My first attempt at installation ended up wrecking the motor. The good thing is that high point allowed for a free replacement. I ordered lengthed M2 screws for the NexStar SE6 and placed the base over the original plate. That worked. I have problems with the calibration but I was able to work around it.
I just left the original plate on and added slightly longer screws on my 8se put on the focuser plate and sandwiched them together. Then put on the focuser seems to work just fine so far. I just did it today so we shall see. The calibration went ok and tested for about 30 min. Seems like a lot of extra work if longer screws and using both plates work as you did. I saw this video after I did it.
I did the exact same thing on my Nexstar 8 two years ago and never had a problem with it. I was reading about people making adapters or modifying the adapter plate, I couldn't understand why they went through all that trouble when you could just use longer screws with the original plate plus adapter. I wrote what I did on a thread on Cloudy nights hoping it might help someone else.
Many thanks for this, i didn't know about this issue and I'm considering buying a focus motor. A straightforward and comprehensive engineering explanation here, very helpful.
Thank you. I think Celestron has fixed the problem but if not, as you can see in the video, the fix is very simple. Both Dave and I are very happy with the performance of the focuser. He uses it with SGP and I with NINA, also with TSX and Sharpcap. No issues once fixed.
I have a 9.25 edge and when I added the focus motor, I also couldn't reach focus while using the reducer (.7x). The problem was that the focuser's calibration routine set a range inside the physical range of the focus assembly with a buffer at each end and the focus point with the reducer was within the buffer. It took quite a bit of back and forth with Celestron before I finally got a, 'oh yeah, we've seen that problem before'..... They then sent me a longer screw and spacer to give the focus assembly a larger range which in turn extended the focuser's calibration range so as to include the focus point. Now, if it weren't a *Celestron* focuser, or a *Celestron* reducer that I was using on my *Celeston* scope, I might understand some incompatibility, but......
You are correct. I am still learning. I saw it and decided it wasn't so bad that I needed to go back and redo the whole thing. But glad it was still worthwhile for you.
Will you please post a diagram of your modification to the Focus Motor mounting plate. I wish to stop struggling trying to get the motor to complete its calibration routine. Thank you
I have also been unable to obtain focus at f7. I discovered that I can't get the attachment posts to fit flush to the cover plate; they only come within ~1mm or so, so are unusable. The inside of the motor shaft has a ridge that hits the 'scope's focus shaft, causing the ~1mm gap.
Sure thing. The Celestron focus motor works very well for both Dave and myself. We like it, but you do need to correct Celestron's mistake. Doesn't take much to fix it.
Installing the V2 (indented one) on my 9.25" has became a nightmare! As i tighten the 2 screws that hold the main focuser body to the plate, it pulls the focuser body out of square with the plate, this obviously causes a problem with the shaft. Because of this, if i were to attach the focuser body to the telescope focus tube and tighten that down, then as soon as i try to tighten the 2 screws that hold the body to the plate it'll obviously put pressure on the shaft The reason this pulls out of square when i tighten the 2 screws is the 2 small round raised bits on the focuser body that the 2 screws protrude through isn't flat and level to the body, they're both slightly angled. I could rectify this if i filed the 2 raised bits flat, but i don't want to do this for obvious reasons. I could also file down 2 small washers to cancel out this slant on the raised bits, but why on earth should i? And why there's only 2 raised bits instead of 3 to keep the body square is beyond me. Horrible design! It seems now i have to enter the ball-ache of returning it.
The motor bolted to the plate takes out any "wobble". Now that you have locked down the shaft on both ends (between the plate and the focuer itself) good luck with temperature swings - the motor will almost certainly bind.
I took apart my focuser on my EdgeC11 before I even finished watching this video. My focus knob does not have the same play that you showed on yours. My adapter plate is also is able to fit flush onto the back of the OTA. So it does not appear affect all scope. My EdgeC11 is around 10 years old.
Are you talking about your Celestron motorized focuser? If you are talking about the stock manual focuser there is not issue with that. The cover plate sits flush. It is only the adapter plate for the motorized focuser that has the issue. If you mean the adapter plate on your motorized focuser, then you point is well taken.
