Meade Instruments LXD55 - Manual (Page 11)

11
As you unpack your telescope, carefully note the following parts. The assembly is
shipped in separate boxes.
Telescope Assembly
■ Equatorial mount with polar alignment finder
■ Heavy duty, adjustable aluminum tripod with leg braces, three tripod leg lock
knobs, and a captive mount locking knob
■ Complete optical tube assembly including primary mirror with dust cover and a
rack-and-pinion focuser and eyepiece holders for both 1.25" and 2" eyepiece
holders, tube cradle assembly with two rings and two lock knobs
■ Super Plössl (SP) 26mm eyepiece
■ Counterweight and counterweight shaft. The 8" and 10" models include extra
counterweights.
■ 8 x 50mm (achromatic refractors models) or 6 x 30mm (Schmidt-Newtonian
models) viewfinder
Motor Assembly
■ Factory-mounted dual electronic motor drive assembly
■ Autostar handbox, detachable coil cord, or Electronic Controller
■ Battery pack and holder
Accessories
■ Accessory shelf with mounting knob, hex keys, LXD55-Series T-Adapter (includ-
ed with Schmidt-Newtonian models only)
How to Assemble Your Telescope
The giftboxes contain the optical tube assembly and the tripod with the equatorial
mount. The accessories are located within compartments custom-cut into the styro-
foam block inserts.
1. Remove the components from the giftboxes: Remove and identify the tele-
scope’s equipment. Refer to Figures 1a through 1f for images of the parts and
the overall assembly of your telescope. When removing the tripod from the gift-
box, hold the assembly parallel (horizontal) to the ground or the inner tripod leg
extensions will slide out as they are not locked in place.
2. Adjust the tripod legs. Spread the tripod legs as far as they will open, so that
the leg braces are taut. See Fig. 3.
3. Attach the accessory shelf to the tripod: Remove the mounting knob from the
center of the leg braces (39, Fig. 1c). Place the triangular accessory shelf on top
of the leg braces so that each corner of the triangle lies over a leg brace. Notice
that there is protrusion on each leg brace. There is a corresponding slot for each
protrusion on the accessory tray. See Fig. 4. Line up the slots with the protrusions
and slide the protrusions through the slots to hold the tray in place. Next, slide
the mounting thumbscrew through the hole in the center of the brace and tighten
to a firm feel.
4. Attach mount to tripod base: Place the mount over the base of the tripod with
the computer control panel positioned above the tripod leg marked with a star and
with the protrusion on top of the tripod's base positioned between the fine
azimuth control knobs. See Fig. 5. Back off the azimuth control knobs wide
enough for protrusion to fit between them. Slide the hole in the center of the
underside of the mount onto the captive mount locking bolt in the center of the
base and tighten it by turning the knob below the base. Tighten to a firm feel.
5. Attach the counterweight(s) to the counterweight shaft: Place the counter-
weight shaft base (20, Fig. 1d) over the threaded end of the shaft (22, Fig. 1d).
Thread the shaft and base assembly into the hole beneath the Dec. setting circle
as depicted in Fig. 6.
Look through the hole in the counterweight and note the pin blocking the hole. Tilt
the counterweight slightly and the pin moves out of position, clearing the hole. If
the pin does not move, unscrew the counterweight lock knob slightly until the pin
moves.
GETTING STARTED
Fig. 3: Tripod assembly.
Fig. 4: Place slots in tray over protru-
sions on leg braces.
Fig. 5: Attach the mount to the tripod.
Slot
over
Protrusion
Leg
Braces
Fig. 6: Attach Counterweight assem-
bly.
Shaft
Safety
Cap
Lock
Knob
Counterweight
Shaft
Base
Dec. Setting Circle
Mounting
Thumbscrew
Protrusion
Fine
Azimuth
Control
Knobs
Star
Mount
Locking
Knob (not
visible)