Dave, if you are trying to balance the RA drive, cranking down the altitude to the lowest point is a good idea, but now you want the counterweight bar horizontal, not vertical, to see where the weight should be for best balance (watch you don't tip the tripod at this position, and securing extra weights underneath can help lower center of gravity.? But when going back up to your latitude, the altitude knob will be hard to turn even with those four screws loose, as all the payload and mount weight is now riding down on top of the lift mechanism. I often use a rubber strap wrench on the knob at this point as the torque needed is beyond most average folks. I have found this wrench set useful here but also for breaking apart imaging train adapters as well:
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Once you get back up to 20-30 degrees, you should be able to turn more easily by hand. For Dec balance, get the bar horizonal again and loosen the Dec lock - most go slightly camera heavy, but it does not have to be precise; RA balance is mostly set slightly east heavy.
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Good luck,
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John
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Losmandy G11G2 on pier; refurbed Losmandy G11 with OnStep controller; SkyShed design roll-off observatory; ZWO ASI2600MM-P; ZWO ASI071MC; Sky-Watcher Esprit 100 ED with field flattener; Celestron C925 Edge HD with 0.7XFR, William Optics Zenithstar 61 APO; PHD2, Sequence Generator Pro and PixInsight user
