· 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 gsmblue member Reged: 04/14/09 Loc: Portland, OR, USA New purchase for CGEM - opinions sought!       #3056039 - 04/20/09 09:44 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   So, having read the info on the poor saddle plate I have taken the plunge to buy the saddle plate and knob set from ADM - if anyone has these items and would care to share their views I would very much appreciate it! Post Extras:       Doug6952 Pooh-Bah Reged: 07/24/08 Loc: West Milford, NJ Re: New purchase for CGEM - opinions sought! [Re: gsmblue]       #3056066 - 04/20/09 09:56 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I bought the saddle and knobs from ADM at NEAF this past weekend. They are very nice. The saddle would be nicer if it were spring loaded. The AZ and saddle knobs are much easier to use then the stock knobs. ADM will be offering replacement clutch knobs soon. He had some at NEAF but there was a problem with the design, so he will be working on it to get it right. Post Extras:       gsmblue member Reged: 04/14/09 Loc: Portland, OR, USA Re: New purchase for CGEM - opinions sought! [Re: Doug6952]       #3056093 - 04/20/09 10:15 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Ah, so not like the G11 saddle? How are the stock clutch knobs? I have order this mount but not even seen one in the flesh yet.... Post Extras:       Doug6952 Pooh-Bah Reged: 07/24/08 Loc: West Milford, NJ Re: New purchase for CGEM - opinions sought! [Re: gsmblue]       #3056111 - 04/20/09 10:26 PM Attachment (59 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   The stock clutch knobs are ok. Heres a picture of the DEC clutch knob and saddle knobs. Post Extras:       Doug6952 Pooh-Bah Reged: 07/24/08 Loc: West Milford, NJ Re: New purchase for CGEM - opinions sought! [Re: Doug6952]       #3056114 - 04/20/09 10:28 PM Attachment (64 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   And heres a pic with the ADM knobs and dual saddle mounted. Post Extras:       gsmblue member Reged: 04/14/09 Loc: Portland, OR, USA Re: New purchase for CGEM - opinions sought! [Re: Doug6952]       #3056123 - 04/20/09 10:33 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thanks for the pics, it is good to know. I have them all ordered up now I am sure they will arrive before the mount.... I guess I also should ask about the pros/cons of the losmandy D vs the vixen dovetail.... I think in my application it makes no difference. I have a vixen dovetail knocking around and I am only mounting a 4" refractor.... any thoughts? Post Extras:       Jeff55 professor emeritus Reged: 04/14/05 Loc: Boston MA Re: New purchase for CGEM - opinions sought! [Re: Doug6952]       #3056132 - 04/20/09 10:39 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I purchased the CGEM collar from ADM and will be attaching a Robin Casady twelve (12) inch drop-in saddle...Anthony will be redrilling the holes on the collar to match the saddle (35mm). I plan on mounting 35 pounds of equipment on the CGEM so a far more substantial saddle was mandatory. ADM clutch knobs which Anthony is still perfecting are truly cool. Post Extras:       chollman sage Reged: 04/24/08 Re: New purchase for CGEM - opinions sought! [Re: gsmblue]       #3056139 - 04/20/09 10:43 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I thought the springs from the celestron saddle could be used in the ADM saddle. That is what I was told. I purchased the ADM saddle ahead of time and it is very nice. The ADM 15" plate that I also purchased fits perfectly. Still awaiting my CGEM mount however. Post Extras:       Lane Post Laureate Reged: 11/19/07 Loc: Frisco, Texas Re: New purchase for CGEM - opinions sought! [Re: chollman]       #3056604 - 04/21/09 07:11 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Guys - I have the ADM saddle and it is spring loaded, he must have left the springs out of the ones you bought. Post Extras:       chollman sage Reged: 04/24/08 Re: New purchase for CGEM - opinions sought! [Re: Lane]       #3056758 - 04/21/09 08:58 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   He was out of springs but said that you can use the ones in the Celestron saddle. Post Extras:       Greg K. Reged: 12/11/03 Loc: Clifton Park, NY Re: New purchase for CGEM - opinions sought! [Re: chollman]       #3056815 - 04/21/09 09:36 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Glad I noticed this thread - my CGEM hasn't seen first light yet but I can tell that the saddle knobs are gonna have to go. It's really hard to get a good grip on them. I should have stopped by ADM at NEAF. Now, should I just get saddle knobs, or the whole set? Hmm. Those orange knobs everywhere do look pretty sharp. Post Extras:       chollman sage Reged: 04/24/08 Re: New purchase for CGEM - opinions sought! [Re: Greg K.]       #3056855 - 04/21/09 09:54 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Yeah, the knobs are great. Pretty tough looking at the ADM dual saddle and not having my CGEM yet! No telling when it will get here. Wonder how long others waited for their mount? Post Extras:       Doug6952 Pooh-Bah Reged: 07/24/08 Loc: West Milford, NJ Re: New purchase for CGEM - opinions sought! [Re: Greg K.]       #3056874 - 04/21/09 10:09 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   The stock saddle springs do work on the ADM saddle. I don't remember Anthony saying it to me, but he may have. When I first saw the ADM knobs on his website I thought the orange color made the mount look toyish. After seeing it in person my view was instantly changed. Post Extras:       Greg K. Reged: 12/11/03 Loc: Clifton Park, NY Re: New purchase for CGEM - opinions sought! [Re: Doug6952]       #3056923 - 04/21/09 10:35 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   They do look better in your picture than in the one on ADM's site. Less garish. Now I'd like to see a replacement tripod spreader. Something closer to the one on the CGE Pro or the CPC1100 tripod. Post Extras:       gsmblue member Reged: 04/14/09 Loc: Portland, OR, USA Re: New purchase for CGEM - opinions sought! [Re: Greg K.]       #3057657 - 04/21/09 03:59 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   So I bought the saddle and the knob set from ADM, I was worried that I would end up with some spare knobs, but it would appear that ADM has credited me back $35 - I can only assume this is prevent me received a set of saddle knobs that I will not use. Very happy with the customer service! Post Extras:       Doug6952 Pooh-Bah Reged: 07/24/08 Loc: West Milford, NJ Re: New purchase for CGEM - opinions sought! [Re: gsmblue]       #3058542 - 04/21/09 11:26 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Yup! Thats what he did for me at NEAF. I also opted to not get the knobs for the eyepiece tray and mount attachment. Saved me another $55 or so. Post Extras:       Pages: 1 Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Extra information 15 registered and 21 anonymous users are browsing this forum. 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