3
II. Assembly
1. Spread the tripod (A) legs apart and stand the tripod on
the ground. You can extend the legs to the desired height
later using the leg lock knobs. For now just keep them fully
retracted.
2. Attach the accessory tray (C) by registering its center cut-
out over the center of the tripod leg brace assembly (
Figure
2A
). Press the tray down and twist it until the tray tabs click
in place under the three retaining clips on the brace (
2B
).
3. Now you will attach the equatorial mount (B) to the tripod.
Place the base of the mount onto the tripod’s mounting
platform, and then simply thread the captive mount attach-
ment knob under the tripod clockwise up into the mount
until it is tight (
Figure 3
).
4. Next, thread the second latitude adjustment T-bolt (D) into
the hole in the mount base. (One T-bolt comes pre-installed;
the other one you must install yourself.)
Figure 3
shows the
two installed latitude adjustment T-bolts.
5. Install the counterweight shaft (F) by threading it into the
counterweight shaft collar (
Figure 4A
).
6. Now remove the safety stop at the end of the shaft and
slide counterweight (G) onto the shaft (
Figure 4B
). You
may have to loosen the counterweight lock knob to allow
the weight to slide onto the shaft. Once the counterweight
is on the shaft, replace the safety stop.
7. Attach the two slow-motion cables (E) to the RA and Dec
gear shafts by threading the collar on the gear shaft onto
the cable until tight (
Figure 5
).
The EQ mount is now fully assembled. To install an optical tube
on the mount, make sure the tube is equipped with a compat-
ible Vixen-style dovetail bar.
III. Installing a Telescope
Optical Tube On the Mount
Before installing an optical tube, ensure that the right ascen-
sion and declination lock knobs (
Figure 6
) are tightened so
that the mount won’t swivel accidentally when you’re attaching
the tube rings or the optical tube. And of course make sure
the counterweight is installed on the counterweight shaft.
Make sure the two saddle clamp knobs are backed out suf-
ficiently to allow the dovetail bar to seat properly. Then lift the
optical tube and set the dovetail mounting bar into the mount’s
saddle. When the dovetail bar is seated in the saddle, tighten
the saddle clamp knobs until tight.
IV. Balancing the Telescope
To insure smooth movement of the telescope on both axes
of the equatorial mount, it is imperative that the optical tube
be properly balanced. First we’ll balance the telescope with
respect to the R.A. axis, then the Dec. axis.
1. Keeping one hand on the telescope optical tube (sold
separately), loosen the R.A. lock knob (see
Figure 7A
).
Make sure the Dec. lock knob is locked, for now. The tele-
scope should now be able to rotate freely about the R.A.
axis. Rotate it until the counterweight shaft is parallel to the
ground (i.e., horizontal), as in
Figure 7A
.
2. Now loosen the counterweight lock knob and slide the
weight along the shaft until it exactly counterbalances
the telescope. That’s the point at which the shaft remains
horizontal even when you let go of the telescope with both
hands.
3. Retighten the counterweight lock knob. The telescope is now
balanced on the R.A. axis.
4. To balance the telescope on the Dec. axis, first tighten the
R.A. lock knob, with the counterweight shaft still in the hori-
zontal position.
5. With one hand on the telescope optical tube, loosen the
Dec. lock knob (see
Figure 7B
). The telescope should now
Figure 2. A
) Place center of accessory tray over the center of the
leg brace assembly.
B
) Press down and twist tray until the tabs click
under retaining clips.
Figure 3.
Secure the EQ mount to the tripod with the mount
attachment knob.
Tray tab
Retaining
clip
Latitude
adjustment
T-bolt
Mount
attachment
knob
Latitude
adjustment
T-bolt
(need to
install)
(pre-
installed)
A.
B.
