Top 20 Meade ETX-125EC (500 x 127mm) Telescope Questions & Answers

Remove the OTA from the rear cell; unscrew the focuser shaft about half way (CCW) and remove the knob or electric focuser unit; there are three very small hex cap screws which hold the OTA into the rear cell; remove these and save in a tuna can or similar, because they WILL get lost if you place on the countertop. Once done, merely grasp the blue OTA in one hand with a rubber glove for grip and the rear cell/fork arms in the other hand and pull gently apart....do NOT twist while separating! You will see where the threaded focus rod inserts into the OTA....typically binding is causing the shifting, but most of this is due to poor milling by Meade on some 125 models. You can improve these imperfect models greatly, but do not expect to eliminate all focus shift. Run the focus rod gently all the way CCW until you feel pressure...do NOT force or you will damage. Once there apply a thick grease, such as pure white Lithium (available in the tool dept. at Lowes) in a very thin layer, pushing hard into the threads...do NOT apply too much or you risk getting this stuff on the optics eventually. Once done, put the knob on the rod temporarily and run it in and out all the way slowly about 3-4 times. Once done, run it HALF-WAY between all the way and all the way out and stop. At that position, turn the OTA to about a 45-degree tilt, with corrector down and put 1-2 DROPS of 3-in-1 oil right where the threaded rod goes into the threaded rear cell of the scope and QUICKLY run the focuser CLOCKWISE to get that thin bit of oil into the rear cell threads. Once done, run the threaded rod slowly all the way CW and then CCW about 2 more times. This procedure will greatly improve the performance....NOTE: do NOT put more than 2 drops of oil on the rod!

The DEC gears are slipping and not engaging. You must disassemble the fork arm to fix this-- not very easy to do.

Meade will repair this if you return the scope to them. Here is their service phone line:
http://www.meade.com/support/index.html

Only Meade will have this part-- they MIGHT sell you one??? but usually they want you to return the scope to them. Talk to several people there including a supervisor.

Contact them here:

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

Contact a local Astronomy club nearby and the members will help you with the scope.

http://www.astroleague.org/societies/list/MI

Also this is the general setup for the NON- PE version of this scope.

1. Do a calibrate motors

2. Train the drives

3. Take the scope outside and level the tripod.

4. Put the scope in the HOME position (read the manual)

5. Execute a 2 star alignment and center both stars.

You can buy this device and take prime focus images using a small digital camera. Make sure the camera can take timed photos of up to 30 seconds long.

http://www.telescope.com/control/astrophotography/astrophotography-accessories/orion-steadypix-deluxe-camera-mount

You may be able to buy this from Meade?

Contact their customer service-

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

Usually they want you to return the scope.

No, you burned out some of the circuits on the internal power board. Meade can repair the scope but you must send it to them.

That's why I always use a 12 volt battery pack and NEVER use the 110volt adapter

http://www.meade.com/support/index.html Meade customer service.

I coudn't find a specific article addressing this problem, but I did find a procedure for checking a lot of things inside the scope. It's for an ETX90, but should be very close to your model:
http://www.weasner.com/etx/techtips/etxtu.htm
Good luck, and hope this helps.

Please read the below website. Plenty of help and links to parts
http://www.weasner.com/etx/techtips/etx_tuneup1.html

You did tighten the AZ clutch? You did start from the HOME position? (turn the scope Counterclockwise to the hard stop)

Then you will either have to send it back to Meade for repairs, or open the bottom of the base, and look inside and see if the AZ worm gear is actually meshing with the motor. It could have come loose.

Meade customer service:
http://www.meade.com/support/index.html

From Meade--

See this web site:
http://www.meade.com/support/index.html

There is a tiny set screw on the side of the knob. Make sure this is tight, and the knob is not just spinning around and around.

There is also a small rod inside -- that the focuser attaches to. If tightening the setscrew does not fix it, you will need to remove the focuser and see if it is detached from the rod. Make sure the scope is tilted BACK with the front of the scope UP a little or the mirror will slide to the front and possibly break.

This web site has lots of repair pictures--
http://www.weasner.com/etx/menu.html

Your problem may not be the motor?

Is this a 497 hand controller? If it is check the TELESCOPE TYPE in the controller. It should read ETX125. You cannot just switch controllers. The controller has been TRAINED for the other scope.

To switch it you must do a RESET, Calibrate motors and then train the drives. These "values" are stored inside the hand controller. If you move it to another type of Meade telescope you must RESET and do Calibrate sensors and Training again.

The dis-assembly pictures are located on the Mighty ETX web site here:
http://www.weasner.com/etx/menu.html

Do a RESET on the hand controller. Re-enter Time, Date, and SITE, and CALIBRATE motors.

Also sometimes a bad hand controller cable will cause this. You can buy another cable directly from Meade. Call them here:
http://www.meade.com/support/index.html

Many retailers sell these. The catch is to find one that will MOUNT to the ETX125. Try these two retailers:

http://www.agenaastro.com/

http://www.optcorp.com/

Call them and see what they have.

You can attach a digital camera to the rear camera port uswing the proper T adapter for that camera.

You can also use a web cam with a 1.25 inch nosepiece in the top eyepiece holder.

I would suggest you start with a web cam and take video of the moon and bright planets and use Registax a free program to stack individual frames of the video.

Look at this web site:

http://www.astro.shoregalaxy.com/webcam_astro.htm

This site explains how to attach a digital camera:
http://www.analemma.de/english/etxphot.html

Meade can probably sell you one :
http://www.meade.com/support/index.html

You might also find something that would work to tighten it at a well stocked hardware store.

If Meade does not offer help, there is a 3rd party that does 'supercharging' of ETX models:
http://www.weasner.com/etx/techtips/tuneup_service.html

The hand controller cable may be bad. Get a new cable. If this does not work the hand controller may have bad firmware. Attempt to update the hand controller to the latest version of the firmware 43Eg.

I own an ETX90. Is the power light on the computer control panel ON?

If yes then the board is probably OK. If NO- either the power cable is bad or the board is blown.

Try a new power cable first, and or install batteries and see if that works. If the light is on you could have a loose wire inside. Re-seat the connections inside the base. Read these instructions:

http://www.weasner.com/etx/techtips/etxtu.htm

If it still does not work you can send it back to Meade for repairs. Call them about that here:
http://www.meade.com/support/index.html