Celestron C5 Astro Orange Tube SCT - Defork

In this video I remove my 1981/2 Celestron C5 SCT from its trusty fork mount and fit the OTA with a set of tube rings and a Vixen dovetail. The idea is to use the scope more on other mounts, as I know it's got decent optics.

[@Vic-pz5oh]

Done the same recently with a tal 2 reflector using the original scope rings and fitting a dovetail bar.👍

[@avt_astro206]

Great Video Graham. such a Cool Little scope!!

[@JenhamsAstro]

Thanks! It’s a keeper!

[@astrophotonics9470]

Love those old C-5's, sold mine and regret doing it. Drive still work?

[@JenhamsAstro]

Yep, I had to source a plug to make up the lead, but once that was sorted it runs well.

[@garyallen3938]

I have an old Celestron C5 and would like to do what you did in the video...but I can't find any rings with a dovetail mount like you did. Any help?

[@JenhamsAstro]

Hi, ideally I looked for 144mm diameter rings but whilst Orion sold them, they wouldn’t ship up the UK. So I bought some cheap Skywatcher 140mm ones in case they would do. They are a bit small but as long as don’t fully tighten the 2 halves together they do the job without marking the paint - my big concern.

[@GarnettLeary]

That’s cool. That old C5 reminds me of Star Wars for some reason. The optics look spectacular on it.

[@JenhamsAstro]

I need to work out how best to compare it with the 127 Mak. Future video!

[@doug8515]

Great video, I've recently put my Celestron Mak 127 on rings, the rings were from an unloved Helios 6" refractor, perfect fit too!

[@matthewmalloy4115]

Personally, I feel that it is a huge mistake to "defork" these scopes. They loose their classic look, without significant improvement in performance! Leave them alone! they will only improve in value over time when none of them exist in their original form. Sorry, Im just saying.

[@JenhamsAstro]

I don’t disagree! I now have 2, both reforked!

[@natem7440]

Looking forward to comparison to the Mak!

[@johnshropshire3399]

👍👍👏

[@cayreschrist]

Great video. How do you keep you slo-mo controls from falling off your Porta mount?

[@JenhamsAstro]

I swap them for some with tightening screws.

[@DavidMFChapman]

I have the C90 version from the same era, 1983. Same orange colour, very similar mount, but only one arm.

[@JenhamsAstro]

Fantastic, I’ve long looked out for one of those but they don’t seem to come up for sale.

[@Astronurd]

What are the mirrors like on this Graham?

[@JenhamsAstro]

They look pretty good considering their 40 years, still quite bright. The corrector needed more of a clean though. No starbright coatings as far as I know.

[@sjpp71]

A quite nice antique scope!