· Get a Cloudy Nights T-Shirt · Submit a Review / Article Click here if you are having trouble logging into the forums Privacy Policy | Please read our Terms of Service | Signup and Troubleshooting FAQ | Problems? PM a Red or a Green Gu… uh, User You are not logged in. [Login] Entrance · Main Index · Search · New user · Who's Online FAQ · Calendar Equipment Discussions >> Mounts Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | (show all) Dr Benway professor emeritus Reged: 03/27/08 Loc: Abilene, TX Re: The ultimate CGEM topic ... [Re: Lord Beowulf]       #2996705 - 03/21/09 05:10 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I just received an email with a new estimated arrival date of 4/3/09. Shipping to follow in 3-5 days. Hmmmm... John Post Extras:       PhilCo126 Carpal Tunnel Reged: 01/14/05 Loc: coastline of Belgium Re: The ultimate CGEM topic ... [Re: Dr Benway]       #2999925 - 03/23/09 12:16 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Teleskop-Service GERMANY lists this half pillar as fitting for the CGEM: http://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p421_Saeulenaufsatz-fuer-EQ6-und-Atlas.html Post Extras:       PhilCo126 Carpal Tunnel Reged: 01/14/05 Loc: coastline of Belgium Re: The ultimate CGEM topic ... [Re: PhilCo126]       #3005884 - 03/26/09 02:06 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   O.K. the above half pillar doesn't fit ... Meanwhile CGEms are shipping; http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=3005882&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=all&fpart=1&vc=&PHPSESSID= Post Extras:       Lane Post Laureate Reged: 11/19/07 Loc: Frisco, Texas Re: The ultimate CGEM topic ... [Re: PhilCo126]       #3006129 - 03/26/09 03:59 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   This half pillar fits perfectly on the CGEM, I am using right now. Mount Extension Post Extras:       t.r. Post Laureate Reged: 02/14/08 Loc: Upstate NY Re: The ultimate CGEM topic ... [Re: Lane]       #3007370 - 03/27/09 08:28 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Am I the only one who thinks the tripod for this new head will not be up to the task of carrying the load fully extended? I have one on order, I always thought that even the 2" tripod on the CG-5 was the weak link when fully extended... The CGEM-11 pic back a page just doesn't look right on that tiny tripod! Can current users assure or defend... Post Extras:       waassaabee Post Laureate Reged: 11/26/07 Loc: Central California Coast Re: The ultimate CGEM topic ... [Re: t.r.]       #3007647 - 03/27/09 11:03 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   t.r. - I think you'll be pleasantly surprised when your arrives. Granted I'm not sporting the load your talking about, and I haven't even gotten mine outside yet, but I think you'll find it is plenty strong. The clamps on the legs are not like my CG5 and seem to have a much more positive 'lock' to them. Overall the tripod seems the same, but somehow different from my CG5. Post Extras:       t.r. Post Laureate Reged: 02/14/08 Loc: Upstate NY Re: The ultimate CGEM topic ... [Re: waassaabee]       #3007693 - 03/27/09 11:28 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thanks waassaabee, just preparing myself to get the mount up and running as quickly as possible. I thought of the leg clamps too, thought about a quick release pin in each leg to "secure" the extension, but it sounds like celestron addressed it. Half-pier extension, I like'em high. There will be quite abit more weight placed on this tripod than the CG-5. I will be at 40#'s plus...C-11, losmandy plate, Tak sky 90, 2" diagonal, 2" ethos, etc. This thing has to be STABLE. We'll see... Post Extras:       waassaabee Post Laureate Reged: 11/26/07 Loc: Central California Coast Re: The ultimate CGEM topic ... [Re: t.r.]       #3007733 - 03/27/09 11:44 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   t.r. - on the same note the mount itself adds a bit of height over the CG5 by itself. With my CG5 I would extend the legs about 18" and it got a bit wicked doing the alignment stars overhead. With the legs on the CGEM extended about the same, it appears as though I won't be doing the contortionist moves any longer. But I'm stricly imaging, so the requirements are different. Post Extras:       Skylook123 Postmaster Reged: 04/30/05 Loc: Tucson, AZ Re: The ultimate CGEM topic ... [Re: waassaabee]       #3008228 - 03/27/09 03:44 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   If the legs are anything like the Atlas/EQ6 legs, be VERY careful with tightening; the legs will easily get permanently deformed and will not extend/retract past the defect. Post Extras:       PhilCo126 Carpal Tunnel Reged: 01/14/05 Loc: coastline of Belgium Re: The ultimate CGEM topic ... [Re: Skylook123]       #3009876 - 03/28/09 01:11 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Lane could You post a photo of the mount with that extension pillar? Post Extras:       Lane Post Laureate Reged: 11/19/07 Loc: Frisco, Texas