Meade LXD 75-Series Getting Started, How to Assemble Your Telescope, Telescope Assembly

Fig. 3: Spread out the tripod legs.

Fine

Azimuth

Control

Knobs

Protrusion

Fig. 4: Attach the mount to the tripod.

Thread shaft through the mounting base

Braces Spreader

Bar

Tension

Knob

T-Handle

Fig. 5: Thread T-handle shaft into base.

Dec. Setting Circle

Shaft

Base

Counterweight

Lock

Knob

Shaft

Safety

Cap

Fig. 6: Attach counterweight assembly.

GETTING STARTED

As you unpack your telescope, carefully note the following parts. The assembly is shipped in separate boxes.

Telescope Assembly

■Equatorial mount with polar alignment finder

■Heavy duty, adjustable aluminum tripod with leg braces, three tripod leg lock knobs, and a captive mount locking knob

■Complete optical tube assembly including primary mirror with dust cover and a rack-and-pinion focuser and eyepiece holders for both 1.25" and 2" eyepiece holders, tube cradle assembly with two rings and two lock knobs

■Super Plössl (SP) 26mm eyepiece

■Counterweight and counterweight shaft. The 8" and 10" models include extra counterweights.

■8 x 50mm (all models, except N-6EC Newtonian) or 6 x 30mm (N-6EC Newtonian only) viewfinder.

Motor Assembly

■Factory-mounted dual electronic motor drive assembly

■Autostar handbox, detachable coil cord, or Electronic Controller

■Battery pack and holder

Accessories

■Hex keys, LXD75-Series T-Adapter (included with Schmidt-Newtonian models only)

How to Assemble Your Telescope

The giftboxes contain the optical tube assembly and the tripod with the equatorial mount. The accessories are located within compartments custom-cut into the styro- foam block inserts.

1.Remove the components from the giftboxes: Remove and identify the tele- scope’s equipment. Refer to Figures 1a through 1f for images of the parts and the overall assembly of your telescope. When removing the tripod from the gift- box, hold the assembly parallel (horizontal) to the ground or the inner tripod leg extensions will slide out as they are not locked in place.

2.Adjust the tripod legs. Spread the tripod legs as far as they will open. See Fig. 3.

3.Attach mount to tripod base: Place the mount over the tripod mounting base (37, Fig. 1c) with the protrusion on top of the tripod's base positioned between the fine azimuth control knobs (27, Fig. 1d). See Fig. 4. If necessary, back off the azimuth control knobs wide enough for protrusion to fit between them.

4.Attach the spreader bar to the tripod with shaft (see Fig. 5): Place the spread- er bar (36, Fig. 1c) over the T-handle shaft and thread the shaft through the tri- pod mounting base (37, Fig. 1c) and into the hole in the telescope mount. Tighten the T-handle to a firm feel. This attachment keeps the tripod and the telescope mount securely in place. Then line up the spreader bar braces so that they are each touching one of the tripods legs. Tighten the tension knob (39, Fig. 1c) to a firm feel. When you wish to collapse the tripod, loosen the tension knob and move the braces off the legs. You do not need to remove the T-handle/shaft.

5.Attach the counterweight(s) to the counterweight shaft: Place the counter- weight shaft base (20, Fig. 1d) over the threaded end of the shaft (22, Fig. 1d). Thread the shaft and base assembly into the hole beneath the Dec. setting circle as depicted in Fig. 6.

Look through the hole in the counterweight and note the pin blocking the hole. Tilt the counterweight slightly and the pin moves out of position, clearing the hole. If the pin does not move, unscrew the counterweight lock knob slightly until the pin moves.

Unscrew the safety cap (23, Fig. 1d) from the shaft. Holding the counterweight (21, Fig. 1d) firmly in one hand, slip the counterweight to approximately the mid- point of the counterweight shaft (22, Fig. 1d). Tighten the counterweight lock knob to a firm feel. Replace the safety cap.

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