Assembly and User Instructions for the Mounting Kit mk2 for ZWO ASIAIR and EAF Belt Drive for the ZWO FF65 and Askar 65PHQ Telescopes

This is a new version of the original kit. Most assembly steps are comparable to those of the orignal version whereas ASIAIR is mounted on a different location and this version of the kit provides additional mounting plates.

You will need 3mm, 2.5mm and 2mm hex screwdrivers, whereas the 2mm screwdriver is only needed to place the pulley on the EAF. Keep in mind that the new ZWO EAF have a thinner (4mm) axis.

On all assembly steps, keep it mind that we work on an optical instrument: do not tighten the screws too much. This guide mentions the use screws and other fasteners for reference purposes, and for those customers who bought a download version of the kit. If you bought the printed version of the kit, all screws and fasteners are included.

We start with removing the finder scope holder and the blind screws on another side of the focuser. 

It will become our guide scope holder. We will place it on another location. We will need only two original screws. Other two become spare ones, since their hols will be covered by the EAF holder brace on the focuser.

For mounting of the EAF holder brace on the focuser, we use four M4 8mm thread, 13mm total height, round head screws (DIN 912).

You might want to first align the screws in the holes before screwing them all the way.

The EAF holder is a pre-assembled block. We just need to mount it on the top of the frame.

We use two M3 8mm total height, flat head screws (DIN 7991) for this.

As next, we mount the guide scope rail. It carries, the original guide scope holder which can now be placed on different positions.

Two M4 nuts (DIN 934) are used for this. The should pressed into according slots.

The rail is mounted on the right side of the telescope on the main rings. We use four M6 6mm thread height, rounded head screw (DIN 7380) for this.

The rail has cut-off on the edges which ensure sufficient spacing around the mounting screws of the main rings.

As next, we mount the original guide scope holder on the tails. We use the original screws for this.

ASIAIR is mounted on a bracket which can placed on different locations on the accessory plate which is mounted on the left side of the rings. This accessory plate is used in other kits and has 4mm holes in 20x20mm raster as well as eyelets for cable binders or velcro tapes for mounting of other accessories.

The bracket is mounted with two M4 8mm total height, flat head screws (DIN 7991) on side holes of ASIAIR. Later, the bracket is mounted with another two same screws and two M4 nuts (DIN 934) on the plate.

The plate itself is later mounted with four M6 6mm thread height, rounded head screws (DIN 7380), the same as we used for the guide scope rail on the previous steps.

Mount the bracket on the ASIAIR with one screw only for now to see which positions are possible and which make sense for your setups.

ASIAIR can also be placed in different directions.

Now, remove ASIAIR from the bracket and mount the bracket on the accessory plate. You need to remove the plate from the rings before that and place the nuts in according slots on the back side of the plate.

The same applies to other positions of the bracket.

Now, mount ASIAIR on the bracket.

On the next step we move to mounting of the EAF. 

As first, place the provided pulley on the axis of the EAF with the the 2mm screwdriver.

The EAF is mounted on its frame with the screws which are provided by ZWO in the EAF package.

EAF drives the coarse knob of the focuser via an adapter which is included with the mounting kit parts. The kit uses 320mm GT2 belt and 16 teeth GT2 pulley.

The tension is controlled by the tension screw on the EAF frame. Make sure you remove tension when not using the telescope for a longer time and before unmounting the belt drive. 

The kit can be optionally purchased with short USB cables for EAF

and for the guide scope.

You can use the space under ASIAIR for mounting of other accessories with help of another accessory place which is provided as an option.

The eyelets of the plate can be used with cable binders and with hook-and-pile fastener (also known as “velcro” (R) fastener) for better cable management. The holes are for 4mm screws and have chamfers for DIN 7991 flat screw heads.

With most placements the carry handle can still be used when needed.

Even more accessories can be used with another optional accessory plate which is then mounted on the top of the braket. You will need two M4 12mm total height flat head screws (DIN 7991). This place is sold separately or can be purchased as an option with the kit. 

The new rig is now ready for action!

The kit is avaialble as a printed or a download version in the Photastro shop.