Since the fully assembled telescope can be quite heavy, position the mount so that the polar axis is pointing towards north before the OTA and counterweight are attached. This will make the polar alignment procedure easier.
Install the Counterweight
The telescope needs to be balanced by the Counterweight to reduce the stress on the gears and motors. To install the Counterweight bar:
1.Thread the Counterweight Bar Lock Nut onto the threaded end of the Counterweight Bar.
2.Locate the opening in the Equatorial Mount Head on the DEC axis.
3.Thread the Counterweight Bar into the opening until it is tight.
4.Tighten the Counterweight Bar Lock Nut for extra support.
5.Once the bar is securely in place you are ready to attach the Counterweight.
6.Position the mount so that the Counterweight Bar points toward the ground.
7.Remove the Counterweight Safety Screw on the end of the Counterweight Bar (the opposite the end that attaches to the mount).
8.Loosen the Locking Screw on the side of the counterweight.
9.Slide the Counterweight onto the shaft.
10.Tighten the Locking Screw on the side of the Counterweight to hold the Counterweight in appropriate place.
11.Put back the Counterweight Safety Screw.
Attach an OTA to the Mount
The optical tube attaches to the mount via a 1.75” Dovetail Plate. The Dovetail Plate mounts along the bottom of a telescope tube. To avoid any damage to the OTA and the mount, before you attach an optical tube, make sure that the declination and right ascension clutch knobs are tight. To mount the telescope tube:
1.Loosen the Dovetail Locks on the side of the
2.Slide the Dovetail Plate on the telescope tube into the Mounting Platform of the mount.
3.Tighten the Dovetail Locks on the side of the mounting platform to hold the telescope in place. Tighten the big lock first, then the smaller one.
