Eagle Mach 1 Specifications download pdf (Page 20)

Balancing Your Telescope

For proper operation, the telescope must be adequately balanced along both axes. Note that we say: “adequately balanced.”

The mount is quite robust. You do not need to obsess with getting things “precisely balanced!” Start by balancing the tube

assembly.

First, Balance the Declination Axis.

1. Position the mount for balancing. Move the R.A. axis so that the COUNTERWEIGHT SHAFT is pointing down. The

declination axis assembly will be in the meridian (this is the classic photographic pose for a German Equatorial).

Position the Dec. axis so the telescope tube is horizontal and pointing east.

2. Tighten the 3 R.A. axis C

LUTCH KNOBS.

3. Loosen the 3 Dec. axis C

LUTCH KNOBS (about 2 to 3 full turns) so that the telescope moves freely about the

declination axis. NOTE: because of a spring mechanism, you must loosen the knobs past where they begin to feel

loose. Be careful because if your telescope is significantly out of balance, it may swing rapidly in the out-of-

balance direction!

4. Loosen the tube mounting rings and slide the tube back and forth for balancing. This is best done with the tube in

the horizontal position. If you are using a dovetail mounting plate, slightly loosen the hand knobs on the female

dovetail receiver plate and slide the male sliding plate (and thus the telescope) to the desired position.

5. The scope is balanced when it stays put (does not move) with the clutches loose and movement back and forth

about the declination axis has the same feel in both directions. Be mindful of eyepieces, cameras and other

accessories that are yet to be added and compensate accordingly.

6. Re-tighten the telescope mounting rings or mounting plate dovetail clamps!

Second, Balance the Polar Axis

1. Now, tighten the DECLINATION CLUTCH KNOBS and position the mount with the telescope horizontal and the

declination axis horizontal. The C

OUNTERWEIGHT SHAFT is now horizontal with the center of the COUNTERWEIGHTS

the same height as the middle of the tube.

2. Loosen the R.A. C

LUTCH KNOBS (also about 2 to 3 turns). Again, be careful because if your scope is significantly un-

balanced, it may swing rapidly in the out-of-balance direction.

3. Move the C

OUNTERWEIGHT(S) up or down to achieve the correct balance in R.A. Again, movement back and forth

about the R.A. axis should have the same feel in both directions.

4. Re-set the tightness of all 6 C

LUTCH KNOBS to the resistance you want making sure that each axis’ 3 clutches are

evenly tightened. (See section on C

LUTCH KNOBS above.)

Try to anticipate any balance problems due to the extra weight of diagonals, heavy eyepieces, finders, solar filters, etc. If the

scope moves by itself, when the clutches are loose, then the scope is not balanced adequately. You may want to “tweak” by

carefully repeating steps 1 – 5 after everything has been attached to the telescope. Be especially careful loosening the Dec.

clutch knobs.

Note: A small amount of imbalance on the

East side of the mount is permissible and even desirable for astrophotography

and imaging. This allows gravity to keep the drive train fully engaged while tracking throughout the exposure. If you

intentionally create this small imbalance, you must remember to re-adjust the balance whenever you flip from one side of the

mount to the other. Forgetting to re-adjust can result in a slight see-saw action in tracking that could spoil your next image.

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Eagle Mach 1 Specifications Page 20

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