Rusty Channel Master 120/100/90 polar mount - potential revival?

A

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When picking up a CM120 "in used condition" over the weekend, I had he pleasant surprise of discovering a CM polar mount attached to the back of it.

According to the guy I picked it up from, the dish has been sitting on the roof of a broker firm that used it to download stock rates from 40W. He put it up more than 20 years ago, and took it down again 4 years ago.

Interestingly, he used a polar mount with an official-looking metal bar to fix the azimuth, instead of an AzEl mount. Didn't say why. But it means that the polar mount never really has seen any action - it's been fixed in the same position for over 20 years... wonder if the bearings have survived?

Was this common early on? Did the professional CMs come with a polar mount as default, and a metal bar for locking the mount into place while adjusting the due-south satellite?

And funnily enough, he said that 40W was so low on the horizon that the downward tilt possible with just the mount adjustent (presumably declination) was not enough, and that he had to tilt the pole itself in the wall brackets to get the dish pointing sufficiently downwards. (Why not mount the dish permanently tilted full West, one might wonder?).

Although quite rusty, it still looks workable. Taking the cue from other restoration projects on this site (e.g. remlap's), I am tempted to pop down to the one of the automotive paintshops in the town, and see if they can sandblast / powdercoat the thing.

What do you think? Possible to save? Too rusty?

Would fit nicely to my newly mounted 120, although the range on that mount would be limited to ~55E- 28E...
Suddenly I find myself with three polar mounts; the SMW, the Prodelin, AND a Channel Master (which I though I'd never see)...

(The dish is a different story; it shows signs of some beating (edge is cracked several places, and two arms are somewhat bent). But that's the subject of another thread...)
 

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RimaNTSS

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Sand-blast, paint change all nuts&bolts to INOX, and it is new again.
 

Terryl

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You want that to last another 30 years then get it galvanized.
 
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Obtained another one. Came with a CM100.

Seems not as dirty, but more badly rusted than the previous one.
Although the declination adjustment screw is in much better shape.
Has signs of having had attempts of spot-repairs with paint.
May probably be for spares. At least the bushings seem fairly ok.

Note the interesting arrangement with the actuator.
Probably due to lack of space behind dish.
Actuator looks to be busted. Too rusty. Not even going to try.

Sandblasting? Or bin?
 

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More pics of same mount.
 

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Riverblue

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Nothing wrong with that, I've got 2 in a much worse state! If you don't want it I'll take it off your hands :)
 

Costactc

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Definitely worth the restoration.
 

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The worst part seems to be at the top on the part which mounts on the pole.
If its only surface rust then well worth the effort of saving.
Dont even bother with the actuator.
 

Captain Jack

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Like others said, if it's just surface rust, sandblast it, galvanise it and it will be as good as new.
 

daro2096

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Had a channel master 1.2m motorised dish between 2000 and about 2007. When sky minidishes were covered in snow the CM could still get a picture on 28.2 free to air even when dish was partly covered in snow. :)Great dish but it was heavy duty, required a 3 inch pole for its polar mount.
 

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I agree with changing all the bolts to A2 stainless steel.

The cheaper option is to use Kurust and Hammerite.
 

hexah

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Had a channel master 1.2m motorised dish between 2000 and about 2007. When sky minidishes were covered in snow the CM could still get a picture on 28.2 free to air even when dish was partly covered in snow.

In the alps they do the equivalent of that, they use 80cm dishes to get 19E or 13E which can be received on a 33cm dish because they are in the center of the beam. Compare that with the crappy $ly dishes where people just put up with it going off from time to time in the rain because they think that is to be expected!
 
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In the alps they do the equivalent of that, they use 80cm dishes to get 19E or 13E which can be received on a 33cm dish because they are in the center of the beam. Compare that with the crappy $ly dishes where people just put up with it going off from time to time in the rain because they think that is to be expected!
That's why my cm180 stays in place even tho a 120 works when it is not raining...
 

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Bigger is always better. :cool:
 
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