Explore Scientific First Light refractor... focuser problem (Crayford/not Crayford)

explore scientific first light focuser problem ( sorry for holding camera wrong but the point gets made)
Explore Scientific states that my used scope....127 mm achromatic F 9.4 refractor has a "Crayford Style" focuser....it definitely has a rack and pinion and the thing that might make it crayford style , maybe , is the ability to adjust the pressure with a push-pull set of screws on the base. however this doesn't matter.
I believe ES names this "Hexogonal Focuser...
This video is a beware video...... be very very very very very careful when using the large black knerled locking knob at the bottom of the focuser.
The knob is half an inch wide made of black plastic knob attached to a metal threaded pressure scew... which pushes against the pinion gear of the focuser to lock it.
Heavy eyepieces or cameras with this scope at Zenith do not hold well and end up pulling back under their weight. the previous owner must have been overzealous until he bent the pinion

[greglisk]

The tensionser should have been placed closer to one of the bearings, not at mid span. But also there should not be enough of a gap between the rack and the pinion to permanently bend the shaft. But why in the hell would you CUT IT OFF! instead of just removing it? Why don't you take the pinion out and straighten it? Brass is not brittle and should bend back fairly easily.

[davidpianosi]

Hi Greg...what you are seeing is the already straightened pinion. I should have mentioned that...It was a chore as it was only say 0.75mm off from true.
I wasn't planning on making a video at first but when I saw how dumb the problem was I figured others could benefit.
You might see in the video that the focus knob runs true .
I cut the knob because as I said in the video, am a fan of the smaller lighter 1.25" eyepieces so I don't suffer from the lack of tension .
Why did I cut it off ?.... If it happened once, it will happen again.
During the eclipse I had 11 people all using my scope, and much of the time I was away from the scope...who knows.
I could have left the tensioner put completely but this is a observatory scope and the mud wasps would do damage in there. I could have filled it with silicone but mostly, .... if it happened once, it will happen again!