mental4astro
11-05-2013, 11:12 AM
Hi all,
I recently picked up a 4" achro with an AZ3 mount. Nice scope, terrible mount! Terrible only because it put the scope, and its centre of gravity SO high up that it was impossible to point the scope up anywhere over 30deg without way over tightening the altitude nut, or else the scope's weight would just over load the mount and the whole altitude motion just tipped back on its own. Not safe for scope, mount or user.
The solution was the easiest DIY mod I've ever done. One 15mm plywood off-cut, two 1/4" bolts, two wing nuts, four washers and drilling four 6.5mm holes. The plywood was cantileavered off the mount head using the 1/4" bolts. The wing nuts make for very quick and easy removal from the head. The scope's rings were then attached on the underside the ply using the nuts that came with the rings, and the scope just hangs underneath. This brought the centre of gravity more in line with the pivot of the mount head, and now the tension nut of the altitude action is only firmly tightened, rather waaayyyy over tight, and the scope can be easily pointed up to any angle without tipping back!
Only 10min work and the solution was soooo easy to now have such a user friendly scope and mount combo! Woohoo!
It's not perfect - I could move the OTA further forward for perfect balance, but this would require a larger piece of ply. I don't see the benefit to the added work.
Thing is, ALL AZ3 mounts have this exact same problem of placing the centre of gravity of the scope way too high above the pivot of the alt bearing. This bugger all cost mod makes the AZ3 mount a very user friendly mount, without risking your precious gear. Can't ask for more with DIY, can we, :)
Mental.
I recently picked up a 4" achro with an AZ3 mount. Nice scope, terrible mount! Terrible only because it put the scope, and its centre of gravity SO high up that it was impossible to point the scope up anywhere over 30deg without way over tightening the altitude nut, or else the scope's weight would just over load the mount and the whole altitude motion just tipped back on its own. Not safe for scope, mount or user.
The solution was the easiest DIY mod I've ever done. One 15mm plywood off-cut, two 1/4" bolts, two wing nuts, four washers and drilling four 6.5mm holes. The plywood was cantileavered off the mount head using the 1/4" bolts. The wing nuts make for very quick and easy removal from the head. The scope's rings were then attached on the underside the ply using the nuts that came with the rings, and the scope just hangs underneath. This brought the centre of gravity more in line with the pivot of the mount head, and now the tension nut of the altitude action is only firmly tightened, rather waaayyyy over tight, and the scope can be easily pointed up to any angle without tipping back!
Only 10min work and the solution was soooo easy to now have such a user friendly scope and mount combo! Woohoo!
It's not perfect - I could move the OTA further forward for perfect balance, but this would require a larger piece of ply. I don't see the benefit to the added work.
Thing is, ALL AZ3 mounts have this exact same problem of placing the centre of gravity of the scope way too high above the pivot of the alt bearing. This bugger all cost mod makes the AZ3 mount a very user friendly mount, without risking your precious gear. Can't ask for more with DIY, can we, :)
Mental.