25 to 30 degrees of the northern celestial pole with a fork mount, because I couldn't get my head between the fork tines to where the eyepiece was. EQ mount made that vastly simpler for me, at least. The good thing is... whatever works for any given person is the right mount for them.

[@Astro_Ape]

Wow that's cool!! After watching this video I decided to "defork" my brothers telescope for him as a surprise. It's not as big as yours, plus it's kinda funny looking because it's purple with stars on it. It's called a Questar or something like that. I couldn't quite get one side off, but nothing a hammer & chisel couldn't fix. I broke/bent the base a little and put small dent in the side of the telescope, but it's off that small funny looking base. Hopefully my brother will be happy!! Edit: my brother was not happy.......

[@Eyesonthesky]

Note to all people of Earth: Never, ever defork a Questar - for yourself or your brother. ;-)

[@Astro_Ape]

Yeah, definitely agree with that advice!! Obviously that was a joke. "No Questar were harmed in the making of this comment." I own a 3.5 '75 Standard. While it's absolutely beautiful, punches well above it's aperture, and is built like a swiss watch, I also never use. It was a gift when I turned 16yo in '06 (I don't think the gifter really knew what they were giving away) and I'm too scared I'll mess it up somehow lol. So it stays at my responsible brother house while I cruise the skies with a cheap 8" Dob, mid grade 70 & 100mm binos, and a small fast 70ED. Hopefully this comment doesn't jinks me somehow and my brother decides to defork my scope...

[@Dennis-tf2cs]

You had me going there for a Min... Deforking a Questar!!!!! 🤣

[@hcic9860]

Bet ya didn't wanna pay all that money for those 8 inch tube rings lol. Don't feel bad, I don't either. I just bought a new 8 inch Meade and I went online to look for a set and almost had a heart attack when I saw the prices that these companies are trying to charge for them. Most are $200+up. Talk about Corporate Greed. Thanks for the strap idea though, that's not a bad idea

[@Eyesonthesky]

@@hcic9860 don't need the tube rings for the SCT as the dovetail bar bolts right on. And yeah, that strap is handy!!

[@hcic9860]

@@Eyesonthesky Thanks my friend, I was fortunate enough to have figured that out just a day or so ago. Just waiting for the new dovetail bar as we speak. Small learning curve, but I'll get it. Clear skies to you my friend....

[@SRL-63]

You need a video on what you put the deforked telescope on

[@Eyesonthesky]

@@SRL-63 if I can ever find time again. Currently sitting on an Orion SkyView Pro mount but for planetary astrophotography gets moved onto my HEQ-5.

[@joeypadilla546]

Take the wedge off so your mount will be vertical.

[@Eyesonthesky]

That would make it difficult to attach to my EQ mount like I do now to take planetary and other astrophotography with it.

[@JamesAdams-ev6fc]

According to some authors, Meade's ACF telescopes are long-lasting, but the electronics in the base are not: they wear out faster--and likewise for Celestron. For that reason, I like the idea of mounting a 10-12 inch Meade ACF on an equatorial mount that I use with different OTAs. My Meade 8 inch LX2 was an excellent introduction to deep sky observing, so I am inclined to go further with a larger and more recent version. Thanks for the video and I hope you adopt Buy Me a Coffee and/or Patreon.

[@aficionadohiend]

Nice job, thanks. What is the length of the dovetail?

[@Eyesonthesky]

I am not right in front of it, but I believe it was the 13.5" Meade SCT Vixen style dovetail bar from Farpoint Astro.

[@cyonata]

I wish you filmed the dove tail bar installation. I just bought a used simular setup and it looks like the computer will not start. Thinking about doing what you are doing.

[@Eyesonthesky]

The dovetail bar is very simple. There's two screws on the bottom of the SCT that you remove. These are in the black end sections. You will need longer screws the same thread, but likely longer to go through the dovetail into the end sections. Make sure these are snug, but do not overtighten them, as the end sections are aluminum and it can be easy to strip the threads. I hope that helps!!

