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[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

CG-5 Dual Saddle Mount Replacement Adapter

I have been using the CG-5 recently and with great success. testing it out for solar imaging has proved worthy. With limited night time testing, (Just too cold), it seems ok.

But with the on and off of the three scopes so far I have mounted on it, (C5/90mm Meade/102mm Celestron)...the drawback of the stock mounting saddle on the CG-5 is apparent...

The manner in which the Vixen-style dovetails are secured here is with a lock down bolt and a safety screw. (The notched mounting OTA plate shown above is what came with the mount and not your typical dovetail rail....I'll use it for some future scope that comes my way).

It does the job...ok, but it does eat up the dovetail rail a bit with little circular gouges. And I'm not too confident in the grabbing abilities of these two little contact points on the smooth rail of the dovetail.

What I needed was what is on my Ci700 mount - securing my C11....

Here, the "D" style dovetail rail on the C11 is snugly secured in the Ci700 saddle without any play and the rail does not get marred. I need something like this for the CG-5 to keep my scopes tight and secure...and if I'm ever going to try out the C11 on the smaller mount...

There's everything an Astronomer could ever need....

Reviews are nothing but positive for the adapter saddle - enabling both types of dovetails, ("D" & "V"), to be used on the CG-5.

Ordered one and should be here soon, but I will have to take apart the DEC housing to install this. It'll give me an opportunity to take a peek at the innards and see what I have to handle when the upcoming Hypertune project rolls around.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

The Dual-Saddle has come in....

Quick shipping had the dual saddle at my doorstep and well packed.

The saddle is a solid piece of machined metal - very solid.

I have not been able to install it yet, but I think I can snag some time this Easter Sunday evening to replace the sub-par original CG-5 saddle with this superior up-grade.

Pics soon.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Installation of the ADM Dual Saddle on the CG-5 Mount

01 April 2013

The ADM Dual Saddle looks promising.

A solid piece of machinery with smooth adjustable rails for both Vixen and Losmandy D style dovetails. On Easter evening, with finally some time to install it, we begin the project in the Chicago Astronomer workshop - still with the detritus of winter's emergencies scattered about...

Looks pretty straight forward and they provide the user with a single sheet instruction steps. Examining the original saddle, it's just a matter of three simple phillips head screw to see what's lurking under the plastic housing...

It came apart quite easily and setting the screws aside, we take a peek at the Dec axis guts..

Motor is pretty simple and an easy replacement if ever needed in the future - especially if I'm loading the C11 on top. The brass gearing has that horrid Chinese assembly grease...

I wipe the grease off and will apply some quality gearing lubricant when I put it back together.

But, what's this I spy....?

It a flat sided Slo-mo control nub.

(Now I wonder.....even with the Hand Controller slewing the scope, I find myself reaching for a Slo-mo knob - which the CG-5 is shipped without...can I install one? We will see....)

I remove the adapter, but first remove the motor assembly from the mount with a hex wrench...

One hex nut was really not on tight and the adapter came off quickly...

I set all the dis-assembled parts aside and examine what we got so far...

Just a hollow space and beyond that...the thread assembly where the Counter Weight shaft screws into. But near the bottom looks like threads to accept something. The shaft does not penetrate this from the other side. I place my business card inside the void and standard procedure in all my projects...

Along the outside perimeter of the adapter base/Counter Weight housing...is a geared edge. This mount probably serves many different styles of Celestron Mounts models with different configurations.

I weight the two new saddle pieces...

Just over 3lbs.

I dry fit the new heavier adapter..

...and it's a good fit.

No binding on any moving parts. I tighten down the two top hex screws and re-install the motor assembly...

But first, I apply some gear lubricant to the gears. (A full "Hypertune" procedure will remove all of the old grease from all parts - but that's a warm weather project.)

Before I replace the plastic housing, what about that Slo-Mo control nub I saw earlier? Hell....I'll drill a hole through the housing and slip a shorty control rod in if I can...

/center]

Damn....the circuit board for the Dec control cable lies just where I don't want it. Not being in the mood to relocate, it leave as is...but will re-visit this later.

The plastic housing goes back together nicely around the new adapter without any complaint...

The new saddle comes with two heavier hex nuts and I mate the two new pieces together...

It all looks good and no bindings or complications. Feels solid and no wiggle - ready for a test run with the C11 soon!

But since I have the mount in the workshop....

I have an issue the the lousy Hand Controller dock. The part that sits in the leg grabber frequently pops out...and the hand controller itself just sits in the dock loosely. I often find the Hand Controller dangling from it's cord upon removing the CG-5 from it's carrying case - ( A re-purposed golf bag that works wonderfully for the CG-4/CG-5. Don't be spending hundreds on a case man!)

You know...Velcro is a gift from either God or aliens...either way....I'm using it to make astronomy better...

'
I place Velcro tabs in the dock holder and on the full back of the Hand Controller...

Nice and snug now and with the extra grip of the Industrial Velcro.

But...

I have also been bothered that during sessions, that the Hand Controller is at times out of comfortable reach - when the eyepiece is in one direction and the Hand Controller dock is way on the other side. (I know I'm not the only one who is bothered by this.)

So...I decided on doing what the ISS does...and place Velcro strips around the mount for the Hand Controller...

