Thread: Counter weights
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Old 08-03-2018, 11:38 AM
Saturnine (Jeff)
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Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Wollongong
Posts: 2,303
Hi Mick
This is probably what you don't want to hear but an EQ3-2 is , realistically, undersized for an 102 x 1000 refractor and the aluminium tripod usually supplied isn't the best for damping vibrations. Wouldn't matter how well the scope is balanced, how many counterweights and where they are set on the shaft if the mount is struggling. Any bump or touch of the focuser will take several seconds to settle, the scope would be much steadier on an EQ5.
Moving the large weight close to the top of the shaft and using and adjusting the position of the smaller weight to achieve balance will help a little but not a miracle fix.
I still don't understand why the manufacturers and retailers, in a lot of cases, under mount the telescopes they sell. Only causes frustration for the users and could possibly turn them off the hobby.
If you're skilled with hand tools you could construct heavier wooden tripod legs to put the mount on, will help noticeably.
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