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[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

CG-5 Counter Weight Shaft - A delicate balance....

The stock CG-5 Go-To mount comes with a single 11lb counter weight and a paltry 9" long shaft...

Ok for your light loads, (Small Refractors and SCTs up to 8")....but what if you are like me, and want to throw on a C11 - loaded with all the accessories that make me smile and fans of the Chicago Astronomer love? The single 11 lb weight certainly will not do the job and will have to load more counter weight for proper balance and ease strain on the motors.

I could load an extra 22 lb weight like this dude did to balance his C11 on the CG-5...

From what I read, he's quite happy and content with the set-up and satisfied with the performance.

But carrying all this weight out on the field is a chore really. Ways to shave off pounds is in order....if I can.

To get close to a proper and acceptable weight balance functionality...I could lengthen the counter weight shaft. Some astro retailers sell such a rod...

Pushing out the weight farther from the fulcrum point of the mount does have an advantage of less weight for the same effect. But $100.00+ for a hunk of metal is steep...

I like this option....

6" of extra shaft length to slide ones weight plate along - bringing the total length of the shaft to 15 inches. And at only$34.00....pocket change - with the option of being able to remove it when loading on smaller scopes to the CG-5....(reducing the radius turn and the chance of others bumping into it during a session.)

SCT Rod also has had good results with the Counter Weight shaft extension - balancing the C11 and accessories...

It seems to work fine.

Extending the counter weight shaft has it's pros and cons....

Pushing out the weight plate farther out from the mount may invite flex and or vibration Better to keep the weight closer in. But, that also means much heavier weights for the C11 to keep some semblance of easy balance.

I'm going the extension way.

We'll see, test it out and maybe I can shave 20lb+ off the field set-ups.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

The Counter Weight Extension Shaft has arrived

19 April 2013

The Extension rod finally arrived, (after some mix-up in mm dimensions), and it looks good...

The original counter weight shaft is 9 inches in length and the extension shaft measures at 6 inches...bringing a total shaft length to 15 inches - with a 12mm tap on both ends...

The extension shaft screws solidly into the stock shaft and accepts the toe-saver screw without complaint. The finish is different on the extension - more like a brushed metal, than the chrome on the original.

Trying it on the CG-5....

It holds the 11 lb weight well.

Let's see how this works in balancing the C11 and associated toys, but I like the option of moving out the weight if need be.

[scottmason]

Joe, if I weigh out my OTA plus camera and visual back and add it up, should that equal the counterweight I have? I'm afraid my current counterweight off 11 lbs is too heavy.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Scott...

Precise counter weight to the OTA is not all that vital, but nice to equalize if possible.

That's where the sliding counter-weight comes in.

Slide the weight closer to the mount..even right up next to it if still too heavy. It's just like those old fashioned scales where one taps the weight along the rod. The scope should stay where you leave it without tilting or biasing in one direction or another with the clutches unlocked.

[scottmason]

I always have my weight right up against the top, since it's much heavier than the OTA..I've always wondered if it was too much weight regardless, but it sounds like it might not be an issue now.

[mojocvh]

looking good Joe.

Are you going to keep the tripod legs short? If it were me.......I'd set it up as I was going to use it without ota in place and have a wee play around and see where the tipping points were.....it's "funny" how the tripod can suddenly "go" from stable to topple....

anyway what's that gizmo stuck on the hand controller holster in 'unc's picture??

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Mo,

That looks like a Celestron GPS box with the attachment holder on the cradle.

Keeping the center of gravity low with the tripod legs short is wise, but is also hard on the back and not comfortable.

I don't know yet, as I had not the proper time to test the C11 on the CG-5 yet.

[mojocvh]

Joe, I posted that as a buddy had a HEQ6 and Skywatcher 8" newt blown over when in the "low" position.

Owchy.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Toppling Scopes Andy...makes for a bad day.

It's a good idea indeed to, "Nudge" a fully loaded scope on the mount to see if/how much force is needed to cause an incident.

With an astro buddy on-hand of course.