Ballard Loc: Grass Valley, California

I recently upgraded to a 16 inch scope. Although the mount can easily handle it, sliding this 70 pound scope into the Losmandy style Dove tail and tighten the clamps at the same time was not something I wanted to do by myself. So I built a cradle for the telescope that rests the scope on 4 rubber casters with one side that cranks the scope up to the correct location. The scope can then be rotated on the casters to match the angle of the dove tail to easily slide it on by moving the cradle forward since it also is on casters. In the photo's below I'm using the reverse process to remove it from the mount since I'm getting ready to paint the base and add the power supply and fan into the inside of the metal base tube while the moon is too bright for deep sky objects. The only gotcha so far is that I have to remove the crank handles to get it through the back garage door ( I anticipate getting though the 36" wide door frame but forgot about the handles). Fortunately the handle can be easily removed by continuing to uncrank them which automatically removes the acorn nuts off the end of the lifting end of the crank screws. Note I added a base to the cradle to store the counter weights and counter weight shaft and other parts below the scope. This is somewhat of a follow up on the discussion had with sonnyE on his post below. All comment, suggestions and questions are welcome.

https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-641766-2.html
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Cradle slid into position with the scope on the down side of the polar axis

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Crank up the wheels so all 4 casters are in good contact with the scope

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Remove the counter weights and shaft and store in the cradle, the dove tail can now be relased and the cradle assmebly moved back to remove the scope from the dove tail mount

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Once removed the back casters are lowered back down

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The scope is lightly strapped down to prevent rotation movement while the cradle is moved.

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nikonshooter Loc: Spartanburg, South Carolina

It looks like you have a good system for managing the SCT without help. Are you planning on taking the kit down after using?

Ballard Loc: Grass Valley, California

Hi nikonshooter
I will keep the cradle as a method to store the scope and some parts of the mount when the weather is bad. Once I finish some minor updates to the mount base I will leave the mount setup most of the time. I also have a cargo trail and on a few occasions may take the scope and full mount to other locations. The cradle will come in useful for this purpose also. The base will also fit into the cargo trailer and I can use a pallet jack to move it around.

Thanks for checking it out.

nikonshooter Loc: Spartanburg, South Carolina

Gotcha! Our HOA just recently approved "outbuildings" provided it looks like the house with the same roof. That kind of roof would be too heavy to roll, I think so I keep my gear outside.....but I cover the scopes with TELEGIZMOS 360. I also use a patio umbrella to help keep the sun from bearing down. They have done an awesome job of protecting my kits....through two hurricanes, multiple rain deluges, cold freezing and blistering heat plus the humidity of the south. I should be the TELEGIZMOS poster boy. I have kept these kits out year around for several years - no rust, no moisture - perfecto.

I had a pier made for the AVX last year but haven't had the time to set it. A member of our astronomy club has offered to buy it and I will probably let him have it. A photography friend is about to get rid of his AP mount and I am trying to justify buying it. When you get up in years (age 75) it becomes harder and harder to make sense of any purchases.

The kit on the far left is for solar only ......or serves as my grab and go scope. It is an iOptron ZEQ25 (discontinued) but I love this mount a tracking beast with a .25 RMS rate on a good seeing night.....80 RMS at it's worst.

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SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

Looks Great!
Beautiful way to handle such a monstrous telescope.
Very innovative!

I do have one suggestion...
Have you considered padding the bunks your light bucket sets in?
I would suggest Indoor/Outdoor Carpeting, or boat bunk carpeting.
Just to give that beauty a modicum of protection against scratching or wear and tear.

Looks like you have minimal light pollution from your neighbors.

alberio Loc: Casa Grande AZ

Do I detect a bit of mechanical engineer in your blood? Nice setup.

Ballard Loc: Grass Valley, California

Since the scope rides completely on the rubber wheels no other padding is needed for it. However putting come carpet on other parts is good idea to protect the garage door frame as I wheel it in and out. Thanks for the suggestion.

Ballard Loc: Grass Valley, California

My degree is actually in physics and before I retired the bulk of my career was in R&D for networking products (mainly protocol design) but I have always loved build things.

Ballard Loc: Grass Valley, California

I'm about 50 miles north of Sacramento at 2500 ft so the light pollution isn't bad, you can still make out the winter milky way above Orion on clear moonless nights. The glow from Sacramento is typically noticeable unless the valley is fogged in. The neighbors are not too close since we all sit on 24 acre parcels.

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

Another thing I like for smaller rub spots is the Hoop side of Velcro. Just enough padding in a convenient size(s)

I made a slip on Bahtinov mask for my telescope and used hoop strips for spacers.

Very cool cradle/lifting device! Makes a lot more sense that an engine hoist.

Don't drop that baby!

Ballard Loc: Grass Valley, California

Looks like you have a nice setup there. Some day I may put up a small building on the property but it will have to look good to keep the wife happy. I will look into the Telegizmos you mentioned, thanks for the info.

Ballard Loc: Grass Valley, California

Hi SonnyE
I actually used some Velcro strips to line the holder for the counter weight shaft to keep it pristine. For the weights I used Olympic plates (cost ~ 1/5 what the weights cost that are designed for the mount). Since the hole in the Olympic weights are a bit big ~1/10 inch I lined the inside with some schedule 80 PVC that I turned down to fit into the weights (again to keep the shaft unscathed). I also made the weight clamps out of aluminum pipe and inserted a thin steel strip that the clam screws push on to hold the weights in place and this avoids the screws marring the weight shaft. The lift is fairly simple but very easy to use, but only raises it up a few inches but that is all I needed.

Busbum Loc: 85367

Ballard,
Nice idea, I think I will need something like this as I'm approaching 77, for my 8"SCT on a GEM, it gets heavier every day, I pick it up...
I also have an ES 102 on a GEM... which is much easier to deal with...
Thanks for sharing...
Meant to add this link for the Telegizmos; http://www.scopestuff.com/ss_t365.htm
HTH

Railfan_Bill Loc: "Lost Wages", Nevada

Hey Niconshooter, I looked at your setup and noticed you are using ZWO astro cameras (don't look like any Nikon I ever saw, ha, ha) That said, I just got a ZWO ASI 071 a few days ago and I am wondering if you use the ZWO software or what I am using, Astrophotographer Tools. In the software, there is a setting called "binning". I know this is for CCD cameras, but I changed it during Live View and the image changed as if I installed a Barlow 2x lens in front of my camera. Is this normal and what should the binning be at. My software says 4x4. Should I leave it there or what do you suggest?

Railfan_Bill Loc: "Lost Wages", Nevada

Sorry, that should be Nikonshooter. No insult intended, just clumsy fingers. RFB