black 1/4" washers over the end of the screw. Now, thread
the screw into the hole in the base side panel just below
the cradle. The screw will thread into the preinstalled
insert in the hole. Use a Phillips screwdriver to tighten the
screw. Repeat this procedure on the opposite side panel.
2. Next, insert one of the screws with round plastic knob
attached through the end ring of one of the springs. Slip a
black nylon spacer onto the screw. Orient the spacer so
the narrow end is closest to the knob. Thread the entire
assembly into the hole in the center of the telescope’s alti-
tude side bearing until tight. The end ring of the spring
should seat onto the narrow end of the spacer. Repeat this
procedure for the other altitude side bearing.
3. Attach a pull loop to the free end of each spring. Slide
the loop through the opening in the ring on the end of
the spring.
4. Now, pull each spring down using the pull loop, and posi-
tion the spring’s end ring over the head of the Phillips
screw (installed in step 1) and onto the narrow part of the
nylon spacer, as shown in Figure 7. You needn’t attach
both springs simultaneously; one at a time is fine.
The CorrecTension system is now installed and engaged. If
you wish to remove the telescope from the base, you will first
need to disconnect the springs from the “posts” on the
Dobsonian base. The springs will remain captive on the alti-
tude side bearings, so they will not get lost.
Installing the Finder Scope
SkyQuest XT10 Dobsonians come with a high quality, large
aperture 8x50 achromatic crosshair finder scope and a preci-
sion metal finder scope bracket as standard equipment. This
greatly aids in finding objects to view in the night sky, which
will be discussed in detail later.
Before attaching the finder scope bracket to the telescope
tube, it is convenient to first install the finder in the bracket.
Thread the six finder scope alignment thumb screws (with
knurled lock nuts attached) into the holes on the outside of
the finder bracket’s rings. Slide the finder scope through the
bracket’s rings and secure it in place with the alignment
thumb screws; make sure the knurled lock nuts are ade-
quately loosened to do this. The finder scope should be
oriented within the finder bracket as shown in Figure 8.
Now, connect the entire assembly to the telescope. Do this by
first removing the round knurled nuts on the two threaded
bolts adjacent to the focuser. Then position the holes in the
base of the finder bracket over the bolts, and secure the
bracket in place with the two round nuts. The large (objective)
end of the finder scope should be pointing toward the front
(open) end of the telescope tube.
Inserting an Eyepiece
The final step in the assembly process is to insert an eye-
piece into the telescope’s focuser. Take the cover cap off the
end of the focuser drawtube. Loosen the thumb screw on the
1.25" eyepiece adapter (see Figure 9). Do not loosen the two
thumb screws on the 2" eyepiece adapter. Insert one of the
supplied eyepieces, then secure it by retightening the thumb
screw on the 1.25" eyepiece adapter. The other eyepiece can
be placed in the eyepiece rack until it is needed.
6
Figure 7: (a) To attach the spring to the base, grip the pull
loop with your index finger and pull down on the spring. (b)
While pulling down, slip the end ring of the spring over the
screw head and onto the narrow part of the nylon spacer,
then release the pull loop.
a.
b.
Figure 8: The 8x50 finder scope and bracket.
Round
knurled nut
Knurled lock nut
Alignment thumb screw
Lock ring
