There was something a few days ago about balance on a 1600.  I believe someone offered that if the mount is significantly out of balance there can be some issues with the gears or some such thing.

I have a first generation 1600 and it will rarely be somewhat out of balance (removing the imaging train to check collimation or the very rare visual foray).  How much out of balance is tolerable?  There is no way to rebalance the OTA, which weighs 140#.

Mike J. Shade: mshade@q.com

Mike J. Shade Photography:

mshadephotography.com

In War: Resolution

In Defeat: Defiance

In Victory: Magnanimity

In Peace: Goodwill

Sir Winston Churchill

Already, in the gathering dusk, a few of the stars are turning on their lights.

Vega, the brightest one, is now dropping towards the west.  Can it be half

a year since I watched her April rising in the east?  Low in the southwest

Antares blinks a sad farwell to fall...

Leslie Peltier, Starlight Nights

International Dark Sky Association: www.darksky.org