Now, never at an awkward placement. It's awkward grasping the Hand Controller and focusing. Better this way to keep the hand free...especially with gloved hands.


I did try out the new Dual Saddle mount on the next day for Solar work - with the C102mm Refractor...

Performed beautifully.

Either a tilt-in or a slide-in, the saddle holds the Vixen dovetail firmly. No wiggle or play...very solid.

Next, we will mount the C11...just to see.

[mojocvh]

Nice set of mods Joe, Like the Velcro idea indeed.

I too pulled the dec apart once, all I achieved though was making the bloody thing louder, LOL!

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Mo...

I am glad I did this mod early on and added the Velcro.

It's a solid platform and the grip is tight on the various dovetails I have slipped in the saddle. Even with the C11 beast riding in the new saddle, the grip is solid.

The various Velcro strips that I placed around the mount/tripod have come in very handy...and I have use them all. Just slap the Hand Controller to the closest strip and my hands are free - and I can control stuff with one finger.

Now, that I am using the iPad mini as a Telescope/mount controller...I need to think about various mounting options for the tablet as well.

But, all is good with this mount so far.

[skyluvr]

Nice job Joe!

The new saddle paves the way for you to mount the C11. I can't wait.

A new mount for a new viewing season...sounds like fun.

Is the C11 up and running now?

Rick

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Rick.

No.

It's exactly like I left it a few days ago...still apart and waiting for the corrector plate.

But, I think I'm going to do a baffle Mirror collimation test before putting it together...perhaps tonight...but we will see.

(I did mount the C11 on the CG-5 in a quick test recently and it needs some more attention...but I'm gonna get them to get along with each other.

[mojocvh]

Hmm, watch the laser/baffle tube fit and alignment...

Having used a commercially produced laser alignment rig I'm only 20/80% for their use on AN UNPROVEN/UNCOLLIMATED sct to be honest.

Telescope engineers sometime machine an adaptor for the laser collimator to fit EXACTLY.

I have no experience of the modern self aligning adaptors for sct's either, whatever, don't use anything with thumbscrews to centralise the laser........

....sorry if this is repetitive!

[skyluvr]

That's a good point Mo

I use the lathe spindle, and put the laser in the visual back from the C14. Then chuck the assembly in the lathe. I turn the spindle by hand and observe the dot and tweak the alignment until the dot is stationary. Carefully, I put the visual back on the telescope. That is as close as I can get it. Once the optics are aligned along that axis its good to go.
If you don't have a lathe you can use a V-block like this www.eastwood.com/drill-press-v-block-fixture-center-it.html?srccode=ga220010&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=zzproduct_ads&adtype=pla&kw=&matchtype=&network=g&creativeid=15752127567&placement=&producttargetid=40408680567&gclid=CKOF6aqvy7YCFeZFMgodUlMAeg.


Rick

[scottmason]

I use the CG5 and it definitely chews into the dovetail and my tripod plate when I pop either of them in. What's the benefit of the dual saddle? More stability?

Also, if anyone out there can do a tune-up to my CG5, I'll pay them for the service. I think mine is in need of some TLC.

Also, during almost every session I encounter a problem slewing with the > arrow. It will freeze up, then unfreeze and nudge loudly. Often it doesn't work at all until I jiggle the cord in the Dec port. I've replaced the main chip board and Dec board and it hasn't fixed it. Possibly a bad wire?

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Scott,

The Dual saddle most certainly provides more stability by clamping down all along the the dovetail edge - as opposed to a single point with the lock down bolt and safety screw. No need to "bear down" on the dual saddle knobs. You can either slide the dovetail in from the ends or tilt in an edge in the saddle.

I highly recommend one for your CG-5.

I have not hypertuned my mount yet, but want to take it apart and upgrade the componants like C.A. Robb did to his.

I don't understand why it would nudge loudly, but by process of elimination...sounds like the cable or even the Handset controller. A short video of the situation would be helpful.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Side Note...

The Velcro strips that I placed around the mount are working beautifully.

I just slap the Hand Controller on a strip and it stays solidly attached. I don't even use the stock HC cradle anymore, (Useless really).

I find that the only lacking aspect, is that I would like the HC closer to the focuser, so I do not have to reach and fumble for the proper button - which is about 2 ft away. I'm thinking of an auxiliary rod extended out to the focuser - holding the HC.

But, the industrial Velcro strips are the way to go.

[mojocvh]

Good tip that Joe, I've put some on my CG5 and the OTA as well.

<thumbsup>

[scottmason]

Ok, I'll get a video before too long. In the meantime, who can I commission to tune up my mount

[kbagastro]

Hello Joe, I'm hoping you see this, I know it's an old post... Anyway, I have an old GC5 mount with what looks like a similar mounting plate etc that you had. You mentioned that you had a C5 mounted to it. How exactly did you do this. I acquired a C5 that someone was using for a spotting scope on their LX200 200mm. They used losmandy dovetail and rings to do this and appear to have taken of the original mounting plate that was on the C5. Here is an imugr link to a bunch of random gear and the c5 and what I assume are the old mounting plate holes.

Would any of this gear suffice to mount the scope correctly? Right now I've rigged one of the rings with the plate for the GC5. It works, but isn't very stable and isn't aligned correctly.

Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

Chris

[kbagastro]

Here is the imgur link: imgur.com/a/87uVs