5
counterweight from falling off (and onto your foot!) if the
counterweight lock knob becomes loose.
7. Attach the two tube rings to the equatorial head using
the hex head screws that come installed in the bottom of
the rings. First remove the screws, then push the screws,
with the washers still attached, up through the holes in
the tube ring mounting plate (on the top of the equato-
rial mount) and rethread them into the bottom of the
tube rings. Tighten the screws securely with the smaller
wrench. Open the tube rings by first loosening the knurled
ring clamps. One of the tube rings has a piggyback cam-
era adapter on top (the knurled black ring); ignore it for
now, it’s purpose will be discussed later in detail.
8. Lay the telescope optical tube in the tube rings at about
the midpoint of the tube’s length. Rotate the tube in the
rings so the focuser is angled somewhere between hori-
zontal and straight up. Close the rings over the tube and
tighten the knurled ring clamps finger-tight to secure the
telescope in position.
9. Now attach the two slow-motion cables to the R.A. and
Dec. worm gear shafts of the equatorial mount by posi-
tioning the thumb screw on the end of the cable over the
indented slot on the worm gear shaft and then tightening
the thumb screw. We recommend that the shorter cable
be used on the R.A. worm gear shaft and the longer
cable on the Dec. worm gear shaft. The Dec. worm gear
shaft and cable should extend toward the front (open)
end of the telescope optical tube. If it does not, you will
need to remove the tube from the mounting rings, rotate
the mount 180° about the Dec. axis (first loosen the Dec.
lock knob!), and then replace the tube.
10. To place the finder scope in the finder scope bracket, first
unthread the two black nylon screws until the screw ends
are flush with the inside diameter of the bracket. Place
the O-ring that comes on the base of the bracket over the
body of the finder scope until it seats into the slot on the
middle of the finder scope. Slide the eyepiece end (nar-
row end) of the finder scope into the end of the bracket’s
cylinder opposite the alignment screws while pulling the
chrome, spring-loaded tensioner on the bracket with your
fingers (Figure 3b). Push the finder scope through the
bracket until the O-ring seats just inside the front opening
of the bracket’s cylinder. Now, release the tensioner and
tighten the two black nylon screws a couple of turns each
to secure the finder scope in place.
11. Insert the base of the finder scope bracket into the dove-
tail slot near the focuser. Lock the bracket into position by
tightening the knurled thumb screw on the dovetail slot.
12. Remove the cap from the focuser and insert the chrome
barrel of one of the eyepieces into the drawtube. Secure
the eyepiece with the thumb screws on the drawtube.
Remember to always loosen the thumb screws before
rotating or removing the eyepiece.
The telescope system is now fully assembled. Keep the dust
cap over the front end of the telescope when it is not in use.
4. getting Started
Balancing the telescope
To insure smooth movement of the telescope on both axes
of the equatorial mount, it is imperative that the optical tube
be properly balanced. We will first balance the telescope with
respect to the R.A. axis, then the Dec. axis.
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
Figure 3a.
The 6x26 Correct-Image finder scope
Finder scope
Finder scope
bracket
Nylon
thumbscrews
Tensioner
Focusing
lock ring