[@cyonata]

@@Eyesonthesky Working on replacing the fuse tonight to see if that fixes the computer.

[@neiltonks]

I've bought a 12" deforked Meade SCT. Currently in the process of getting it back to original condition as the optics had been played with

[@Eyesonthesky]

Putting it back on the fork? Bringing optics back into collimation? (Or both?)

[@neiltonks]

@@Eyesonthesky god no, not reforming it. Needs a good clean and the visual back restored to original. It had a separate focuser installed to prevent mirror flop.

[@neiltonks]

It maxes out my EQ6R so will need to upgrade that one day.

[@Eyesonthesky]

@@neiltonks I added a Crayford focuser on the back of line for the same reason.

[@mikemoran5439]

I deforked my 1990 C8 today and put it on an AVX mount!

[@jimmosley3382]

Wonderful video as always thanks David .

[@douglasthompson9482]

Great thoughts…. Not sure if I would change out the fork. Both ideas are excellent, it’s tough to find absolute perfection.

[@Eyesonthesky]

Having owned many dozens of telescopes over the years, I have learned that there is no such thing as the perfect telescope. Only better options for various things.

[@peter7624]

Yes the older Meade scts have both Metric and Imperial allen screws. Very confusing until you know!

[@Eyesonthesky]

I am glad I had both sets!

[@Ghostflyer63]

If you're planning on doing astrophotography with that thing you're definitely gonna want to get an F 6.3 focal reducer. You may also want to put a vixen bar on top of it too for a guidescope unless you're gonna do an off access guider. I have an old LX200, however with the imaging train on it I have to be very careful and watch it to make sure it doesn't collide with the bass. I'm curious what mount are you gonna put that thing on? I'm currently saving for a harmonic drive mount. Looking forward to seeing a post some of your photos on cloudy nights

[@Eyesonthesky]

Yep, I not only have the reducer, I got a dual speed Crayford focuser that screws onto the back so I can lock the mirror in place and avoid any image shift - and get better repeatable / precise focus.

[@Erniej270]

Great video! Our observatory director says it all about having fun. Looks like you’re having fun.

[@Eyesonthesky]

Thanks Ernie - very true, and indeed I am! Occasionally I am frustrated, but there's definitely a lot of fun happening with this. Always learning something new, trying different things, and improving each time.

[@dumpydalekobservatory]

Nice job David you were lucky with that loose screw on the corrector as if it had dropped you'd have fun trying to find it in the grass, always fancied having a large SCT I did have a 6 inch & kinda regret selling it but an 8 plus would be nice, maybe one day. Clear skies my friend.

[@Eyesonthesky]

Thank you! And yes, I was super lucky that screw didn't fall in the grass! I moved the telescope back to my concrete driveway to reattach it, just in case it slipped while putting it back in. Hope you're able to get a larger SCT again some day! Clear skies to you as well!

[@Whacka2K]

Good job! Can't wait to see how your adventure continues.. I got into astrophotography recently after years of visual. Keep your CCDs on the sky!

[@Eyesonthesky]

Thank you! I've wanted to do astrophotography for 30 some years, and with the equipment costs being a LOT more affordable - and forgiving of mistakes - it finally makes sense for me to delve into a bit. Good luck with your forays into it as well! There is quite the learning curve.

[@MrGelly70]

Awesome scope David!!! Salutations from Union

[@Eyesonthesky]

Thanks! 👍

[@Denny_963]

David, great video. I was wondering where you got the handle strap from. I’m about to defork my LX200 and think that would be a good option for me

[@Eyesonthesky]

I got the handle strap from FarPoint Astro. Totally worth having - makes it much easier to carry when necessary.

[@Denny_963]

@@Eyesonthesky Thank You!!

[@avt_astro206]

Cool Setup David. Nice to see you.Try some Astrophotography, I would consider myself new too. As I don't use an Eq Mount. I use one of These fork arm Mounts and Take Many short Exposures! Works great!

