A head/tripod bearing
Ok, the casting/machining on the HEQ5 isn't all that great... Losmandy Synta isn't. The place I notice it most is during polar alignment. I don't want to loosen off the head bolt and with the bolt tight it's difficult to get smooth, repeatable adjustment. Not to mention that the stress on the small azimuth knobs is excessive. With this in mind, I took 5 minutes to make a 'bearing' surface that would allow me to tighten down the head bolt and still have smooth, easy adjustment of azimuth.
Basically what I was looking for was a nylon or poly 'washer' to fit between the head and the tripod; something that woulnd't jam or shift and that could stay on the mount pretty much permanently. Some folks like messing with CDs, carving them up to fit, but I find that CDs are too brittle. So, what is just about indestructible, easy to work with and thin enough not to push the azimuth knobs too high up on the 'prong'? Butter tubs! You can use ice-cream tubs or whatever.
Cut the top of a tub into a circle removing the rim. Place the mount on top of it and scribe around the bottom with a Sharpie or other suitable marker. Don't forget the 'flat' and measure for the 'prong' to stick through. This is what you should get in the end.
This is cheap, simple and with the head bolt screwed tight the azimuth knobs turn smooth as butter (pun intended).
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