The Quarter Hitch — The Quintessential Grab 'n Go Mount
 

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A grab 'n go refractor fitted with a wide-field eyepiece is its own giant finder.  Aim in the general area of a deep-sky object, look through the scope — and you found it! 

The Quarter Hitch is targeted to the Grab ‘n Go purist who is seeking upper echelon quality in a solid but super lightweight alt-azimuth mount.  The Quarter Hitch has a rigid CNC machined structure and ultra-smooth motion controls, now legendary.   The Quarter Hitch also incorporates a two-axis balancing system, allowing you to stop chasing ever-shifting pseudo balanced configurations that plague other alt-az mounts.  (No stiff, jerky movements from adding heavy friction!  No constantly sliding your OTA back and forth!)  And its unique caliper disc brake holds your scope on the target when swapping eyepieces. 

Besides convenient features, the Quarter Hitch provides robust performance.  It turns on heavy-duty, precision-ground stainless steel shafts (instead of screws).  Its roller thrust bearings (instead of plastic washers) are rated for loads beyond a thousand pounds.  If you bolted the Quarter Hitch to a steel I-beam, you could hang a car engine from it without damaging it — a load that would bend and snap mass-produced mounts.  It’s CNC machined structure fits together tightly and is completely free of slop — yet the axes and controls have not a hint of binding.  The practical meaning of all this structural overkill is smooth, solid viewing at high powers. 

Some Mounts Simply Overwhelm Grab 'n Go Scopes

Some mounts boast about their carrying capacities like it's their only virtue — implying a larger capacity equates to a better mount.  In this "bigger is better" race, the qualities that make a good grab 'n go mount are completely forgotten.

By contrast, the Quarter Hitch is optimized for the grab 'n go mission:

  • Proportioned to grab 'n go OTAs

  • Centerline payload position for good balance on lightweight tripods

  • Excellent tripod clearance means no tripod extension column is needed

  • Full range of advanced features in a miniaturized package

 

Make no mistake, the Quarter Hitch is a heavy-duty mount — but it is targeted to a specific mission and range of OTA sizes.  The Quarter Hitch delivers one of the highest stiffness-to-weight ratios available.  For scopes appropriate to grab 'n go application, you will not find more rigid support than the Quarter Hitch without overwhelming the grab 'n go qualities of the scope.

When comparing prices, note that the Quarter Hitch is ready-to-use.  The base price includes the saddle assembly and the dovetail plate.  Moreover, the Quarter Hitch provides excellent tripod clearance without needing a tripod extension column.  Just attach the Quarter Hitch to any tripod that uses a standard 3/8-16 connecting bolt — and you’re set for satisfying observing.

Don't I need motorized tracking?
  

Given all the potential problems with the cheaply manufactured drive systems (plus all the noise, extra weight, and hassle with batteries), most grab 'n go enthusiasts prefer manual slow-motion controls as a best compromise.  The Quarter Hitch's motion controls are exceptional and make following objects very easy!

 

Consider a typical case of a 102 mm APO refractor.  Most deep-sky observing will be done at 60x or lower magnification.  Using modern wide-field eyepieces, an object will take six minutes or longer to drift across the field of view.  A few, infrequent compensations with the motion controls is all that is needed to keep the object nearly centered for extended periods of time.  Like focusing, motion-control assisted tracking soon becomes second nature, requiring little thought or effort.

 

Let's say that you push your 102 mm APO to 250x for planetary observing.  Again, the generous field of view afforded by modern eyepieces will allow the planet to drift for well over a minute before it begins to slip beyond of the edge of the field.  At 250x, adjusting for drift at 40-second intervals will commonly keep the planet within the middle half of the field of view.  Such corrections are quick, easy and vibration-free using the Quarter Hitch's ultra-smooth roller-drive motion controls.  At more typical magnifications of 160x to 180x, tracking planets with the Quarter Hitch is a piece of cake!

 

For the size of telescope usually employed for grab 'n go astronomy, the Quarter Hitch's backlash-free motion controls provide a near optimal solution for tracking once all factors are considered including no polar alignment, no batteries or power cord, no calibrations, no meridian reversal, and no equipment failures.

Don't buy disappointment!   The Quarter Hitch is the high-performance alternative for the serious grab ‘n go enthusiast who demands perfection.

