Outside dome

You can see some of the rivets holding the very slippery polymer

Rear dome turnbuckle

This is one of two turnbuckles added allow adjustment of tension of the shutter cables

Large Pulleys

These large pulleys insure that when the shutter panels pass over each other during opening and closing that the cables are caught and guided without friction

Pulleys and slippery polymer and front turnbuckle used to adjust tension

These large pulleys insure that when the shutter panels pass over each other during opening and closing that the cables are caught and guided without friction

Original pulley changed angle

The angle of the original pulley (still in place) is changed for larger cable

Left front turnbuckle and pulley

This is the counterpart to the pulley and turnbuckle on the rear left dome

Another shot of the pulleys and slippery polymer

Jackscrew with turnbuckle

The cable is aircraft cable much larger than the original cable and is lubricated. The jackscrew guides were drilled out to accomodate new cable.

Rivets countersunk into slippery polymer

This shows all the countersunk screws holding the slippery polymer in place. The dome moves so smoothly now I had to add a rubber/polymer cushion to the shutter catches at the rear of the observatory. Once inwhile the shutters drop quickly.

Homemade pulleys

These pulleys were built as the ones at Lowes and Home Depot were way too small

Turnbuckle on rear left of observatory

This is one of two turnbuckles added to adjust tension on the aircraft cable