Telescope Reviews: My New Not So CGEM

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Magellan
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 01/26/06

Loc: Enfield, NS Canada

My New Not So CGEM
#4445257 - 03/12/11 06:52 PM

So I went to pick up my CGEM today. Assembled easy enough but its missing things, things that are important like RA a DEC setting circles and seems to be missing a tiny screw (seen in the picture) and also the hand controller holder slides alllll the way down the leg, whats the point on that?

So far I am not happy

Post Extras:

Peter in Reno
Post Laureate

Reged: 07/15/08

Loc: Reno, NV

Re: My New Not So CGEM new

[Re: Magellan]
#4445268 - 03/12/11 06:58 PM

I don't think CGEM has setting circles. Many GoTo mounts don't come with setting circles.

http://www.celestron.com/c3/product.php?CatID=16&ProdID=548

I do not see your picture?

Peter

Post Extras:

Magellan
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 01/26/06

Loc: Enfield, NS Canada

Re: My New Not So CGEM new

[Re: Peter in Reno]
#4445292 - 03/12/11 07:06 PM

for the love of god LOL.

I was looking at the picture of the CGEM mount that showed the mount head and a warning to make sure that the clutch is tightened. In that picture it shows the CGEM with setting circles.

Am I an idiot or what?

Now to figure out the fleeting hand controller holder haha

Post Extras:

nemo129
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 01/03/10

Loc: WMass

Re: My New Not So CGEM new

[Re: Magellan]
#4445314 - 03/12/11 07:15 PM

No, you are not an idiot. In the PDF manual for the CGEM, they have a couple of figure insets that show the mount with silver setting circles with black index numbers on them. Since they probably made the manual based on beta units, I can see how this happened. I had the same question when I first got mine over a year ago!
I am curious about the HC holder, mine has a serious grip on the tripod leg once snapped into place!

Post Extras:

Peter in Reno
Post Laureate

Reged: 07/15/08

Loc: Reno, NV

Re: My New Not So CGEM new

[Re: Magellan]
#4445324 - 03/12/11 07:18 PM Attachment (38 downloads)

I don't own it but it does show setting circles for Dec axis but not for RA axis in the operating manual. I wonder if this is a picture of a prototype before it went into production.

What tiny screw are you referring? The one on the setting circle as shown in the picture?

Peter

Post Extras:

Magellan
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 01/26/06

Loc: Enfield, NS Canada

Re: My New Not So CGEM new

[Re: Peter in Reno]
#4445330 - 03/12/11 07:21 PM

The tiny hole in my picture above the arrow.

Post Extras:

Peter in Reno
Post Laureate

Reged: 07/15/08

Loc: Reno, NV

Re: My New Not So CGEM new

[Re: Magellan]
#4445335 - 03/12/11 07:25 PM

I don't see your picture. Where is it?

Peter

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RTLR 12
Post Laureate

Reged: 12/04/08

Loc: Capistrano Beach, Ca

Re: My New Not So CGEM new

[Re: Magellan]
#4445359 - 03/12/11 07:38 PM

Jeff,

Soak the HC holder in very hot water (not quite boiling) for a few minutes. Then pinch the ears on the holder together long enough for the the plastic to cool. It may take a few tries to get the fit you need.

Stan

Post Extras:

Bart
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 05/28/06

Loc: Somewhere near Charlottesville...

Re: My New Not So CGEM new

[Re: Magellan]
#4445445 - 03/12/11 08:32 PM

Quote:

So I went to pick up my CGEM today. Assembled easy enough but its missing things, things that are important like RA a DEC setting circles and seems to be missing a tiny screw (seen in the picture) and also the hand controller holder slides alllll the way down the leg, whats the point on that?

So far I am not happy

I own a CGEM and I can tell you definitively that it has no setting circles. Like the previous poster said, GOTOs don't have them.

Post Extras:

Magellan
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 01/26/06

Loc: Enfield, NS Canada

Re: My New Not So CGEM new

[Re: Bart]
#4445514 - 03/12/11 09:09 PM

I am old school.. Pushto... I do have an SLT but its a different beast. Forgive my noobness

Post Extras:

Magellan
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 01/26/06

Loc: Enfield, NS Canada

Re: My New Not So CGEM new

[Re: Magellan]
#4445569 - 03/12/11 09:47 PM

Sorry here is the picture:

IMG-20110312-00066 by AstroJeff, on Flickr

Now I am trying to figure out how to adapt an ADM DC8 to my orion 8" f4 astrograph's tube rings and the Vixen guidescope kit. I am sure I will come up with something.

