ORION TELESCOPES & BINOCULARS 10144 User manual

Orion
Counterweight
Shaft Upgrade for
Atlas EQ-G Mount
#10144
INSTRUCTION MANUAL
Providing Exceptional Consumer Optical Products Since 1975
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89 Hangar Way, Watsonville, CA 95076
© 2013 Orion Telescopes & Binoculars
IN 495 Rev. A 05/13

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Congratulations on your purchase of the Counterweight Shaft Upgrade for the
Orion Atlas EQ-G Mount! The shaft replaces the thinner counterweight shaft
that comes standard with the Atlas EQ-G. The upgraded shaft is longer and has
a larger diameter (25mm vs. 18mm for the standard shaft). It threads securely
into the included, chrome-plated declination shaft collar, providing a sturdier,
more-robust and aesthetically pleasing counterweight shaft option for your Atlas
EQ-G mount. Furthermore, its longer length means that some loads will be able
to be balanced with fewer weights than with the standard shaft. The Deluxe
Counterweight Shaft accepts counterweights that fit a 25mm (~1") shaft, such as
the Orion #9600 11-lb. counterweight.
Enjoy!
Contents
1. Included Parts
2. Removing the Standard Counterweight Shaft of the Atlas EQ-G
3. Installing the Counterweight Shaft Upgrade
4. Using the Counterweight Shaft Upgrade
5. Specifications
1. Included Parts
The Counterweight Shaft Upgrade for
Atlas EQ-G includes these parts (see
Figure 1):
1 Counterweight shaft
1 Counterweight shaft collar
1 Safety stop knob
1 Hex key (2.5mm)
2. Removing
the Standard
Counterweight
Shaft of the Atlas
EQ-G
1. Rotate the EQ head on its RA
axis so that the counterweight
shaft collar is pointing upward
(Figure 2). Doing this will prevent
the thrust bearing inside from
falling out when the collar is
removed.
2. With the 2.5mm hex key, loosen
each of the three setscrews in the
counterweight shaft collar 2 or 3
full turns (Figure 3).
3. Make sure that the declination
clutch lock lever on the mount
is tightened (see Figure 2),
then unthread the collar with the
attached counterweight shaft by
turning it counterclockwise and
remove it from the housing. It
may take a bit of torque to get it
started! With the collar removed
the end of the declination axis and
a thrust bearing and washer are
exposed, as shown in Figure 4.
Now you’re ready to install the new
Counterweight Shaft!
Figure 2. Turn the EQ head upside
down before removing the counterweight
shaft collar.
Figure 1. Parts of the CC18 Counterweight Shaft Upgrade.
Figure 3. Loosen the three setscrews in
the counterweight shaft collar.
Figure 4. View of the thrust bearing after
the counterweight shaft collar is removed.
WARNING: Never look directly at the Sun with the naked eye or with
a telescope – unless you have a proper solar filter installed over the
front of the telescope! Otherwise, permanent, irreversible eye damage
may result.
Counterweight
shaft collar
Hex key
(2.5mm)
Safety
stop
knob
Shaft
Counterweight
shaft collar
Declination
clutch
lock lever
Declination axis
Thrust
bearing
Washer

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3. Installing the
Counterweight
Shaft Upgrade
1. With the EQ head still rotated
“upside down” on the RA axis
as is Figure 4, thread the new
counterweight shaft collar onto the
mating threads of the declination
axis as shown in Figure 5. Make
sure first that the three setscrews
in the new collar are backed out
so that they won’t contact the
declination axis.
2. Then use the 2.5mm hex key
to tighten the three setscrews
against the declination axis.
3. Rotate the EQ head on its RA
axis 180 degrees until the collar is
pointing downward. Then thread
the counterweight shaft into the
counterweight collar until tight
(Figure 6).
4. Install one or more Orion #9600
11-lb. or similar counterweights
on the shaft – enough weight to
balance your telescope payload.
5. Lastly, thread the safety stop
knob onto the bottom of the
counterweight shaft.
Figure 7 shows the completed assem-
bly on the Atlas EQ-G.
4. Using the
Counterweight
Shaft Upgrade
Before transporting your Atlas EQ-G
mount in a vehicle, remove all coun-
terweights, then unthread the counter-
weight shaft from the collar. (The collar
should never have to be removed.)
Keep the shaft in a safe place between uses to protect the exposed threads and
the chrome finish.
5. Specifications
Counterweight shaft collar material: Aluminum
Shaft material: Steel, chrome finish
Shaft length (excluding collar): 337mm (13-1/4")
Shaft diameter: 25mm (0.98")
Declination collar size: 74mm (2.9") x 61mm (2.4")
Total weight: 4.1 lbs.
Figure 5. Loosen the three setscrews in
the counterweight shaft collar.
Figure 6. The counterweight shaft threads
into the collar.
Figure 7. The Counterweight Shaft Upgrade installed on an Atlas EQ-G mount.

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One-Year Limited Warranty
This Orion product is warranted against defects in materials or workmanship for a period
of one year from the date of purchase. This warranty is for the benefit of the original retail
purchaser only. During this warranty period Orion Telescopes & Binoculars will repair or
replace, at Orion’s option, any warranted instrument that proves to be defective, provided it is
returned postage paid. Proof of purchase (such as a copy of the original receipt) is required.
This warranty is only valid in the country of purchase.
This warranty does not apply if, in Orion’s judgment, the instrument has been abused,
mishandled, or modified, nor does it apply to normal wear and tear. This warranty gives
you specific legal rights. It is not intended to remove or restrict your other legal rights under
applicable local consumer law; your state or national statutory consumer rights governing the
sale of consumer goods remain fully applicable.
For further warranty information, please visit www.OrionTelescopes.com/warranty.
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