Orion SKYQUEST XX14I - Manual (Page 17)

17
to the truss connectors (see Figure 26). This should rare-
ly need to be done.
The telescope is now assembled and ready to be placed into
the Dobsonian base.
Mounting the Optical Tube on the
Dobsonian Base
1. Grasp two opposing truss poles as shown in
Figure
28 and lift the optical tube, then gently place it into the
Dobsonian base so the altitude bearings on either side of
the tube rest on the base’s bearing cylinders. Be careful
when doing this, as the optical tube is somewhat heavy
and unwieldy. Orient the optical tube on the base as seen
in
Figure 1. Make certain the optical tube does not get
hung up on the vertical stop or the CorrecTension pads
(i.e. the three square white pads on the inside surface of
the left side panel) as you put it in place. Also, be very
careful not to hit the altitude encoder with the side bear-
ing on the tube when doing this or damage to the encod-
er could result. The bumper is positioned to help prevent
such contact. Once on the bearing cylinders, the tube
should pivot freely up and down with gentle hand pres-
sure. Note that the tube will not yet be properly balanced,
since the eyepiece and finder scope are not in place, and
the altitude tensioning knob has not been installed.
2. Select one of the altitude tensioning/retaining knobs
(they are the same) and slide the tensioning knob metal
washer onto the shaft, followed by the tensioning knob
white Teflon washer (you will need to thread the Teflon
washer onto the shaft, this keeps both washers captive
on the knob’s shaft). These parts are found in the box with
the Dobsonian base. Push the shaft of the knob through
the hole in the side panel that has the IntelliScope port
(Figure 29). Thread the knob into the optical tube’s alti-
tude bearing until the knob pulls the altitude bearing
against the CorrecTension pads on the interior surface of
the left panel.
Figure 28. Lift the optical tube by grasping two truss poles and
carefully lower it so that the large altitude bearing hubs rest on the
altitude bearing cylinders on the side panels.
Figure 27. When the knob in the truss connector is tightened,
it will clamp the truss connector against the registration flats on the
upper truss support ring.
Registration
flats
Upper truss
support ring
Truss connector knob
Truss
connector
Figure 29. Insert the shaft of the altitude tensioning knob, with
metal and Teflon washers attached, into the side of the base with the
IntelliScope port, and thread it into the tube’s altitude side bearing.
IntelliScope
port
Altitude
side bearing
Altitude
tensioning
knob
Altitude tensioning
metal washer
Altitude tensioning
Teflon washer