@@astronomytipsreviewswithcu740 it is with the motorized focuser adapter plate; the exact same setup as yours. The reason why I stated my scope age is that the motorized focuser is relatively new so the difference is likely on the SCT back. Engineers tend to work off samples that they have in the office and that samples will always be ones that first came off the production line (older scopes). We can tell easily by comparing the bored out diameter of our SCT back.
I don't know if anyone has reported it fixed or not. You can easily tell when you go to install it, your will, as shown in the video, whether the metal piece fits down into the recess or not. You have to do this to install it anyway. If it does not the video shows you 2 ways to fix it.
What update are you expecting? I read that Celestron told one owner to use the method I used to fix the problem. I hope they are making a correction to the production line so that future owners like you don't have to do anything special.
I have one of these for my C8, it ran away and stripped something in the back of the scope. resulting in a black grease covered disc part sitting on the mirror. it was thankfully under warranty so went back for repair, two months later the C8 came back from Celestron however I will NEVER reattach the Celestron motor focus to my C8 and I dread the thought of selling said motor focus unit. it is now a £189 door stop
You can eliminate mirror flop. Get Moonlite focuser. There is no reason to have observatory, have a fine mount and scope and use inherently crap focuser.
Actually the Celestron motorized focuser works reasonably well. The only issue is with the older mounting hardware design which is easily fixed as I show in the video.
@@astronomytipsreviewswithcu740 Once Shaq told “Good but good enough”. In my opinion, focuser is as important as mount, maybe even more important. There is no reason to compromise here.
![Kodak Black - Versatile 4 [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/VcP_1Ua__vY/mqdefault.jpg)
My first attempt at installation ended up wrecking the motor. The good thing is that high point allowed for a free replacement. I ordered lengthed M2 screws for the NexStar SE6 and placed the base over the original plate. That worked. I have problems with the calibration but I was able to work around it.
Glad you got it working and it only cost you some headache.
I just left the original plate on and added slightly longer screws on my 8se put on the focuser plate and sandwiched them together. Then put on the focuser seems to work just fine so far. I just did it today so we shall see. The calibration went ok and tested for about 30 min. Seems like a lot of extra work if longer screws and using both plates work as you did. I saw this video after I did it.
I did the exact same thing on my Nexstar 8 two years ago and never had a problem with it. I was reading about people making adapters or modifying the adapter plate, I couldn't understand why they went through all that trouble when you could just use longer screws with the original plate plus adapter. I wrote what I did on a thread on Cloudy nights hoping it might help someone else.
I have the same unit (8Se). Wondering if you can remember what length screws you ended up using. Thank you
On your 8SE, what length of screw did you use?
Many thanks for this, i didn't know about this issue and I'm considering buying a focus motor. A straightforward and comprehensive engineering explanation here, very helpful.
Thank you. I think Celestron has fixed the problem but if not, as you can see in the video, the fix is very simple. Both Dave and I are very happy with the performance of the focuser. He uses it with SGP and I with NINA, also with TSX and Sharpcap. No issues once fixed.
I have a 9.25 edge and when I added the focus motor, I also couldn't reach focus while using the reducer (.7x). The problem was that the focuser's calibration routine set a range inside the physical range of the focus assembly with a buffer at each end and the focus point with the reducer was within the buffer. It took quite a bit of back and forth with Celestron before I finally got a, 'oh yeah, we've seen that problem before'..... They then sent me a longer screw and spacer to give the focus assembly a larger range which in turn extended the focuser's calibration range so as to include the focus point. Now, if it weren't a *Celestron* focuser, or a *Celestron* reducer that I was using on my *Celeston* scope, I might understand some incompatibility, but......
The irony of watching a video for a focuser, that is out of focus 🙂
Nevertheless, an interesting and informative video.
You are correct. I am still learning. I saw it and decided it wasn't so bad that I needed to go back and redo the whole thing. But glad it was still worthwhile for you.
