If you have an original ZenithStar 61 telescope it is now possible to upgrade the mounting ring to match the latest model and to fit a CAT handle.
The CAT handle bar is suitable for uniguide scopes.
The improved CNC made mounting ring offers greater rigidity and more flexible mounting options.
Average Rating (5 Reviews): | |
Good…but for the weird bolt hiccups! 06 December 2023 | Simon
I received the black version of this today and was initially worried that it was too large for my telescope. It took me a little while to figure out that all the bolts supplied were in the wrong holes and the bottom M6 bolts were unusable with the unit. Luckily I had a set of shorter M6 bolts on hand and used them to secure the mounting bracket. The other bolts were mixed up as well! The tightening bolts on the rings were too long and wouldn’t close the gap on the rings making it impossible to properly secure the telescope within the rings. Switching the two sets of bolts around, the shorter ring bolts for the more lengthy handle bolts, solved all issues and with a little extra Velcro added to the inside of the rings, everything worked. They are good quality but it is surprising that the quality control was not up to WO normal excellence.
Perfect apart from the bolts 09 January 2023 | Charles
Turned up promptly, FLO were as efficient as ever, but as mentioned on other sites, the bolts are very short, only about 3 turns before they are tight, which is not ideal in aluminium, William Optics fault, not FLO's, but soon sorted with longer bolts, Otherwise would have been 5 stars
William Optics Original ZenithStar 61 CAT Handle and Mounting Ring Upgrade Kit 06 June 2022 | William
My Zenithstar 61 is one of the original type with just the small foot adapter for mounting and no guidescope socket.
While fine for visual this has way too much flex for imaging use once a field flattener and a cooled camera or DSLR gets added to the OTA.
I decided to upgrade to the new version double ring and cat handle, but had to wait some time for the matching Gold version to come back into stock.
FLO finally got one in stock so I ordered and it soon arrived and proved to be very simple to add to my Z61.
Fits easily to the main OTA. (which is not the same place as the foot style adapter which sits on the focuser section).
The FLO page for the upgrade has good clear diagrams to show you how to correctly fit this new set of rings.
As usual for William Optics the build quality is very high , I now cannot flex the mount at all.
I have the matched WO 50mm guidescope and this fits the CAT handle perfectly..
A very worthwhile upgrade if you have one of the early models Z61.
(I also added the matching 245mm WO vixen style bar)
13 January 2022 | Steve
Pleased with this, does the job, needs a bolt provided so you can attach to WO bar.
ZS61 Mounting Ring Upgrade - Well worth it! 26 October 2020 | Pete
The ring arrived quickly and was well packed as usual for FLO. Simple to install - I would mention that the focuser is threaded - so it is unscrew rather than 'twist' - but I guess they are the same thing really. Once mounted I added a WO DSD Plate (210mm) and it is now rock steady on my mount. The original photo type mount had some flex in it, which this fixes, so well worth it.