Fig. 56: Position the holes over the shoulder bolts. When they are in place, slide the OTA back so that the shoulder bolts lock into the slots.
Fig. 57: Tighten the fork arm assem- bly using the provided hex key.
Fig. 58: Plug in the
To collapse the tripod (after removing the telescope) for storage, follow these steps:
a. Loosen the tension knob and rotate the spreader bar 60° from its assembled position, so that one spreader bar arm is located between each adjacent pair of tripod legs.
b. Move the spreader bar to the top of the threaded rod. Tighten the tension knob, locking the bar.
c. Working one leg at a time, gradually collapse the legs of the field tripod until the tension hub is positioned onto the threaded rod. Use the second tension knob to secure the tension hub in place.
Attaching the 16” Drive Base
a. Remove the three pointed bolts that hold the packing material in place. These bolts are used only for shipping purposes and not used in the telescope assembly pro- cedure. See Fig. 51.
b. Rotate the field tripod so that one leg is pointing approximately South (it need not point exactly South).
c. Position the 16” drive base onto the field tripod, with the power panel facing South. Secure the drive base using the three
c. Level the drive base by loosening the six
d. Note the
Attaching the Fork
a. Place the
b. Bolt the fork to the drive base using the four
c. Unscrew and remove the four thumbscrews from the rectangular plate (Fig. 54) in the center of the fork base. Remove the plate. Note the
d. Connect the
e. A fifth
Mounting the Optical Tube Assembly (OTA)
This step requires two people who can lift up to 70 pounds each (Note: See Caution on page 65). The optical tube assembly (OTA) weighs about 125 lbs. and it must be positioned accurately in order to mount to the fork.
a. Located on the two top surfaces of the fork are two shoulder bolts. These two bolts function as locating pins for the OTA. On the inside edge of the Dec. castings are two matching holes (with slots). Before trying to mount the OTA, be sure to locate these two bolts and holes. Notice that the bolts and holes are located on one side of the castings, requiring the OTA to be mounted one way only.
b. Tighten the Dec. lock (12, Fig. 1) to a firm feel only. With you on one side of the OTA and your assistant on the other side, grasp the two handles on each side and lift the OTA onto the top of the fork. Position the holes over the shoulder bolts. When they are in place, slide the OTA back so that the shoulder bolts lock into the slots (Fig. 56).
- 66 - | Looking at or near the Sun will cause irreversible damage to your eye. Do not point this tele- |
scope at or near the Sun. Do not look through the telescope as it is moving. |