CURRENT Counterweight Shafts, Safety Stops and Optional Extension
Current Style 1.875" Diameter Counterweight Shafts and One-Piece Safety Stop
1.875" and 1.125" Diameter Counterweight Shafts Requiring Safety Knobs and Washers
Current Style 1.875" Diameter Shafts Requiring the One-Piece Safety Stop for 900, 1100, 1200, 1600
and Mach1GTO Mounts using 5, 10, 18, 24 and 30 lb. Counterweights
This style counterweight shaft with its one-piece washerless safety stop ships with the 1100GTO and 1600GTO and began shipping with 1200GTO mounts in May, 2006 and continued with the 900GTO's that began shipping in January, 2007. An optional shaft was also introduced for the Mach1GTO at the beginning of 2007. By machining the same size threads at all connection points, the various pieces work together as a system and provide an enhanced level of convenience and versatility to your 900, 1100, 1200, 1600 or Mach1GTO mount. The one-piece, machined, aluminum, washerless safety stop (shown left) is easier to use than the older knob and washer, especially in the dark, and you don't have a washer to drop and / or lose. A newly added Delrin washer (F0020) (shown right) helps prevent the counterweight shaft from seizing against the mount's CW shaft adapter. The extension eliminates the need for a separate longer shaft for mount owners with heavier equipment loads.
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PLEASE NOTE:
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22.0" x 1.875" Diameter Counterweight Shaft The overall length of this shaft is 23.0" (22.0" usable, plus 1.0" threaded lead-in). This is the current shaft for the 1200 and 1600 series of mounts and the optional "long" version for the 900 and 1100 series. The threads on the mount end of the shaft have a lead-in to help prevent cross threading. We machined matching female threads into the far end of the counterweight shaft, to accept the handy 8.5" extension (M12675) so that you can extend the shaft to accomodate additional counterweights for a larger scope. The washerless Safety Stop (M12676) is a required accessory for this counterweight shaft. Like its predecessors, this 1.875" diameter counterweight shaft is precision machined from solid 303 stainless steel. It is both beautiful and robust and has a soft luster that belies its rigid strength. This 17.2 lb. (7.8 kg) shaft can hold up to eight 30 lb. counterweights (240 lb. total - Note: This exceeds 1600GTO recommended capacity.). It is compatible with our 5 lb. (5SCWT), 10 lb. (10SCWT), 18 lb. (18SCWT), 24 lb. (24SCWT) and 30 lb. (30SCWT188) counterweights. This shaft is recommended for: the 1600GTO and all 1200 models that have been produced.
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16.675" x 1.875" Diameter Counterweight Shaft (M9404-B) This is the current shaft for 1100 and 900 mounts. It can also be used as an optional "heavyweight" shaft for the Mach1, or even as an optional "lightweight" shaft for the 1200 or 1600 for those times that you remove the big scope and put a small instrument on the big mount.
This 1.875" diameter counterweight shaft is precision-machined from solid 303 stainless steel as are all the counterweight shafts we produce. It weighs in at 12.9 lb. (5.8 kg) and its 16.675" usable length can hold up to six 30 lb. counterweights (180 lb. total - Note: This exceeds 1100GTO recommended capacity.). It is compatible with our 5 lb. (5SCWT), 10 lb. (10SCWT), 18 lb. (18SCWT), 24 lb. (24SCWT) and 30 lb. (30SCWT188) counterweights. This shaft is recommended for: the 1100GTO, and all 900 models (HDA, QMD, SMD and GTO) that have been produced. It may also be used with the Mach1GTO if care is taken not to exceed the mount's recommended capacity. |
Important Mount Balancing Note: Please click this Pdf link to understand the proper way to position counterweights when balancing your mount. |
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9.675" x 1.875" diameter Counterweight Shaft (M1053-A) This optional Counterweight Shaft was designed specifically to fit into the declination axis of the Mach1GTO to create a very compact configuration for travel. The shaft has a usable length of 9.675". A 5 lb. Counterweight (5SCWT) was also designed to add versatility and flexibility for the Mach1GTO's lighter loads. This shaft is a "must-have" if you have a second Astro-Physics mount and wish to swap counterweights between the two! The threads on the mount end of the shaft have a lead-in to help prevent cross threading. We machined matching female threads into the far end of the counterweight shaft, to accept the convenient 8.5" extension (M12675) so that you don't have to order a longer shaft for a larger scope. The washerless Safety Stop (M12676) is a required accessory for this counterweight shaft. Like all our shafts, this 1.875" diameter counterweight shaft is precision-machined from solid 303 stainless steel. It weighs 7.5 lb. (3.4 kg) and its 9.675" usable length can hold up to three 18 lb. and one 10 lb. counterweights (64 lb.) It is compatible with our 5 lb. (5SCWT), 10 lb. (10SCWT) and 18 lb. (18SCWT) counterweights. Note: The larger diameter of the 24 lb. and 30 lb. counterweights do not make them compatible with the Mach1GTO. We have added a 5/16-18 x 3/4" Socket Head Cap Screw to the end of the shaft to make it easier to remove from the declination axis of your Mach1GTO after stowing it inside for compact transport. Since the shaft doesn't leave much gripping surface on the other end, we added this feature so that your shaft won't end up "stuck" inside the declination axis. Just use the 1/4" Hex Key supplied with your mount and turn as shown. |
