ORION TELESCOPES & BINOCULARS 5752 User manual

Orion®Monster Parallelogram
Binocular Mount
#5752
IN 549 Rev. A 05/15
INSTRUCTION MANUAL
Customer Support:
www.OrionTelescopes.com/contactus
Corporate Offices:
89 Hangar Way, Watsonville CA 95076 - USA
Providing Exceptional Consumer Optical Products Since 1975
Copyright © 2015 Orion Telescopes & Binoculars
All Rights Reserved. No part of this product instruction or any of its contents may be reproduced,
copied, modified or adapted, without the prior written consent of Orion Telescopes & Binoculars.

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Congratulations on your purchase of the Orion Monster
Parallelogram Binocular Mount. This heavy-duty parallelogram
binocular mount is designed to allow comfortable use of bin-
oculars up to 100mm in aperture or weighing up to 15 lbs. for
astronomical or terrestrial viewing. The mount greatly reduces
arm fatigue and neck strain compared to using binoculars by
hand or with a standard photographic tripod. It also allows the
viewer to stand or sit comfortably under the binoculars while
aiming it overhead. The mount enables the binoculars to be
raised and lowered while still staying right on a given target, a
wonderful feature when two or more people of different heights
are observing together. The included heavy-duty stainless
steel tripod insures maximum stability and vibration damp-
ening of the binoculars. Small telescopes can also be used;
especially short refractors and even some small catadioptric
telescopes, making this the most versatile binocular mount of
its kind on the market.
Parts List Figure A.
1. Parallelogram mount body
2. Stainless steel tripod with accessory tray
3. Two 11-lb. counterweights
4. L-bracket
5. Mini dovetail bar
6. Mini dovetail saddle
7. ¼"-20 Socket screw
8. Allen wrenches
9. Nut Key 13/14
10. Handle
11. Base
12. Counterweight shaft
13. PTFE washer (white)
14. Setscrews, 2 large, 1 small
15. Two knobs (not installed)
1. Assemby
Start by unpacking the mount, the tripod and all the included
parts and identify them from the parts list (Fig. A). The mount
comes partially disassembled for shipping and requires some
assembly before first use.
1.1. Place the white PTFE washer onto the mount shaft as
shown in Fig. 1.1. Then insert the shaft into the base (part 11).
1.2. Install the two large setscrews and hand knob into base
(Fig. 1.2). Use the 4mm Allen wrench to thread in the set-
WARNING: Never look directly at the Sun with the
naked eye or with an optical instrument – unless
you have a proper solar filter installed over the
front of the instrument! Otherwise, permanent,
irreversible eye damage may result.
Fig. A. Parts List
Fig. 1.1.
Fig. 1.3.
Fig. 1.2.
Set screws
Shaft
PTFE washer
Base
Rotate
clockwise
to lock

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screws. Keep the setscrews and knob bolt from protruding
into the center cylinder of the base, to allow the shaft to be
inserted fully. Once inserted, make sure the two set screws
are threaded back in until they lightly touch the shaft. They act
as retaining screws to insure that the parallelogram body does
not detach from the base.
1.3. Rotate the parallelogram in relation to the base. If desired
you can “lock” the azimuth position of the parallelogram by
tightening the hand knob (Fig. 1.3). The hand knob acts more
like a soft brake than a lock and does not completely prevent
the rotation of the parallelogram mount.
1.4. Assemble the SkyView Pro tripod (use the on-line instruc-
tion manual for the SkyView Pro EQ mount if necessary).
Make sure to install the accessory tray/spreader on the center
support shaft of the tripod (Fig. 1.4) to stabilize the legs.
1.5. Place the pre-assembled parallelogram and base on the
top of the tripod (Fig. 1.5) and securely fasten the hand knob
on the upper part of the center support shaft. Make sure that
the base slot aligns with the vertical post on the top surface of
the tripod (Fig. 1.6.).
1.7. Insert the counterweight shaft (part 12) into the threaded
hole in the end of the parallelogram arm and rotate the shaft
clockwise until it is tight (Fig. 1.7).
1.8. Install one 11-lb. counterweight on the shaft. Use the
counterweight’s lock knob to position the counterweight near
the end of the shaft, for now. Then thread the shaft stop safety
knob onto the end of the shaft to prevent the counterweight
from accidentally slipping off (Fig. 1.8).
1.9. Insert the handle (part 10) where shown in Fig. 1.9 and
thread it in until tight.
Fig. 1.6. Fig. 1.9.
Fig. 1.4. Fig. 1.7.
Fig. 1.5. Fig. 1.8.
Center
support shaft
Accessory tray/
spreader
Tripod post
Base slot
Shaft stop
Handle

