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[Login] Entrance · Main Index · Search · New user · Who's Online FAQ · Calendar Equipment Discussions >> Mounts Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Pages: 1 donnie3 Carpal Tunnel Reged: 12/15/04 Loc: bartlesville oklahoma equatorial mount question       #3036942 - 04/10/09 08:21 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   i have a cg-5 on a home built pier tripod with wheels where i can roll it out off the patio to observe. my question concerns the counter weights. would it damage the mount to leave the weights on the mount shaft and not having the scope attached to it. thanks, don Post Extras:       David Pavlich Transmographied Reged: 05/18/05 Loc: Mandeville, LA USA Re: equatorial mount question [Re: donnie3]       #3037122 - 04/10/09 09:52 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I can't say yes or no for sure, but I wouldn't do it. It seems to me that it would be placing undo stress on something due to the lack of a counter on the other end. David Post Extras:       mclewis1 Thread Killer Reged: 02/25/06 Loc: New Brunswick, Canada Re: equatorial mount question [Re: David Pavlich]       #3037147 - 04/10/09 10:09 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I'm not sure it's a big deal, I mean folks who have permanent observatories leave scopes and counterweights attached all the time. Having said that if I'm leaving my mounts alone for a while (weeks/months) then I do remove the counterweights ... I find it easier to move and store the mounts without the counterweights. One thing I do usually do regardless of the amount of time the mount is sitting idle is to loosen the clutches. Bumping the mount when the clutches are tight can promote premature wear on the clutch components. Post Extras:       dddhgg sage Reged: 08/03/07 Loc: The Netherlands Re: equatorial mount question [Re: mclewis1]       #3037737 - 04/11/09 09:34 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I do this all the time, and it doesn't seem to have any adverse effects. That's just my experience however and I don't know absolutely for sure. Post Extras:       hudson_yak Carpal Tunnel Reged: 11/15/07 Loc: Hyde Park, NY, USA Re: equatorial mount question [Re: dddhgg]       #3037765 - 04/11/09 09:50 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   It wouldn't hurt to slide the weight or weights all the way up, at least. That's what I do, makes the thing easier to carry around and when stored with the legs partly folded makes it less likely to get knocked over. Also reduces leverage forces on the bearings a bit. Mike Post Extras:       waassaabee Post Laureate Reged: 11/26/07 Loc: Central California Coast Re: equatorial mount question [Re: hudson_yak]       #3037791 - 04/11/09 10:08 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I had never even considered this aspect (my bad...). I always just disconnect everything, take the scope inside, then release and spin the spreader and haul the mount inside. Once inside the garage I would wrap a bungee around the legs and set the mount off in the corner. Never seemed to hurt anything, but it seems it could cause undue stress on gears and such now that I think about it. Post Extras:       Pages: 1 Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Extra information 12 registered and 22 anonymous users are browsing this forum. 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