tripod head lines up with the azimuth adjustment knobs on
the equatorial mount (Figure 2). You may need to loosen
the azimuth adjustment knobs on the equatorial mount in
order to fit the mount onto the tripod head.
3. Thread the central support shaft into the equatorial mount
until tight. This will secure the equatorial mount to the tri-
pod head.
4. Remove the knob and washer from the bottom of the cen-
ter support shaft. Slide the tripod support tray up the bot-
tom of the central support shaft until the three tray arms
are touching the legs of the tripod. The flat side of the
accessory tray should be facing up. Make sure the “V” of
each tray arm is against a tripod leg. Place the washer
back on the center support shaft against the tray, and
thread the securing knob all the way up the center support
shaft until it is tight against the tray. The tripod support tray
provides additional stability for the tripod, and holds five
1.25" eyepieces and two 2" eyepieces.
5. Thread the latitude adjustment L-bolt into the rear of the
equatorial mount as shown in Figure 1.
6. Thread the counterweight shaft into the equatorial mount
at the base of the declination axis until tight. Make sure the
casting at the top of the shaft is threaded clockwise as far
as it will go before attaching the shaft. Once the shaft is
installed, turn the casting counter-clockwise until the top of
the casting is flush with the mount.
7. Remove the knurled “toe saver” retaining screw on the bot-
tom of the counterweight shaft and slide the counterweight
onto the shaft. Make sure the counterweight lock knob is
adequately loosened to allow the counterweight shaft to
pass through the hole. Position the counterweight about
halfway up the shaft and tighten the lock knobs. Replace
the toe saver at the end of the bar. The toe saver prevents
the counterweight from falling on your foot if the lock knob
happens to come loose.
8. Attach the slow-motion control knobs to the right ascen-
sion and declination worm gear shafts of the equatorial
mount by sliding them onto the shafts. Line up the flat on
the end of the shaft with the corresponding feature on the
interior of the knob to attach them properly. The knobs can
be attached to either end of the shafts; use whichever end
is most convenient.
9. Attach the tube mounting rings to the tube mounting plate
using the attachment screws that are on the tube rings.
The screws should go through the holes on the outer ends
of the mounting plate and rethread into the tube rings.
Note that the side of the mounting plate with the central
“groove” will be facing up. Use the small wrench to secure
the tube rings to the mounting plate.
10. Loosen the black mounting plate securing knob as well as
the metal safety thumbscrew on the top of the equatorial
mount. Place the mounting plate, with the tube rings
atached, in the dovetail slot on top of the equatorial mount.
Position the mounting plate so that it is centered on the
dovetail slot. Re-tighten the mounting plate securing knob
until the mounting plate is secure. Then, tighten the safety
thumbscrew. The safety thumbscrew will ensure that the
mounting plate (and telescope tube) will not fall off the EQ
mount if the mounting plate securing knob should come
loose.
Figure 2.
Orient the equatorial mount so that the post on the
tripod head lines up between the azimuth adjustment knobs on the
equatorial mount.
4
Post
Azimuth
adjustment
knobs
Finder scope
Finder scope bracket
Nylon
alignment
thumbscrews
(2)
Focus lock ring
Figure 3b.
Pull back on
the tensioner and slide the
finder scope into its bracket
until the O-ring is seated in
the bracket ring.
Figure 3a.
The 6x30 finder scope.
Tensioner
