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13
Both the R.A. and DEC axis have lock levers to clutch down each axis of the telescope. To loosen the
clutches on the telescope, rotate the lock levers counterclockwise.
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B
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To eliminate undue stress on the mount, the telescope should be properly balanced around the polar axis.
Proper balancing is crucial for accurate tracking. To balance the mount:
1. Verify that the telescope is securely attached to the
telescope mounting platform.
2. Loosen the R.A. lock lever and position the telescope off
to one side of the mount. The counterweight bar will
extend horizontally on the opposite side of the mount.
3. Release the telescope — GRADUALLY — to see which
way the telescope “rolls.”
4. Loosen the set screws on the side of the counterweight so it
can be moved the length of the counterweight bar.
5. Move the counterweight to a point where it balances the
telescope (i.e., the telescope remains stationary when the
R.A. clutch knobs are loose).
6. Tighten the screw on the counterweight to hold it in place.
While the above instructions describe a perfect balance arrangement, there should be a SLIGHT imbalance
to ensure the best possible tracking. When the scope is on the west side of the mount the counterweight
should be slightly imbalanced to the counterweight bar side. And when the tube is on the east side of the
mount there should be a slight imbalance toward the telescope side. This is done so that the worm gear is
pushing against a slight load. The amount of the imbalance is very slight. When taking astrophotographs,
this balance process can be done for the specific area at which the telescope is pointing to further optimize
tracking accuracy.
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Although the telescope does not track in declination, the telescope should also be balanced in this axis to
prevent any sudden motions when the DEC lock lever is loose. To balance the telescope in DEC:
1. Loosen the R.A. clutch lock lever and rotate the telescope so that it is on one side of the
mount (i.e., as described in the previous section on “Balancing the Mount in R.A.”).
2. Tighten the R.A. lock lever to hold the telescope in place.
Figure 2-13
Declination
Lock Lever
R.A. Lock Lever
Figure 2-12