Attaching C-11 to mount by yourself

Any hints or tips on attaching a C-11 scope to a mount without hurting yourself?!
I find it very difficult to hold the scope alone while guiding the dovetail bar into the mount.

Sonny Schug said:

Any hints or tips on attaching a C-11 scope to a mount without hurting yourself?!
I find it very difficult to hold the scope alone while guiding the dovetail bar into the mount.

The best cure I know of is getting a saddle that opens up rather than one you have to slide it into.....more $$ I know but worth every penny.

As others have commented, a tip-in rather than a slide-in dovetail saddle helps. For my C14 I use this process: I place a tall table next to the mount (like a camping table with home-made extensions on the legs) -- it needs to be about the same height as the pier or tripod. I put the C14 on the table, then turn it so it is pointed nose-down, slide it over to the mount, set the mount so the Declination axis is horizontal, and then attach the C14 to the dovetail saddle on the mount. Then I put the counter-weights on the mount and let the mount do the heavy lifting. Once the mount has lifted the scope off the table, I'll move the table away.

In addition to the Casady saddle mentioned above, you could use a length of 2x4 to prop the CW shaft up in a horizontal position with counterweights already on - then you can sit the dovetail in the saddle, hold the OTA against your chest with one arm and tighten the saddle knobs with the other hand. I find this much easier than lifting above chest height.

You can drill a hole through the 2x4 to slip the CW shaft into to avoid the wood falling away while the tube is being mounted.