Meade Instruments LX850 - Manual (Page 56)

AutoStar #497 HANDBOX
Appendix F
56
The following provides guidelines for during your initial
set-up of your 12” and 14” ACF LX850 Telescopes.
These guidelines are meant only as a starting point, as
you will need to fine tune the balance of your telescope
depending on the equipment and accessories that you
will be using.
Balancing the DEC Axis (ACF OTA Only)
Hold the optical tube so that it cannot accidentally swing
freely. NOTE: An unbalanced OTA can swing quickly
causing injury to the user. Position the RA axis parallel
to the ground and tighten the RA locks. Position the
OTA parallel to the ground. Unlock the DEC Clutches.
The telescope now is able to move freely about the
DEC axes.
Slightly loosen the OTA dovetail adapter lock knobs
(Page 8, Fig. 29) so that the tube assembly slides
easily back and forth in the dovetail mount. Be careful
that the OTA does not fall out of the dovetail adapter!
Start with 1/2" of the OTA dovetail plate extended
out of the DEC Saddle (See Appendix E). Move the
OTA assembly fore or aft, in the dovetail adapter until
the telescope remains in horizontal position without
tending to drift down in either direction. Once this is
achieved tighten the OTA dovetail lock knobs firmly.
Positioning the StarLock assembly
To position StarLock, loosen the two (2) retaining nuts
at the side of dovetail adapter; position Starlock so that
the back edge of the StarLock dovetail is flush with
the lower edge of the saddle plate. Tighten to securely
retain StarLock (Page 8, Fig. 42).
Positioning the StarLock counterweight
To position the StarLock counter weight, loosen the
retaining nut that attaches the weight to the saddle
plate. Position StarLock counterweight so that there is
a gap of about ½ of an inch between it and the adjacent
cap screws that tighten the OTA to the saddle plate.
Use this position when you begin to balance StarLock,
as described on Page 20.
Initial Set-up: 12” and 14” ACF OTA’s, Starlock
and the StarLock Counterweight Set-up
APPENDIX F :
Fig 44: Start with 1/2" of the dovetail exposed.
Fig 46: Gap of 1/2" between cap screw and weight.
Fig 45: Position StarLock flush with the receiver.
Flush with rear
of receiver
About 1/2" inch
About 1/2" inch