From: Mark Gaffney <markgaffney@me.com>

Date: December 20, 2009 11:02:46 AM MST

To: Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com

Subject: Re: [Astro_IIDC] Re: star images...

Milton, 

Would you advise the sparing use of WD 40 ( I don`t know if it`s called by the same name there) on the screws.(spray type lubricant..) They`re very stiff indeed! It seems to me a lot of trouble to send the camera back to Canada to have it fixed under warranty if it`s dust mote & I can simply clean it-on the other hand if the filter glass needs replacing? I`m using cotton buds for cleaning. The marks are like one black spot & if held at a different angle to the light a couple of smaller ones appear. The surface had what looked like microscopic spores before I started. I think I mistakenly left just the nosepiece on it (uncovered) thinking I had the Mogg reducer on which would have sealed the opening.I`ll have to check how long the warranty does in fact go for..

We have the first installment of the summer monsoons here, where cyclonic depressions from up north dump tons of rain on us. The Telegizmous cover was doing a good job but I`ve brought the OTA in anyway to be on the safe side..

Mark.

On 21/12/2009, at 4:10 AM, Milton Aupperle wrote:

Mark;

On 19-Dec-09, at 8:37 PM, Mark Gaffney wrote:

>
>
> Milton,
> You`re probably right.. I`ve also re-set it by unplugging re-
> plugging the cable...On another issue, my Flea 2 appears to have a
> speck of dust that`s on the chip not on the filter glass. I`ve tried
> cleaning it with a little detergent in water & also Windex but it
> has no effect on this speck. I don`t know how this is possible as
> the chip is enclosed behind the filter as you know.

I'd be very careful with what you wash them with. The big issues is
the material you use to wipe the glass clean can scratch the surface
if a piece of grit gets on it.

Are you sure it's not a pit in the upper glass? You get the same sort
of effect. You'd need to look at it with a hight power hand lens or
microscope to make sure where it is.

> Despite warnings (previously) from PGR that removing the IR/UV
> filter will void the warranty I`ve tried undoing the small Phillips
> screws but it seems like another case (like I encountered with one
> screw in the optical drive of the iBook). They all seem to be done
> up to industrial tension & any extra pressure on the screws will
> have me burring them. Have you ever managed to undo the screws on
> your Flea? If so how did you do it?

I took the Flea completely apart and removed the boards to get at the
filter. The Flea are much more difficult to get at the filter than
their later models.

TTYL..

Milton Aupperle