  • All CNC machined from aircraft alloys for precision, strength, and beauty.  Mounts made from
    castings and plastic parts can’t compare!
  • Cross-braced design weighs only 4.9 pounds but delivers uncommon rigidity.
  • Solid, conservative capacity for a 105 mm triplet APO, 6-inch Newtonian, 150 mm Mak-Cass,
    8-inch SCT, or 100 mm angle-view binoculars.
  • Ultra-smooth, ultra-responsive motion controls.  Zero backlash and no starting friction.  Pan
    fast or track slowly — one knob.
  • No counterweights, clutches to adjust, or locks to engage.  Free motion on demand.  The
    Quarter Hitch uniquely combines free motion with slow-motion controls.
  • Two-axis balancing eliminates annoying balance changes as you rotate your scope up and
    down.  No clamping or added friction needed!  Maintains light, smooth movements with
    binoviewers and heavy eyepieces.
  • Engraved scales for presetting balance positions.  Built-in bubble level.
  • True caliper disc brake on the altitude axis keeps your scope on-target when changing
    eyepieces.
  • Dovetail system with vise-like jaws.  Easy straight-in loading.  Dovetail plate included.
  • Preloaded Timken roller bearings and precision ground, stainless steel shafts for shake-free
    support and effortless pointing.
  • Handsome, durable anodized finished highlights the exquisite machining.
  • Tripod-friendly centerline load position — stable and fast damping.
  • Excellent tripod clearance.  No column extension needed.  Save weight.  Save money.
  • Horizon and zenith stops protect your scope.
  • Optional finder bracket attaches your finder directly to the saddle.  Use your favorite finder for
    all your scopes and binoculars.  Optimal positioning.
  • Optional Balance Trimmer easily compensates for differences in eyepiece weights in seconds
    without tools.
  • Built only in limited quantities for personal attention to detail.
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Why even consider buying an alt-az mount that doesn't have two-axis balancing?
To understand why mounts that depend on added friction to overcome their inability to balance their loads simply don't work, go to this page.

 

Play Quarter Hitch Video

 

Aiming Options Other Than Digital Pointing

 

Ignoring the additional cost, many observers neither want nor need digital pointing.  For instance,
observers who primarily concentrate on the Sun, Moon, and planets have no need at all for a DSC
unit.  Also, many observers favor "star-hopping" to deep-sky objects and "learning the sky."  Modern wide-field eyepieces transform small telescopes into powerful object locators, even without additional aid.  And also today, there are excellent options for non-digital aiming devices, including the following methods.

  • Unit-power reflex finders:  This is probably today's most popular method of locating objects.
    These devices project a red dot or reticle pattern onto a transparent window through which
    you view the sky without magnification.  The "big view" allows the observer to match the
    geometric patterns on the star chart over a broad area of sky — a task that the human eye
    and brain performs very well.

  • Green Laser Pointer finders:  Locating objects with GLP finders is perhaps the quickest and
    most intuitive method of all.  The GLP's thin, visible beam projected high into the night sky
    shows you exactly where your scope is pointed — allowing the biggest and most easily integrated view of all methods.  This technique is very much like pointing to a spot on your star chart with your finger.  It's that simple.  Some reasonable precautions are necessary when using any laser, and not all star parties allow them (particularly star parties where astrophotography is in progress).

  • Optical finders:  Many objects in the Messier catalog can be seen directly in optical finders (small auxiliary telescopes).  But the "big view" integration of star patterns is more difficult through an optical finder.  Some optical finders are equipped with right-angle, correct-image prisms which may aid in recognizing patterns on your star charts.

If you have a finder mounted directly on your scope, the Quarter Hitch's optional finder bracket can allow you to attach a second finder so that you can employ two of the methods listed above.

 

For many people, finding a deep-sky object without digital aid is akin to a treasure hunt — and is half the fun of observing.

 

For those who want digital pointing, a new precision encoder installation is now offered for the Quarter Hitch.  Borrowed from the Half Hitch, the installation includes 4096-step encoders, machined aluminum encoder housings, wiring harness, and folding DSC bracket.

 

Precision Made in USA


info@halfhitchtelescope.com
512-632-9624


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