Balancing my RC 8" Carbon Fiber .

I haven't gotten all my RC parts yet, but the Losmandy dovetail will move the center of gravity a bit forward.  You might try reinstalling it to see if it helps.

Thanks, Richard Beck!

Marcelo,

I do exactly what Wellerson does, although, I end up needing more weights than he.  However, my understanding of weight balance is that for the mount's counterweights, you want them as far up the bar as possible, so the added weights on the front of the scope are at the end of the added rod.  Hopefully, that makes sense.  By doing that, you can keep the mount's counterweights further up.

Ron

What I meant, in case it wasn't clear, is that if you use weights on the front of the optical tube (call them DEC weights) in order to balance in DEC, you have the choice of placing them close to the optical tube or away from the optical tube.  From a DEC balance point of view, either position will balance.  But if you put the DEC weights away from the tube, you can keep the mount's counterweights (call them RA counterweights) closer to the mount, which is better for tracking and guiding.  Basically, to keep the lever arms as short as possible, any added weights should be positioned as close to the RA axis as possible.

HTH,
Ron