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HEQ5 issue
If you own a HEQ5 or similar mount, you may wish to check that the stops at the tops of the tripod legs are sound. The holes at the top of one of the legs of mine were apparently bored slightly out of place and insted of the metal land stopping the tripod leg from overextending, a layer of structural paint was all that stood between fun and disaster. It gave way while I was setting up on concrete - the leg slipped outwards, the land rode up over the top of the leg, the leg suddenly headed for the south pole and my telescopes and cameras headed for the concrete. Luckily it was in daylight, so I could see what was happening and I was close enough to catch the mount before the leg gave way completely....The leg was subjected to reverse loading, so the collar now has a slight split - hence the hose clamp.
Simple thing that was easy to fix, but could have been a very expensive disaster. I now use locating holes bored into the surface of the concrete so that nothing can move - helps with polar alignment as well.
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