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page 33
PART 3: Caring for Your Telescope
Cleaning
The lens or mirror surfaces should be cleaned as infrequently as possible. Front sur-
face aluminized mirrors, in particular, should be cleaned only when absolutely neces-
sary. In all cases, avoid touching any mirror surface. A little dust on the surface of a
mirror or lens causes negligible loss of performance and should not be considered rea-
son to clean the surface. When lens or mirror cleaning does become necessary, use
a camel’s hair brush or compressed air gently to remove dust. If the telescope’s dust
cover is replaced after each observing session, cleaning of the optics will rarely be
required.
Mount and Tripod Adjustments
Every Meade 4504 Telescope equatorial mount and tripod is factory inspected for
proper fit and function prior to shipment. It is unlikely that you will need to adjust or
tighten these parts after receipt of the telescope. However, if the instrument received
unusually rough handling in shipment, it is possible that some of these assemblies can
be loose. To make adjustments you will need a 1/2" or 11/16" socket or adjustable end
wrench, a 5/64" hex wrench, and a Phillips-head screwdriver.
The equatorial mount has four main areas that
can be adjusted: A loose polar shaft can be tight-
ened by releasing a 5/64" hex set-screw that is
on the side of the 11/16" polar shaft acorn cap
nut (3, Fig. 21), and then turning the 11/16"
acorn cap nut clockwise to a firm feel, and then
tightening the 5/64" hex set-screw. A loose
Azimuth base (4, Fig. 21), can be tightened by
turning the 11/16" Azimuth shaft bolt, located
underneath the mount and in between the three
tripod legs, clockwise to a firm feel. The R.A. (1,
Fig. 11), and Dec (12, Fig. 11) worm block
assemblies can have backlash removed by
releasing the two Phillips-head screws on each
assembly, applying pressure to the worm block against the worm gear, and then tight-
ening the Phillips-head screws. Note that overtightening of any of the nuts, bolts, or
screws can inhibit the smooth rotating action of the axes and gears, and may result in
stripping the threads.
The tripod legs have 1/2" nuts (1, Fig. 21), and Phillips-head screws (2, Fig. 21) that
may have backed off. Tighten to a firm feel for the most sturdy performance of the tele-
scope.
Diagonal
Assembly
Diagonal Mirror
Focused Image
Primary Mirror
Primary Mirror-Tilt
Screws
Fig. 22: The Newtonian reflecting telescope.
1
2
2
3
4
Fig. 21: Maintenance adjustments.