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1.10. There are three possible positions for the handle, as
shown in Fig. 1.10, which shows it in position 1.
2. Installing a Telescope
or Binoculars
2.1. The Monster parallelogram mount can be used with small
telescopes or spotting scopes equipped with a standard dove-
tail bar. Many Orion telescopes use this kind of dovetail to
attach the optical tube to the mount. Set the handle to posi-
tion 3 (opposite position to the dovetail locking hand knob).
2.2. For binoculars use the supplied L-bracket (part 4). Install
the included hand knob to securely fasten the L-bracket as
shown in Fig. 2.2.
2.3. The L-bracket’s captive ¼"-20 threaded post is compatible
with the female ¼"-20 socket of a digital camera or binocular
adapter.
2.4. Place the binoculars (in this example, the Orion Giant
View 25x100 binoculars) on the L-bracket with the binocu-
lar adapter aligned with the ¼"-20 threaded post. Turn the
L-bracket knob until you feel a firm grip. Then use the lateral
locking handle (Fig. 2.4) for final tightening to insure that the
binocular is securely fastened.
2.5. For other binocular models (usually with apertures smaller
than 100mm) a tripod L-adapter (sold separately) is required
to mount them.
3. Balance
In order to properly observe with binoculars or a small tele-
scope mounted on the Monster Parallelogram, the weight of
the instrument must be counterbalanced. Start by sliding the
Fig. 1.10.
Fig. 2.1.
Fig. 2.2.
Fig. 2.3.
Fig. 2.4.
1.
2.
3.
Hand
knob
L-Bracket
1/4"-20 Threaded post
Lateral locking handle

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counterweight(s) on the counterweight shaft – whether one or
two counterweights will be needed depends on the weight of
the binoculars – until the mount is balanced in the horizontal
position (Fig. 3.1), then tighten the counterweight lock knob(s).
Now you must balance the binoculars on the L-bracket itself,
if possible. Move the binoculars back and forth (Fig. 3.2) until
you reach a balance point, i.e., the binoculars do not rotate
forward or back on the L-bracket.
One final adjustment is still required. For optimum balance the
binoculars’ center of gravity must also be adjusted so that it is
aligned with the hand-knob on the L-bracket’s dovetail saddle,
as shown in Fig. 3.3.
Using the Mini-Dovetail
Binoculars that are not equipped with an integrated, sliding
binocular mounting adapter as in the example above do not
provide any way of adjusting balance on the L-bracket. So we
have included a mini-dovetail system that makes such balance
adjustment possible. Place the mini-dovetail saddle (part 6) on
the L-bracket as in Fig. 3.4 and secure it with the L-bracket’s
¼"-20 knob and lateral locking handle.
Attach a tripod L-adapter (sold separately) on the mini dovetail
bar (part 5) as shown in Fig. 3.4 with the included ¼"-20 sock-
et screw and the 5.5mm Allen wrench. Then slide the mini-
dovetail bar into the saddle and lock it tightly with the small
setscrew and corresponding Allen wrench.
Then attach your binoculars to the tripod L-adapter. With the
binoculars oriented parallel to the ground, slightly loosen the
setscrew while maintaining hold of the binocular with the other
hand and slide the dovetail bar forward or back until the bin-
oculars are balanced on the L-bracket – again, without letting
go of the binoculars! Then retighten the locking setscrew to
secure the mini dovetail bar at that position.
Fig. 3.3.
Fig. 3.4.
Fig. 2.5.
Fig. 3.1
Fig. 3.2.
Tripod L-adapter
(sold separately)
L-bracket
1/4"-20
Socket screw
Mini
dovetail
bar
Mini
dovetail
saddle
Small setscrew
Knob
Binocular
center of
gravity
Adjust the bracket
up and down

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4. Pointing to Zenith
The purpose of the Monster Parallelogram mount is to be able
to use binoculars, especially big binoculars, comfortably. Tall
users, however, may wish to raise the binoculars higher than
the parallelogram mount permits, especially if observing while
standing and aiming toward the zenith (straight overhead). For
them, we recommend using the Orion SkyView Pro Telescope
Mount Extension (not included), which adds an additional 16"
of height to the system (Fig. 4.1). The extension also adds
more stability to the mount by increasing its total mass. If you
are taller than 6 feet we strongly recommend that you add this
optional extension.
5. Maintenance and Care
The Monster Parallelogram mount has been carefully manu-
factured, assembled, and packed. Great care was taken at the
factory to insure that all components work as intended and
were adjusted for smooth operation. Some play between parts
is acceptable. If, however, you find that the movement of the
Parallelogram in any of the axes of motion is too stiff or, con-
versely, too free (loose), then you can make adjustments at
those points accordingly.
Having the proper tension on the socket screws that hold these
parts in place is important for smooth movement and proper
performance of the Parallelogram mount. Areas that can be
adjusted are shown in Figs. 5.1 – 5.3. We have included a
13/14 nut key and some Allen wrenches for this purpose.
Adjust pressure/friction on both ends of the square paral-
lel tubes using the supplied nut key and 6mm Allen Wrench
(Figs. 5.1 and 5.2). The dovetail saddle (Fig. 5.3) can also be
adjusted if necessary.
The Monster Parallelogram Mount is designed with safety in
mind. The two parallel bars of the mount are separated by a
gap to prevent fingers from getting crushed.The counterweight
safety stop prevents counterweights from slipping off and injur-
ing one’s feet. Still, use caution when using the mount, par-
ticularly when other people are present and it is dark outside,
to prevent the parallelogram arm or the counterweights from
inadvertently hitting anyone!
Fig. 4.1
Fig. 5.1.
Fig. 5.2.
Fig. 5.3.
Extension
Nut key
Allen
wrench

7

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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.
Orion Telescopes & Binoculars
Corporate Offices: 89 Hangar Way, Watsonville CA 95076 - USA
Customer Support: www.OrionTelescopes.com/contactus
Copyright © 2015 Orion Telescopes & Binoculars
All Rights Reserved. No part of this product instruction or any of its contents may be reproduced,
copied, modified or adapted, without the prior written consent of Orion Telescopes & Binoculars.