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Well I am pleased to say the new mount has arrived back to me directly this morning and I set it up and did a few simple tests - all looks good by daylight - a few test slews and gotos where silky smooth!
A few small surprises
1. the DEC motor is labelled on this mount so when you are starting alignment it is on the left of the assembly when you are at the rear facing forward. On the old mount this was reversed - the markings where set up to start the DEC motor housing on the right of the mount assembly when you where at the rear facing forward.
Maybe someone just slapped the sticky paper alignment marking for the DEC motor 180 degrees on the wrong side of the mount (facing East not West) - or does it vary mount by mount? I wonder if this contributed to my original crazy pointing problems with the first mount? Can anyone confirm which side of the mount the Dec alignment marker should be on for a CG5?
2. I tested the bubble level on a surveyors theodolite, its way off - about 10 degrees - and when you press it lightly with a finger nail the bubble moves everywhere. Doesn't worry me at all Celestron quality control should look into this sort of finish.
3. Finally the bottom of the mount had 3 rough metal pimples that protuded a millimeter or two right near the base of the mount - simple job to remove these so it fits the pier without scraping it apart - I'd say again to quality control they just didn't turn the bottom of the mount and smooth it before they painted it!
So bottom line - I'm estactic and waiting for a cloudless night to put it all through its paces now!
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