Post Extras:

Peter in Reno
Post Laureate

Reged: 07/15/08

Loc: Reno, NV

Re: My New Not So CGEM new

[Re: Magellan]
#4445597 - 03/12/11 09:59 PM

There may be a set screw buried inside the threaded hole. Like I said I don't own this mount.

I don't think ADM DC8 will work with your Orion 8" F4 because DC8 is a dovetail for Celestron 8" scope. You probably need something like this:

http://www.admaccessories.com/D_Series_Universal.htm

You mount the tube rings onto the holes of ADM universal dovetail. Before you buy it, there are two versions, one is for standard size and other is for metric. Measure the hole spacing distance underneath the tube rings. It's either 2" or 60mm.

Peter

Post Extras:

nemo129
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 01/03/10

Loc: WMass

Re: My New Not So CGEM new

[Re: Peter in Reno]
#4445739 - 03/12/11 11:18 PM

That is one of the set screws for adjusting the backlash for the RA axis worm gear. It is normally a 2mm hex key or Allen key screw. If you look in with a flash light you should see the screw head, if it is not there, you have an issue.

Post Extras:

Parsec96
super member

Reged: 03/07/11

Loc: Canada

Re: My New Not So CGEM new

[Re: nemo129]
#4446310 - 03/13/11 09:31 AM

I just got my CGEM and I have the same problem with the leg brace. To fix it, it tightened it with duct tape. Hope it helps!

Post Extras:

Bart
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 05/28/06

Loc: Somewhere near Charlottesville...

Re: My New Not So CGEM new

[Re: Parsec96]
#4446379 - 03/13/11 10:22 AM

Magellan,

My scope looks exactly the same in regard to the screw holes. I used a flashlight to have a look, I can see the bottom of the hole, but I can't tell if it's an allen head or flat head screw. In fact, I can't tell if there is a screw in it. It looks like there could be nothing there. I understand your concern. But, my mount seems to work fine, so I'm assuming whatever is down there, or not, is correct.

So I guess what I'm saying is that you're CGEM seems fine.

Hope that helps, clear as mud huh?

Post Extras:

nemo129
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 01/03/10

Loc: WMass

Re: My New Not So CGEM new

[Re: Bart]
#4446707 - 03/13/11 12:45 PM

Well, one way to find out is to put a 2mm hex key in there and see if it goes into the socket at the end of the screw head that should be there. Do NOT turn it unless you really want to play with the backlash, which on a new mount you do not want to do unless you suspect you have backlash issues. If it were me I would want to know if it was there as it is a critical piece of hardware and the best time to seek resolution with a reseller or vendor is right after recieiving the equipment. They seem to become less cooperative as time goes on, then you are dealing with the manufacturer and the time frames for resolution change... not usually in your favor!

YMMV.

Post Extras:

Magellan
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 01/26/06

Loc: Enfield, NS Canada

Re: My New Not So CGEM new

[Re: nemo129]
#4447027 - 03/13/11 03:27 PM

Well I got it mounted anyway. I had to make the holes larger to receive bolts but the bolt heads do scrape very slightly in the saddle but I don't think it's too bad.

IMG-20110313-00067 by AstroJeff, on Flickr

Post Extras:

nemo129
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 01/03/10

Loc: WMass

Re: My New Not So CGEM new

[Re: Magellan]
#4447070 - 03/13/11 03:57 PM

Looking good!

Hey, is that 17 lb. counterweight going to be enough to balance the mount in RA? I noticed you have it waaaay out there at the tip of the CW shaft.

Post Extras:

Magellan
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 01/26/06

Loc: Enfield, NS Canada

Re: My New Not So CGEM new

[Re: nemo129]
#4447441 - 03/13/11 07:12 PM

Nemo, good eye, it is the 17 that came with it. I also bought an extra 11lb and the extension on scopestuff. I don't think it was balanced in RA when I took this shot. Balanced is about halfway. Its when I mount the guidescope thats going to mess with the balance.

Post Extras:

akua
member

Reged: 03/01/06

Re: My New Not So CGEM new

[Re: Magellan]
#4447526 - 03/13/11 07:54 PM

For fixing HC holder from sliding down the leg I used a strip of thick self-adhesive felt pad or or sheet foam and stick inside the opposite end of the bracket opening.
It now works perfectly for me.

Post Extras:

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