was wondering how you were going with your new scope minty
hope your enjoying it. as for the sticking, try making 4 or so plastic milk bottle washers to go in the center. you azimuth action wil improve from this.
a 8" will also let you chase faint fuzzies like galaxies and planetary nebulas.
you wont see them in a small refractor at all. sure faint fuzzies arent as pretty as say jupiter but its all about the hunt then isnt it