Commercial shipment of the 16" LX
200 Telescope without the
safety bolt in place and packed in the original factory supplied
shipping containers as described above is done at the owner’s
risk and your warranty may be voided if shipping damage
results.
TELESCOPE ASSEMBLY
Use the following procedure to assemble your telescope:
The 16” Field Tripod
The 16” Field Tripod (Figs. 2 and 3) for the Meade 16” LX
200
telescope is supplied as a completely assembled unit, except
for the spreader bar (4, Fig. 2) and the six lock-knobs (5, Fig.
2). There are two knobs for each of the three tripod legs. They
are used to adjust the level of the tripod. These knobs are
packed separately for safety in shipment.
For most observations, the drive base (16, Fig. 1) of the
telescope’s fork mount is attached directly to the 16” field
tripod. The telescope is then mounted in an altazimuth
(altitude-azimuth or vertical-horizontal) format. In this
configuration the telescope moves along vertical and horizontal
axes, corresponding respectively to the Dec. and R.A. axes
(explained later in this manual) in an astronomical observing
mode.
Alternately, the telescope can be mounted on a permanent pier,
which is set for the latitude of the observing location (see
APPENDIX A for instructions on using the telescope in equatorial
mode). The equatorial mode permits alignment of t h e
telescope’s polar axis with the Celestial Pole (or North Star).
After removing the field tripod from its shipping carton, stand
the tripod vertically, with the tripod feet down and with the tripod
still fully collapsed (see Fig. 3). Remove the lower knob,
releasing the tension hub (7, Fig. 2). This knob is used only
when storing the field tripod. Moving one leg at a time, gently
pull the legs apart. As the legs are opened, the tension hub will
move down the threaded rod (2, Fig. 2) until it is free from the
threaded rod. Continue to move the legs apart to a fully open
position.
Thread in the two lock-knobs (5, Fig. 2) for each tripod leg, near
the foot of each leg. These lock-knobs are used to fix the
position of the inner tripod leg sections. These sections are
used to level the telescope (described below).
NOTE: Tightening to a firm-feel is sufficient. Over-tightening
may result in stripping of the knob threads or damage to the
tripod legs. It gives no additional strength.
Loosen the tension knob (3, Fig. 2), holding the spreader bar
(4, Fig. 2), and slide the spreader bar down the threaded rod
until you can rotated it so that the three arms align with the
three tripod legs. Tighten the tension knob; firm tightening of
the tension knob is sufficient to result in rigid positioning of the
legs. Do not use force in tightening this knob.
To collapse the tripod (after removing the telescope) for
storage, follow these steps:
a. Loosen the tension knob and rotate the spreader bar 60°
from its assembled position, so that one spreader bar arm is
located between each adjacent pair of tripod legs.
b. Move the spreader bar to the top of the threaded rod.
Tighten the tension knob, locking the bar.
c. Working one leg at a time, gradually collapse the legs of the
field tripod until the tension hub is positioned onto the
threaded rod. Use the second tension knob to secure the
tension hub in place.
PRECAUTIONARY NOTES
• If the tripod does not extend or collapse easily, do
not force the tripod legs in or out. If you follow the
instructions above, the tripod will function properly.
Forcing the tripod into an incorrect position may
damage the extension strut system.
• Do not overtighten the six lock-knobs (5, Fig. 2)
used to fix the inner tripod leg sections at various
heights.
Firm-feel
tightening
is
suff i c i e n t ;
overtightening can damage the leg.
• Be sure the spreader bar (4, Fig. 2) is not upside-
down on the threaded rod. See Fig. 3 for proper
orientation.
Fig.3: Field Tripod (collapsed).
Fig.2: LX200 Field Tripod. (1) Tripod head; (2) Threaded
rod; (3) Tension knob; (4) Spreader bar; (5) lock-knobs;
(6) Extension strut; (7) Tension hub.
1
2
3
4
7
6
5
