Telescope gurus: help me find a part

[child of wonder]

My son has been dying to get a telescope the last year or so. This Xmas, my dad came across a CL ad with someone selling a nice 900mm reflector for $100 plus an assortment of lenses.

We drove to the guys house, set up the telescope in his backyard, and tried it out. Works great. As he adjusted the focuser, it stopped moving. He removed the focuser tube from the housing and found that the plastic teeth on the focuser tube had been ground out from the focuser gear. Because of that, we talked him down to $60 and he accepted.

Here's the problem: the guy bought the telescope while living in China. It appears to be a Meade telescope, however the only markings are in Chinese.

We've determined that the focuser tube is 1.25" and are thinking pretty much any Meade 1.25" focuser tube will do. Is that the case?

If not, any recommendations on finding the right part?

Pics of the telescope:
http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/990/imag0193m.jpg
http://img827.imageshack.us/img827/6789/imag0192a.jpg
http://img857.imageshack.us/img857/5571/imag0190j.jpg
http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/5538/imag0189xd.jpg

 

[BoomerD]

http://www.meade.com/support/index.html

 

[AstroManLuca]

I would register an account on Astromart, it's like Craigslist for telescopes (except the people are a lot more helpful and nice). I'd just try to find an entire 1.25" focuser and use it for parts, although you could certainly put up a wanted ad for the individual part you need and you'll probably find someone who either has the part or the whole focuser and is willing to sell it to you.

Most amateur astronomers would probably prefer an entirely new focuser since the ones on these cheap telescopes can be kind of bad, but for your use it should be fine. I'm sure there are several people with extra focusers just lying around. Replacing the entire focuser can be difficult and I don't think it's worth it, you have to align it perfectly and you might have to drill new holes or something.

 

[child of wonder]

I would register an account on Astromart, it's like Craigslist for telescopes (except the people are a lot more helpful and nice). I'd just try to find an entire 1.25" focuser and use it for parts, although you could certainly put up a wanted ad for the individual part you need and you'll probably find someone who either has the part or the whole focuser and is willing to sell it to you.

Most amateur astronomers would probably prefer an entirely new focuser since the ones on these cheap telescopes can be kind of bad, but for your use it should be fine. I'm sure there are several people with extra focusers just lying around. Replacing the entire focuser can be difficult and I don't think it's worth it, you have to align it perfectly and you might have to drill new holes or something.

I'd like to just take the focuser tube out of the new focuser assembly and transplant it to the current assembly on the telescope. I'm just not sure if that will work.

 

[AstroManLuca]

I'd like to just take the focuser tube out of the new focuser assembly and transplant it to the current assembly on the telescope. I'm just not sure if that will work.

I don't know for sure either, I'm just guessing that Meade probably only uses one basic design for their 1.25" focusers, at least on their cheap scopes. That's why I suggested Astromart, if you post your issue in a wanted ad someone will probably be able to help you out and might have a part that will fit. They also have forums.

 

[Doublejr]

http://www.amazon.com/Orion-Basic-Pinion-Telescope-Focuser/dp/B0000XMXF2 Should work, it looks like you have a Newtonian reflector telescope. I am a astronomy noob so verify.

or a little cheaper

http://www.meridiantelescopes.com/images/telescopefocuser/foc1149b.htm (I have never dealt with this business)

Also check out the forums at http://www.cloudynights.com/ for more info.