6
Setting Up the Tripod
To set up the tripod, locate the German equatorial mount, the tripod legs, the tripod mounting hardware and the
tripod accessory tray.
1. Extend the center portion (35) of each of the three tripod legs down 6-8".
2. Use the three tightening screws (8) to secure each of the extended legs by threading these screws through the
holes in the brackets at the bottom of each leg. It is important that you extend the legs before the equatorial
mount is attached, otherwise the inner legs may become difficult to slide down. Fine tuning of the tripod height
can be done later, and the tightening screws can be adjusted to secure the telescope at the desired height
NOTE:
Some of the following steps may have been pre-assembled at the factory for certain models.
3. Orient the three tripod legs so the brackets that hold the accessory tray are on the inside (19).
4. Slide the two top portions of each tripod leg around the sides of each flange on the tripod head (15) of the
equatorial mount, so the flange is secured between them.
5. Slide the screw through the tripod leg and flange, until the screw extends out the other side.
6. Slide the washer and the nut over the screw and tighten. This can be left slightly loose, to allow for positioning
the legs later, when attaching the accessory tray.
7. Repeat this process for the remaining two legs. Now the tripod will stand by itself.
Attaching the Accessory Tray:
1. Set the tripod with the equatorial mount attached in the standing position by spreading the legs apart far enough
for the tripod accessory tray to fit.
2. You are now ready to install the tripod accessory tray. The tripod tray fits over the holes in the tripod leg brace.
Insert the winged bolts through the holes in the bottom of the tripod leg brace and thread them into the holes in
the accessory tray. Tighten all bolts to ensure proper stability to the mount. (For the Firstscope 60 model, the
accessory tray will attach to the holes in each of the hinge brackets on the inside of each tripod leg).
S
S
E
E
T
T
T
T
I
I
N
N
G
G
U
U
P
P
T
T
H
H
E
E
T
T
E
E
L
L
E
E
S
S
C
C
O
O
P
P
E
E
Orienting the Telescope
1. Begin by identifying and loosening knobs #16, 22, 24 and 28, using the
diagram in Figure 1 to guide you.
2. Next, loosen the Right Ascension and declination knobs #24 and #22 on the
upper portion of the mount.
3. Rotate the mount head so that it is in the same orientation as shown in
Figure 1.
4. Lock down the Right Ascension and declination knobs before attaching the
optical tube.
Attaching the Declination and Right Ascension Cables
1. Locate the declination cable holder (13) and the declination cable, which is
the shorter of the two cables provided.
2. Insert the declination cable (18) into the cable holder such that the cable is about ¼" short of being fully
engaged in the cable holder. Tighten the thumb screw on the end of the cable down completely. This method
helps ensure there’s no slippage when using the cable. Please note that the orientation of the declination cable
can be adjusted to the position that suits you best.
3. Locate the right ascension cable holder (27) and the right ascension cable (31) and assemble the cable to the
holder in the same manner described for the declination cable.