[@Eyesonthesky]

I have tried the alt-az type too, though I've been using the eq mounts for so long, it's almost second-nature to me to just keep using an eq mount for astrophotography. As long as it works for you, that's what matters! :)

[@avt_astro206]

@@Eyesonthesky Absolutely :D

[@Doctoberfest]

I just deforked my old Ultima 8 a couple weeks ago. Felt so guilty like I was pulling the original motor out of a classic car but I don't have altitude adjustment for the wedge so getting PA was hard.

[@Eyesonthesky]

I did feel a bit the same, like I was taking a classic Les Paul guitar apart and replacing the neck or something. But at the same time, I did keep everything together, so if I ever need to return the scope to its former self, I have all the parts to do that too. And yeah, if you can't get polar alignment, that's a problem! Sometimes we do what we need to do so it works for us. Congrats on deforking yours too!

[@Dennis-tf2cs]

You'll be so much happier. What mount are you going to use?

[@viniguez487]

And then hopefully you join the rest of us astrophotographers in the 21st century! Would be great to see your channel document the transition. Most astro channels already tend to start off with astrophotography. Would be great to see your journey!

[@Eyesonthesky]

I do plan to make videos that talk about that. At the same time, I want to have a little idea of what I am doing - as well as explaining mistakes - so I can make the videos interesting and helpful for others as well.

[@viniguez487]

@@Eyesonthesky Happy to be along for the ride.

[@linuxastro]

Good to you active once again. My wife and I started watching your night sky videos many years ago. I look forward to more quality videos. Like you, I remounted my reflector on an EQ mount...and I never looked back.

[@Eyesonthesky]

Thanks! I am trying to make videos a bit more regularly - it's tough when I am trying to learn astrophotography well enough to explain it (which is VERY time consuming) on top of all the things in life. But I'm working on it! And yes, I much prefer EQ mounts 95% of the time. Sometimes an alt-az is nice for a quick look at something with lower magnification, but most of the time that's not my preference.

[@linuxastro]

@@Eyesonthesky Yes, and unless you have a camera rotation device, the EQ mount will simplify your image processing or at least give you more usable "real estate" on your sensor.

[@pietleroux5169]

You did not mention the model of your Meade SCT but it appears to be a LX200 which means it can opperate in Az/Alt mode without the wedge, if this is the case I don't think you made a good decision. I would agree that that a fork mount on a wedge has the worst viewing angles of any telescope but a Az/Alt fork mount has the most comfortable viewing angles, more comfortable than a German equatorial mount. Your eyepiece only travels up and down so if you have a height adjustable chair you have the ideal viewing setup!

[@Eyesonthesky]

It's an LX-50.

[@Eyesonthesky]

Also, I did mention the model number around the 8:00 mark.

[@Dennis-tf2cs]

Deforking my 10" LX200 Meade SCT was the best thing I could have ever done for it. For AP, the difference is Amazing! Very simple process and I now have it on an EQ6-R Pro mount, guiding is done with an OGA and the results are fantastic.

[@allffrommars6019]

Is this your bunny? 🙂

[@Eyesonthesky]

No, but we have about 1,000 of them around here. You want one? Or fifty? I won't miss them.

[@allffrommars6019]

@@Eyesonthesky Send me please one to germany 😁

[@Eyesonthesky]

@@allffrommars6019 only one?? I could a lot. How about a dozen?

[@theastro-philosophersappre2786]

Sure to show us when it’s on the new mount💫

[@Eyesonthesky]

I will do that!! I started to make a video on that right afterwards but the battery in my microphone died.

[@fsellersf]

Great vid as usual!

[@Eyesonthesky]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@swashington942]

Glad to see you getting busy again.

[@Eyesonthesky]

Trying to - I was able to get some things organized in my studio space that will hopefully allow for some easier/quicker set ups when I do more than just a Stellarium video from my desk. I am going to make every effort to have videos more frequently. Thank you for watching!

[@swashington942]

@@Eyesonthesky Yes sir I’ve been subbed for years. Time sure flies and life happens. Looking forward to upcoming content.