2. Place the base of the equatorial mount into the tripod head.
Orient the equatorial mount so that the post on the tripod
head lines up between 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 show 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 counterweight shaft is threaded
clockwise as far as it will go before attaching the shaft.
Once the shaft is installed, turn the casting counter‑clock‑
wise until the top of the casting is flush with the mount.
7. Remove the knurled “toe saver” retaining screw on the
bottom of the counterweight shaft and slide both counter‑
weights onto the shaft. Make sure the counterweight lock
knobs are adequately loosened to allow the counterweight
shaft to pass through the hole. Position the counterweights
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 counterweights from falling on your foot if the
lock knobs happen 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 shaft. Line up the flat on
the end of the shaft with the corresponding feature on the
interior of the knob. The knobs can be attached to either
end of the shafts; use whichever end is most convenient.
9. Loosen the black mounting plate securing knob as well
as the metal safety thumbscrew on the top of the equato‑
rial mount. Place the optical tube’s mounting plate in the
dovetail slot so that it is positioned midway in the dovetail
slot. Tighten the mounting plate securing knob and safety
thumbscrew to secure the optical tube.
4
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.
Post
Azimuth
adjustment
knobs
Finder scope
Finder scope bracket
Nylon
alignment
thumbscrews
Focus lock ring
Figure 3a.
The 8x40 finder scope.
Tensioner
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.