Re: The ultimate CGEM topic ... [Re: PhilCo126]       #3010480 - 03/28/09 07:04 PM Attachment (116 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Here is a pic of the mount with the extension pillar in place. Those upper pillar bolts with the big knobs on them are not standard, I got them at the hardware store. The normal bolts on the top are the same as the small silver hex bolts you see at the bottom of the pillar. It is just easier to remove the mount with the big bolts and not as easy to lose them in the dark either. With the tripod legs at their lowest position, it is 56.5 inches from the ground to the center of the Saddle plate. Post Extras:       Lane Post Laureate Reged: 11/19/07 Loc: Frisco, Texas Re: The ultimate CGEM topic ... [Re: Lane]       #3010523 - 03/28/09 07:28 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   The three bolts near the top of the pillar hold the plate that mounts to the bottom of the CGEM mount. The 3 bolts near the bottom of the pillar hold the plate that mounts to the tripod. These plates can both be completely removed which leaves you with a hollow aluminum tube that has an inside diameter of 3 5/8" and is about 1/8" thick and about 7 3/4" tall. So you could actually make your own pillar any size you want just by finding a tube with a similar inside diameter and thickness. The inside diamter of the replacement could be as much as a half inch larger and it would still work, you would just need longer bolts to secure the plates. That top plate could also be used to mount the scope on a permanent pier. Post Extras:       waassaabee Post Laureate Reged: 11/26/07 Loc: Central California Coast Re: The ultimate CGEM topic ... [Re: Lane]       #3011429 - 03/29/09 10:12 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Now that looks interesting (Lane, you're a bad influence ). Post Extras:       Lane Post Laureate Reged: 11/19/07 Loc: Frisco, Texas Re: The ultimate CGEM topic ... [Re: waassaabee]       #3012988 - 03/29/09 10:33 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Gary, I think this whole CN forum has had a bad influence on all of us. Everytime I see something someone else did to their telescope and mount it gets me to thinking and making more changes to my own. That mount in my picture above also has no vibration anymore, I don't even have to use vibration suppression pads with it. I partially filled the smaller inner legs with flexible silicon caulking about 10 ozs in each leg, put dynamat vibration control pads inside the tops of the outer legs. Then put 2 layers of dynamat inside the pillar. That eyepiece tray is also made of a pine, which is of course a soft wood that tends to absorb vibrations. So when you thump any part of this tripod it sounds like thumping the door of mercedes, the sound and vibration is just dead. Post Extras:       Doug6952 Pooh-Bah Reged: 07/24/08 Loc: West Milford, NJ Re: The ultimate CGEM topic ... [Re: Lane]       #3018960 - 04/01/09 08:54 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Will the counterweights from a CG-5 fit the CGEM? Or is the CW shaft a larger diameter? Post Extras:       Lane Post Laureate Reged: 11/19/07 Loc: Frisco, Texas Re: The ultimate CGEM topic ... [Re: Doug6952]       #3018973 - 04/01/09 09:01 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Exact same diameter on the CG-5 and CGEM counterweight bars. I actually use CG-5 11 lb and 7.5 lb weights on my CGEM rather than the 17 lb that comes with the CGEM. I just like them better. Post Extras:       Doug6952 Pooh-Bah Reged: 07/24/08 Loc: West Milford, NJ Re: The ultimate CGEM topic ... [Re: Lane]       #3019092 - 04/01/09 10:20 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thanks Lane! Good to know. Post Extras:       PhilCo126 Carpal Tunnel Reged: 01/14/05 Loc: coastline of Belgium Re: The ultimate CGEM topic ... [Re: Doug6952]       #3019797 - 04/02/09 10:51 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   CGEMs shipped from today in Europe ! Customizing a CGEM: http://www.admaccessories.com/CGEM_KNOBS.htm Post Extras:       waassaabee Post Laureate Reged: 11/26/07 Loc: Central California Coast Re: The ultimate CGEM topic ... [Re: PhilCo126]       #3019806 - 04/02/09 10:55 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Sleep now PhilCo126... And get ready for some fun!!! Post Extras:       mclewis1 Thread Killer Reged: 02/25/06 Loc: New Brunswick, Canada Re: The ultimate CGEM topic ... [Re: waassaabee]       #3019994 - 04/02/09 12:57 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Oooo Anthony's got all the nice pics up ... and the are accessible from the main page (not hidden as "soon to be released" items). I'll bet he sells more of them just because the pics look so good. Marketing sells. Post Extras:       Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | (show all) Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Extra information 23 registered and 27 anonymous users are browsing this forum. 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