11
accurate tracking. To balance the mount:
1.
Verify that the telescope is securely attached to the telescope mounting platform.
2.
Loosen the R.A. lock lever and position the telescope off to one side of the mount. The
counterweight bar will extend horizontally on the opposite side of the mount.
3.
Release the telescope — GRADUALLY — to see which way the telescope “rolls.”
4.
Loosen the set screws on the side of the counterweight so it can be moved the length of the
counterweight bar.
5.
Move the counterweight to a point where it balances the telescope (i.e., the telescope remains
stationary when the R.A. clutch knobs are loose).
6.
Tighten the screw on the counterweight to hold it in place.
While the above instructions describe a perfect balance arrangement, there should be a SLIGHT imbalance to
ensure the best possible tracking. When the scope is on the west side of the mount the counterweight should be
slightly imbalanced to the counterweight bar side. And when the tube is on the east side of the mount there
should be a slight imbalance toward the telescope side. This is done so that the worm gear is pushing against a
slight load. The amount of the imbalance is very slight. When taking astrophotographs, this balance process
can be done for the specific area at which the telescope is pointing to further optimize tracking accuracy.
B
B
a
a
l
l
a
a
n
n
c
c
i
i
n
n
g
g
T
T
h
h
e
e
M
M
o
o
u
u
n
n
t
t
i
i
n
n
D
D
E
E
C
C
Although the telescope does not track in declination, the telescope should also be balanced in this axis to
prevent any sudden motions when the DEC lock lever is loose. To balance the telescope in DEC:
1.
Loosen the R.A. clutch lock lever and rotate the telescope so that it is on one side of the mount
(i.e., as described in the previous section on “Balancing the Mount in R.A.”).
2.
Tighten the R.A. lock lever to hold the telescope in place.
3.
Loosen the DEC clutch lock lever and rotate the telescope until the tube is parallel to the ground.
4.
Release the tube — GRADUALLY — to see which way it rotates around the declination axis.
DO NOT LET GO OF THE TELESCOPE TUBE COMPLETELY!
5.
Slightly loosen the knobs that holds the telescope to the mounting platform and slide the telescope
either forward or backward until it remains stationary when the DEC clutch is loose. Do NOT let
go of the telescope tube while the knob on the mounting platform is loose. It may be necessary to
Figure 2-13
Figure 2-12
