Losmandy -style plate

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

I use the C11 on a Losmandy dovetail and have a safety clamp fitted to the dovetail. This allows positioning of the OTA in the saddle with the safety clamp taking the weight.
Highly recommended.

[bojan]

Originally Posted by gb44

Hi
So, with the counterweight bar supported horizontal, and the vertical OTA seated objective down on some sort of table ( height adjustable observing seat maybe), cant you open up the dovetail clamp to release the OTA?
Glenn

This is exactly what I will do in the future (only OTA will be pointed upwards, with it's back sitting on the storm pipe of the right length.. so the OTA could be close to balance at DEC axle).
But then, I was not thinking enough in advance, I really only wanted to have that first look
So when the curiosity was satisfied, it was time for "oh oh.. what now?"

Originally Posted by Merlin66

.... have a safety clamp fitted to the dovetail...

Ken, what kind of safety clam do you use?

[bojan]

Dovetail adapter finally arrived, it took 10 days (including weekend and ANZAC day) for courier to bring it from Mt Martha to Mt Waverley....
If I knew this, I would have hit the road and picked it up myself.

Anyway, now I need to machine it to fit it to my old-style EQ6.

In the meantime I was thinking about how to clamp my 18kg contrete counterweight to the shaft.. and came up with solution: I will use 13mm hose extension clamp from bunnings (attachment)..
I only need to remove the central part (that goes into hose) and widen the hole to 18mm (which is diameter of the EQ6 counterweight shaft). The grip should be sufficient to prevent couterweight slide off the shaft (I tried with plastic equivalent ($1.50) but the grip was not strong enough).

And I will need 2 of those...

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

Bojan, The clamp is similar to a mini saddle, say 30mmwide and can be slid onto the dovetail to position the OTA. I got mine in the UK.
I’m in transit with limited internet so no access to images etc.

[bojan]

Here it is, on the mount...
I just remove a bit of material from upper conus, so the adapter can sit all the way in the mount head.
I was thinking of adding a spacer 4.5mm thick (between adapter and mount head), but is seems it is not necessary, there is ~1.5mm width of circular shoulder remain, enough to support the weight of C11.

[bojan]

Everything ready for Mars opposition...
I changed my mind about clamps... decided to go with two collars and M8 screws.

With crutch it is easy...
Counterweight goes first, then C11.. so crutch can be removed. Then balance of DEC axle, then RA..

Dismantling goes in reversed order - Crutch goes in first, then telescope off, then counterweight off.
C11 is light enough (14kg), I can handle it without issues now I know what to expect... for the time being. It will be permanently mounted one day anyway.

[bojan]

BTW..
Anyone knows what are those two threads for?