EQ6 dowel location

[Bfialkov]

Hi

I've just setup my AZEQ6 and have the azimuth dowel situated between two tripod legs.


This seems to be opposite to my HEQ5 where the azimuth dowel as located over a leg.


Do I leave it as is or will I need to move it based on my latitude and OTA size (140mm aperture wide long scope)


My latitude is 34degrees south


TIA

Barry

[that_guy]

You got it bang on, you only need to put the "dowel" between the two legs if its interfering with the counterweight shaft. If it isn't, its better practice to have it where its parallel to one of the legs. It distributes weight to compensate for the "Front heavy" nature of the mount.

[miketheobscure]

Had the stop (dowel, whatever) on my eq6 between two legs since 2005(!).

Can't remember why now, may have come that way or maybe counterweights were the issue. Between two legs they're always well clear but it looks like it'd be safe to swap, might give it a go.

Have a SCT now & was thinking over a leg would give me easier access to the back of the scope & to the polar scope, but with this short tube balance is fine as it is.

[miketheobscure]

Ha - put a piggybacked refractor on top of the cat & that's top heavy enough that the mount started to lean when I rested the two scopes against the saddle putting them on. Don't need to experience that twice, over the leg the pin went.

[Bfialkov]

Yep. I moved mine over the leg. That and the pier extension means I can fit the big refractor on there without hearing a bang crash