The Mating Dance:
Matching the Cradle to the South Yoke

September 30, 2000 work party
The Cradle constructed in September 2000 is to be aligned and bolted to the fork and South Axle. This Yoke was used for the fork-on-disk mount in the prior configuration of the telescope.
Roger Rittenhouse and Donna help waltz the cradle to the telescope (left) and Rebecca and Keith help position the fork into the end of the cradle (left).
The crew jostles the parts together. This was followed by clamping the parts together with the assembly ready for final adjustment and fastening.
The Final adjusting and drilling of the bolt holes was acomplished on October 1, 2000. There were no serious problems and the anticipated problems with clearance at the north end of the cradle against the legs of the tripod is going to require lengthening the North leg of the tripod so it leans more to the south, which will increase stability in earthquakes. There is adequate ground clearance and with the possible elevation of the south pier by a few inches (associated with the lengthening of the North tripod leg), there should be even more clearance.
Many thanks to Donna, Roger, Rebecca and Keith for helping! Prior work on the Conversion of the Mounting