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This shaft is recommended for: the Mach1GTO. Although it was designed for the Mach1GTO, it can also be used as a lightweight "shorty" for the 1100 and 1600 or the 900 and 1200 mounts and will fit those mounts even when they are equipped with the shaft encoders of digital setting circles. It can also be used with the 600 series mounts, but NOT if the mount is equipped with the aforementioned shaft encoders. |
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Important Mount Balancing Note: Please click this Pdf link to understand the proper way to position counterweights when balancing your mount. |
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One-Piece Washerless Safety Stop for Current 1.875" Diameter Counterweight Shafts (M12676) This handy one-piece, washerless safety stop is machined from a solid piece of aluminum and anodized black. It fits in the end of all of the current style 1.875" diameter counterweight shafts: the 22.0"- (M12601-E), 16.675"- (M9404-B) and 9.675"- (M1053-A), as well as the counterweight shaft extension (M12675). It also fits into your mount's Declination Axis itself for storage and transport. The Safety Stop's large threads and washerless, one-piece design make it a pleasure to use, especially in the field. It screws into the shaft-end of the declination axis for storage and transport, providing both protection for your mount and a place where it won't get lost! Because it will turn, be careful if using the Safety Stop as a handle when lifting your Dec. axis. This safety stop is required for: all mounts that have the current style 1.875" diameter counterweight shaft.
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8.675" x 1.875" Diameter Extension (M12675) The 8.5" Counterweight Shaft Extension completes the current 1.875" diameter counterweight shaft ensemble. It, of course, eliminates the need for a separate longer shaft for those of you with heavier instruments. Like the other current 1.875" diameter shafts, the 8.675" Extension uses the Washerless Safety Stop (M12676) to protect your toes. Its fit to the primary counterweight shaft is virtually seamless, so your weights will slide up and down smoothly. The extension is beautifully machined from the same 303 stainless stock as the full counterweight shafts and adds another 8.675" of usable length to your counterweight shaft. It is compatible with our 5 lb. (5SCWT), 10 lb. (10SCWT), 18 lb. (18SCWT), 24 lb. (24SCWT) and 30 lb. (30SCWT188) counterweights. The extension itself weighs 6.6 lb. (3.0 kg). The 8.5" Counterweight Shaft Extension has a shorter lead-in thread than the full counterweight shafts and should NOT be the piece that screws into the declination axis. This shaft extension is recommended for: the 1100GTO, 1600GTO, all 1200 models and 900 models (HDA, QMD, SMD and GTO) that have been produced, but the mount must have the current style 1.875" diameter primary counterweight shaft. It may also be used with the Mach1GTO. provided that an optional 1.875" diameter shaft has been purchased.
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Important Mount Balancing Note: Please click this Pdf link to understand the proper way to position counterweights when balancing your mount. |
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Current Style 1.125" Diameter Shaft for Mach1GTO Mounts
using 6, 9 and 14 lb. Counterweights
13.675" x 1.125" Diameter Counterweight Shaft (M8084-A)
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This is the standard shaft that is shipped with the Mach1GTO. It is the same diameter - 1.125" - and uses the same counterweights - 6 lb. (6SLCWT), 9 lb. (9SLCWT) and 14 lb. (14SLCWT) - as the shafts for the 400 and 600E mounts. The end that attaches to the mount's declination axis was re-designed and incorporates a lead-in to start you out right and a shoulder to stop the shaft firmly against the counterweight shaft adapter without any binding. The usable length is 13.675" and it will hold over 60 lb. of counterweights. The shaft itself weighs in at 4.1 lb. (1.8 kg) This shaft requires the Machined Safety Stop Knob listed below. This shaft is recommended for: all 400, 600, 800 and Mach1GTO mounts produced. This counterweight shaft can be used on mounts equipped with shaft encoders. |
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Important Mount Balancing Note: Please click this Pdf link to understand the proper way to position counterweights when balancing your mount.
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Machined Safety Stop Knob (MSSKB)
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You’ve asked for it…now we’ve got it! The Mach1GTO’s counterweight shaft is now “dressed up” with a one-piece safety stop. No more fender washer and plastic knob. We’re talking “Uptown” with a finely machined, anodized safety stop that provides safety for you and beauty for your mount. Take the Mach1 to your next star party and feel “Dressed to the Nines”!
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This Safety Stop also fits the 1.125” Counterweight Shafts of all 400, 600 and 800 mounts. It is a one piece assembly with a 5/16-18 thread.
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Copyright © 2012, Astro-Physics, Inc. - All Rights Reserved
This page was last modified:
October 30, 2018
Astro-Physics, Inc.
11250 Forest Hills Road, Machesney Park, IL 61115, U.S.A.
Phone: 815-282-1513 Fax: 815-282-9847
The threads on the mount end of the shaft have a lead-in to help prevent cross threading. We machined matching female threads into the far end of the counterweight shaft, to accept the versatile 8.5" extension 
