How to Assemble your Titan

Titan Tips

Note: During assembly, be certain that all mating surfaces are free from any foreign material that would upset the interface. Keep everything CLEAN.

1. Place the mount adapter, usually Losmandy # MAL onto the tripod or pier with the brackets facing north. The brackets will ultimately hold the Gemini computer and will determine the position of the Ra motor wire. Ref: the adapter has six equally spaced holes around the outside diameter which will be used to fasten the Ra assembly. The Ra assembly can be rotated in the adapter in 60 degree increments. Install six bolts (your supply) in the bottom of the adapter to fasten it. Tighten these bolts securely. Note: If attaching to a pier, the mounting surface of the pier should be level. The Ra assembly has two bubble levels that should read "level" when placed onto the adapter. Some means of adjusting the adapter to pier mounting may be required at this time.
    
2. Place the Ra assembly into the adapter such that the Ra axis is pointing north. Fasten with six supplied button head screws with the plastic washers under the head of the screws. The Ra assembly has a diameter that fits inside of the adapter and a shoulder that sits on top of the adapter. When tightening the six screws, make sure the Ra head sits bottomed out on the shoulder. Do this by pushing down on the Ra head as you tighten the screws. Tighten these screws securely. Once done, verify that the two bubble levels read level. This is necessary when mounting onto a pier, whereas a tripod can be adjusted in the field to level the bubbles. The reason for having these bubbles read level is so that when aligning to the pole, an altitude adjustment doesn't affect azimuth, or an azimuth adjustment doesn't affect the altitude adjustment. It makes life much easier but it is not critical.
    
3. Attach one of the two identical worm blocks to the Ra head using two supplied socket head screws with steel washers under the heads. Just snug these screws while pushing the worm block towards the center of the Ra axis so that the worm engages the gear.
    
4. Roughly adjust the Ra elevation adjustment to your latitude. Graduated latitude indications are located on the side. Do it now. If you run out of adjustment before reaching your latitude, it will be necessary to re-index the elevation adjustment mechanism.  You do not want the added weight of the Dec assembly when making this adjustment. Re-index by removing three socket screws located on each side of the Ra head in deep counter bored holes. Take note of how deep the head is before you remove them. When you re-install the screws, it will be a guide for you. If the head of the screws are not concentric to the counter bored holes, make slight adjustments to the elevation knob so the screws can be removed. Restrain the Ra head when removing the last screw. Look inside where the screws were and see tapped holes. The plate containing the tapped holes must be rotated so that the screws will go into a different set of holes. Insert one screw in each side being sure that it is at the same depth as before you removed it. If not deep enough, and you rotate the Ra head, interference will occur with the head of the screw and the housing. Adjust elevation again to your latitude. Verify that it is now OK. If not, re-index the plate and try again. Once your latitude is attainable, install screws loosely bottomed. If a screw cannot be installed, rotate the Ra head slightly so that the screw head is concentric with the counter bored hole. When all six screws are bottomed, tighten evenly in a criss cross pattern making sure they are at the same depth as before they were removed.
    
5. Remove the plastic protector from the Ra shaft. Ensure that the blue (usually), plastic large washer is sitting on the large face of the Ra head.
    
6. Install the Dec head onto the Ra head such that the Ra shaft fits inside and through the Dec head. Line it up by looking through the hole in the Dec head and gently lower it. Be careful not to damage the threads on the end of the Ra shaft. Install the Ra clutch nut just snug.
    
7. With the Dec head rotated in a convenient position, attach the second worm block assembly the same way as attaching the Ra worm block.
    
8. Insert the "T" screws into the counterweights and thread down so that the end of the screw is almost protruding into the hole of the weight. Place appropriate counterbalance weights on the counterbalance shaft and snug the "T" screws.
    
9. To attach the Optical Tube Assembly,  first position the counterbalance shaft in a down position and snug the Ra clutch nut. Rotate the Dec head so the centerline of the saddle is pointing north and the two knobs are on the east side. Snug the Dec clutch finger knob. Make sure the two large dovetail clamping knobs are loose.  Slide the dovetail adapter on the OTA into the saddle dovetail.  This position makes sliding the OTA in the dovetail easy. If the Dec head is at an angle, the weight of the OTA will bear in the wedge of the dovetail and will make sliding very difficult. Once the OTA is positioned, tightened the two knobs.
    
10. Now is a good time to adjust worm clearance. See Worm Adjustment - Clearance and How to Adjust
     
11. To adjust azimuth, the two "L" handles must first be loosened. To do this, lift the spring loaded handle and rotate to a position that will avoid interference. Then the two knobs, which operate as one, may be rotated to effect the adjustment. After adjustment, re-tighten the two "L" handles.
     
12. To adjust altitude, insert the half inch hex wrench into the two sockets located on each side of the Ra head, at the centerline of the Ra elevation axis. Now rotate the very large black knob in the rear to effect the adjustment. After adjustment, re-tighten the two half inch sockets.
    
13. Enjoy your Titan mount!