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Zotty
super member
Reged: 07/24/09
Posts: 127
Loc: The Netherlands
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Finally got the basic components for my initial imaging setup complete, only to find out it's too back heavy. So I need something to balance the dec axis. Only thing that comes to mind are a dovetail, rings and those small weights you put under the front of the dovetail. But are there any other options? See attached photo for current setup.
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GSO 8" RC ♦ WO Megrez 72FD ♦ Losmandy G11 Gemini ♦ Atik 314L+ ♦ Starlight Xpress 2" wheel with Astronomik filters ♦ QHY5
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waassaabee
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/26/07
Posts: 2689
Loc: Central California Coast
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Get a tube with larger glass!! 
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Gary
34N 120W
-My kingdom for blue squares!-
WO Megrez 90FD/TV 0.8x FR/FF
AT8RC
mini Borg 50/Q-Guide/PHD
CGEM
Canon 350D Hap Griffin Baader mod - o.o
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Zotty
super member
Reged: 07/24/09
Posts: 127
Loc: The Netherlands
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I knew I shouldn't have listened to all those people telling me go for the biggest mount.... then it wouldn't look soo tiny 
Ok let me explain. The idea was to get a small refractor that would end up being the guidescope in a few months time once the main OTA arrives. In the meantime doing some wide-field and get some practice. But now that those parts have arrived the practical problems show themselves.
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GSO 8" RC ♦ WO Megrez 72FD ♦ Losmandy G11 Gemini ♦ Atik 314L+ ♦ Starlight Xpress 2" wheel with Astronomik filters ♦ QHY5
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CounterWeight
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 10/05/08
Posts: 1290
Loc: PDX chronoplast
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Zotty,
Looks like you have it as far forward as allowed... How much weight do you anticipate needing? Might try the local fitness shop or other store for ankle or wristweights used for fitness training? I can think of a lot of solutions - what is the weight differential or ideal weight for balance point?
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 - 
CGE (Frankenmount mod.)
Onyx 80ED, Tak FS-128 #02058, TEC APO160ED #030
CCD: Orion SSPDSCIv2, SSI3, SSAG
diags, ep's, tubes, filters, Binocs
My CN Image Gallery
Experience is a difficult teacher, it gives the test first, and gives the lesson later
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Zotty
super member
Reged: 07/24/09
Posts: 127
Loc: The Netherlands
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Let it sink in for a while and adding counterweight doesn't seem the best solution. So I was thinking of getting a 11" dovetail bar and a set of D Series Adjustable Rings from ADM. That way I move the scope forward as much as needed. One thing I'm worried about though is whether or not the adjusting screws will be able to handle the added weight of the wheel and CCD. Most weight will rest upon the back 2 bottom screws and press against the front upper screw.
Or even worse, will it prevent the scope from sliding when aimed at zenith and possibly crashing to the ground? Often wondered how stable this is when looking at other people's setups.
Weight of the wheel, CCD, flattener, etc is approx 1.4kg (= roughly 3 pound).
An added bonus is that once I've got the main scope and decide the place the guidescope on top, I only need to get an ADM mini dovetail with new plate adapters.
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GSO 8" RC ♦ WO Megrez 72FD ♦ Losmandy G11 Gemini ♦ Atik 314L+ ♦ Starlight Xpress 2" wheel with Astronomik filters ♦ QHY5
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mclewis1
Thread Killer
Reged: 02/25/06
Posts: 3938
Loc: New Brunswick, Canada
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When you have a lot of overhanging weight some folks have used a much longer dovetail plate and a third set of 3 point rings centered around an adapter that is close to the camera. It looks funny but it reduces or eliminates any flexure in the connections between the back of the scope, the accessories and the camera.
If you just need to move the weight around have a look at Robin Casady's offset saddles. link, they are expensive but offer a lot of flexibility in the mounting position of your scope.
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Mark
C11, C6, APM/TMB115, and AT80ED - Tandem mount CGE and CG-5A, WO EZ-Touch and AT Voyager
25x100s and 8x56s, T-Mount Light, Mark 1 eyeballs - Modded 350D, DSI-P, SPC900, Mallincam
Just because you can doesn't necessarily mean that you should
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Zotty
super member
Reged: 07/24/09
Posts: 127
Loc: The Netherlands
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Time to feel really stupid.... while fiddling with the setup trying and measuring a potential SBS setup I suddenly realised the Losmandy-Vixen adapter could slide forward aswell... DOH. 7 to 8cm did the trick and it's balanced. This leaves over 2/3 of the adapter still in contact with the mount's saddle which seems solid enough. Only time will tell.
This solution is so simple I going to stand in the corner feeling ashamed for not thinking of this before 
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GSO 8" RC ♦ WO Megrez 72FD ♦ Losmandy G11 Gemini ♦ Atik 314L+ ♦ Starlight Xpress 2" wheel with Astronomik filters ♦ QHY5
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