ASTRO-PHYSICS German Equatorial 1200GTO, Manual, Page: 29 / 38

MOUNT CARE, CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE
Like any fine piece of equipment, your mount’s longevity and performance are directly correlated with the quality of the care
that you give it. Handle it with respect, keep it as clean and dry as is practical, and perform a few minor maintenance tasks,
and your 1200GTO will give you many years of trouble free service.
Care
Although we build it to be rugged enough for field use, your 1200GTO is a precision instrument with very accurate worm and
wheel adjustments. Please be careful if you place the mount on a flat surface, i.e. the ground or trunk of your car. The gear
alignment may be affected if the R.A. and Dec. motor/gear box assemblies sustain undue lateral force. This is true of any fine
instrument. We suggest that you transport and store the mount in a case or in a well-padded box. ALWAYS disassemble
the mount before moving it or transporting it. More damage can be done in a few careless seconds in transit than in many
hours of normal operation.
Try to keep your mount protected from dust and moisture when not in use. In warm, humid weather, be aware of the dew
that may have formed on the mount while in the field and allow the mount to dry out before packing it away for storage once
you get home. On the other hand, if it is cold and dry outside, keep the mount packed up when you bring it into the house
until it reaches room temperature to avoid “fogging it up.” (The same advice applies to telescopes, eyepieces and other
equipment in your Astro-arsenal.)
Cleaning and Touch-up
Wipe your mount clean with a soft dry cloth. If needed, you can use a damp cloth or a cloth that has been sprayed with a
mild, non-abrasive cleaner (window or all purpose cleaner – no bleach). Do not spray cleaners directly onto your mount. If
you use a cleaning product, follow with a damp cloth to remove the chemicals from the mount.
The painted surfaces of your mount may end up with scuff marks from repeated transport and assembly / disassembly. Most
of the time, these marks can be removed with a product like Color Back by Turtlewax (automotive product). Simply apply
with a paper towel and buff out the mark. If your paint becomes chipped, touch-up kits are available for purchase – please
call us. NOTE: Paint touch-up kits can only be sold to U.S. customers because of regulations governing shipment of
hazardous materials.
Routine Mount Maintenance
Under normal operating conditions, minimal maintenance is required. Every 12 months the clutch knobs (4 for Dec. and 4 for
R.A.) should be removed and 1 small drop of light oil (3 in 1 household oil) should be put in the exposed hole. If the R.A. and
Dec. axes are attached together for a long time in outside
conditions (i.e. in a permanent observatory) then the mating
surfaces should be lightly oiled or greased - if you expect to get them apart again after 10 years.
Jostling and vibrations associated with transport to and from observing sites has had the effect of causing screws and
fasteners to work their way loose over time. We have worked very hard in both the design and assembly of our mounts to
alleviate this problem, but it is still a good idea to periodically (once or twice a year) inspect and if necessary re-tighten any
easily accessible fasteners. Additional maintenance information can be found below in the troubleshooting section and in
the Technical Support Section of our website.
ADDITIONAL TIPS AND SUPPORT
For additional information regarding the 1200GTO, refer to the Technical Support Section of our website. We also encourage
you to participate in the ap-gto user group. The members of this group are very knowledgeable about the operation of their
mounts, CCD imaging and other related issues. The staff of Astro-Physics also participates and you will find a wealth of
information in the archives. To find the group, link from User Groups in our website’s sidebar.
We encourage you to submit your technical support questions directly to Astro-Physics by phone or e-mail: support@astro-
physics.com.
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