CCM = Cheap Chinese Mount
I bought a Skywatcher EQM-35 recently after reading very positive reviews (significant improvement over the EQ3 and EQ5, approaching HEQ5 ability). It is SO light and portable that I can carry it, with counterweights on and scope on (with camera attached) with one hand out the front door and out to my side yard. Mount handles ~ 10kg, I have loaded up to around 5kg (Takahashi FS-78 with a mini-guidescope and an OSC CCD).
The TERRIBLE plastic parts or poorly done screws (non-stainless) were driving my pedanticism nuts, so I started ordering replacements. These include:
1. Dovetail clamp and safety screw (originals were poorly done, with a bent safety screw and a clamping screw with a non-radiused face). I replaced these with a 304 stainless safety thumb screw and a clamping screw with brass large surface area dovetail wedge robbed from an aftermarket clamp. Cost: $2 for the safety screw, and a percentage of the cost of the clamp assembly (total cost of the clamp new was $17, so maybe $4)
2. Azimuth adjustment screws. Originals are cheap flimsy (you can hear them crack when you turn them) plastic molded on iron screws. Replaced with again 304 stainless from the same source as above. $3.40 for 5 of them
3. Stefan Buda made me a polar scope cap in aluminium and anodised it. Replaced the craptaular plastic POS SW provides. Has an rubber O-ring for the perfect no-fall-out fit (as we come to expect from Stefan's precision!)
4. Setting circles locking screw - original is a nickle plate tiny screw. Replaced it with a computer case screw that is anodised the same colour as the SW new green. A note here - do NOT tighten these down, as they actually bind the RA axis! Leave them loose! I am even considering removing the polar scope entirely and replacing with a custom made plug (Vixen used to make such a vanity plug years ago for the GP series - I'll try finding one first). Or at least just putting in a grub screw (M4) in this position to seal the hole.
5. tripod leg locking screws are caught up in the mail delays. These are M8x16 stainless thumbscrews (NO PLASTIC)
6. Elevation adjustment screws similarly caught up in the mail delays. M10x50 and M10x60 stainless thumbscrews (I change my elevation so infrequently that normal thumb screws suffice)
Need to recalibrate SW's elevation scale (out by 7°) and get around to replacing EVERY screw and cap bolt with stainless replacements (the originals are all nickle plate or nitride blackened). The EQDrive belt drive set is next, followed by replacement of the SS tripod legs with thicker wall and better quality SS just as Kunama did some time back (might be seeking assistance here Matt).
I am VERY happy with the performance of this mount as is, to go so far as to say it tracks BETTER than any HEQ5 I have owned or used. Coming in at a little over $1K new with full GOTO ability (plus able to convert it to a tracker with the included parts), it's hard to beat. I have NOT imaged with it yet, but not foreseeing any issue, so long as you keep the load within limits. I defintitely would NOT image with a 4" scope on it, especially not a long tube. Strictly a 3", shortish focal length / tube mount.
