· 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 General Astronomy >> General Observing and Astronomy Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Pages: 1 Stargaz18 super member Reged: 01/04/11 Loc: Wichita Falls, TX To rebalance or not to rebalance...       #5700410 - 02/25/13 06:59 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I've never seen this question so thought I'd ask. Do you need to rebalance your scope when switching EP's? Some 2" EP's are close to 2 lbs in weight difference. And if you also add in a 2" barlow, even more. I never have rebalanced and I'm wondering if I need to. Thanks, Patrick Post Extras:       David Castillo Pooh-Bah Reged: 09/09/06 Loc: Carmel Valley, Ca Re: To rebalance or not to rebalance... [Re: Stargaz18]       #5700562 - 02/25/13 08:59 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Yes! If I don't, my scope's servo drives groan in protest. ----- Dave Post Extras:       GOLGO13 Carpal Tunnel Reged: 11/05/05 Loc: St. Louis area Re: To rebalance or not to rebalance... [Re: Stargaz18]       #5700592 - 02/25/13 09:20 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I think it's usually a good idea to do so. But it can depend on your scope setup. For instance, my 10 inch dob has a tension knob where I can just tighten the knob more and it will handle a heavier eyepiece. But, I could get some counterweights rather than tighten that up so much. I'd say if it's a really heavy payload I would do that (a 30mm Meade UWA for instance). On my refractors I would rebalance if it were a significant change. You may have to anyways when you see your OTA start to move on it's own. Post Extras:       JayinUT I'm not Sleepy Reged: 09/19/08 Loc: Utah Re: To rebalance or not to rebalance... [Re: GOLGO13]       #5700622 - 02/25/13 09:33 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   By drilling two new holes where the bearings attached I lowered my dob and moved the center of gravity. I attach a weight to the bottom and have a sliding weight on one of my strut poles and the scope stays balance throughout the night now. Post Extras:       Madratter professor emeritus Reged: 01/14/13 Re: To rebalance or not to rebalance... [Re: Stargaz18]       #5700694 - 02/25/13 10:25 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   No I don't bother. I also have a CG-5. I balance at the start with my most commonly used eyepiece, which also happens to be middle of the road in terms of weight. As Uncle Rod says, the mount can sound like weasels with tuberculosis, but it moves around just fine. Edited by Madratter (02/26/13 05:01 PM) Post Extras:       Tony Flanders Postmaster Reged: 05/18/06 Loc: Cambridge, MA, USA Re: To rebalance or not to rebalance... [Re: Stargaz18]       #5701020 - 02/26/13 04:49 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   If your scope is working OK, then you don't need to rebalance. If it's not working OK, then you do. Not surprisingly, the bigger the scope, the less it matters what eyepiece is in it. A 4.5-inch Dob is more likely to need rebalancing than a 16-inch Dob -- likewise a 5-inch SCT versus a 16-inch SCT. Is your scope exhibiting symptoms that make you think rebalancing might be advisable? Post Extras:       mich_al Pooh-Bah Reged: 05/10/09 Loc: Rural central lower Michigan ... Re: To rebalance or not to rebalance... [Re: Tony Flanders]       #5701121 - 02/26/13 07:59 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Someone (I think Televue) makes a weighted 1.25" to 2" adapter for this reason. In the past I have attached an appropriate weight to my diagonal using velcro. Normally I don't bother. Al Post Extras:       Ed D Carpal Tunnel Reged: 04/30/10 Loc: Sunny South Florida Re: To rebalance or not to rebalance... [Re: mich_al]       #5701247 - 02/26/13 09:30 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I drilled new holes to move the trunnions (pivots) on my tube Dob about an inch to balance the load with my binoviewer - talk about heavy! With single eyepieces it's a bit tail heavy, the opposite with the binoviewer. However, the normal spring tension between the base and trunnions is enough to hold the assembly in place. In your case I suggest trying and playing with the eyepieces first before modding the scope. They may not have any significant impact on the balance. Ed D Edited by Ed D (02/26/13 09:33 AM) Post Extras:       Stargaz18 super member Reged: 01/04/11 Loc: Wichita Falls, TX Re: To rebalance or not to rebalance... [Re: Ed D]       #5701933 - 02/26/13 03:58 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   No I haven't been having any problems Tony. I was just wondering if I needed to rebalance to avoid any future problems with the goto drive gears. Thanks for all your answers guys! Post Extras:       Pages: 1 Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Extra information 8 registered and 22 anonymous users are browsing this forum. 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