Will you please post a diagram of your modification to the Focus Motor mounting plate. I wish to stop struggling trying to get the motor to complete its calibration routine. Thank you
Looking forward to your next vid on the nylon screw upgrade
I have also been unable to obtain focus at f7. I discovered that I can't get the attachment posts to fit flush to the cover plate; they only come within ~1mm or so, so are unusable. The inside of the motor shaft has a ridge that hits the 'scope's focus shaft, causing the ~1mm gap.
Thanks for that as I'm considering buying a focus motor!
Sure thing. The Celestron focus motor works very well for both Dave and myself. We like it, but you do need to correct Celestron's mistake. Doesn't take much to fix it.
Installing the V2 (indented one) on my 9.25" has became a nightmare! As i tighten the 2 screws that hold the main focuser body to the plate, it pulls the focuser body out of square with the plate, this obviously causes a problem with the shaft. Because of this, if i were to attach the focuser body to the telescope focus tube and tighten that down, then as soon as i try to tighten the 2 screws that hold the body to the plate it'll obviously put pressure on the shaft The reason this pulls out of square when i tighten the 2 screws is the 2 small round raised bits on the focuser body that the 2 screws protrude through isn't flat and level to the body, they're both slightly angled. I could rectify this if i filed the 2 raised bits flat, but i don't want to do this for obvious reasons. I could also file down 2 small washers to cancel out this slant on the raised bits, but why on earth should i? And why there's only 2 raised bits instead of 3 to keep the body square is beyond me. Horrible design! It seems now i have to enter the ball-ache of returning it.
The motor bolted to the plate takes out any "wobble". Now that you have locked down the shaft on both ends (between the plate and the focuer itself) good luck with temperature swings - the motor will almost certainly bind.
I took apart my focuser on my EdgeC11 before I even finished watching this video. My focus knob does not have the same play that you showed on yours. My adapter plate is also is able to fit flush onto the back of the OTA. So it does not appear affect all scope. My EdgeC11 is around 10 years old.
Are you talking about your Celestron motorized focuser? If you are talking about the stock manual focuser there is not issue with that. The cover plate sits flush. It is only the adapter plate for the motorized focuser that has the issue. If you mean the adapter plate on your motorized focuser, then you point is well taken.
@@astronomytipsreviewswithcu740 it is with the motorized focuser adapter plate; the exact same setup as yours. The reason why I stated my scope age is that the motorized focuser is relatively new so the difference is likely on the SCT back. Engineers tend to work off samples that they have in the office and that samples will always be ones that first came off the production line (older scopes). We can tell easily by comparing the bored out diameter of our SCT back.
@@AnimeEd Thanks for the clarification and what you say makes sense.
This was excellent ! Thank you so much for doing this . I now have a nice new Winter Project ! /SRK
And how did you reduce diameter of OD? By filing? If yes, how many mm did you reduce?
Thanks
Measure the OD of the original ring
I bought a C8 last year in fall with the Celestron focuser. Does the issue exist there too?
I don't know if anyone has reported it fixed or not. You can easily tell when you go to install it, your will, as shown in the video, whether the metal piece fits down into the recess or not. You have to do this to install it anyway. If it does not the video shows you 2 ways to fix it.
any updates on this? what does celestron say? as i have the focus-er on back order 🌘🌛
What update are you expecting? I read that Celestron told one owner to use the method I used to fix the problem. I hope they are making a correction to the production line so that future owners like you don't have to do anything special.
@@astronomytipsreviewswithcu740Update ... Did the motor ever bind after making the change?
No@@MrSummitville
I have one of these for my C8, it ran away and stripped something in the back of the scope. resulting in a black grease covered disc part sitting on the mirror. it was thankfully under warranty so went back for repair, two months later the C8 came back from Celestron however I will NEVER reattach the Celestron motor focus to my C8 and I dread the thought of selling said motor focus unit. it is now a £189 door stop
You can eliminate mirror flop. Get Moonlite focuser. There is no reason to have observatory, have a fine mount and scope and use inherently crap focuser.
Actually the Celestron motorized focuser works reasonably well. The only issue is with the older mounting hardware design which is easily fixed as I show in the video.
@@astronomytipsreviewswithcu740 Once Shaq told “Good but good enough”. In my opinion, focuser is as important as mount, maybe even more important. There is no reason to compromise here.