Skywatcher Esprit 80

[dtastro]

Does anyone know what the black plate is for just behind the focuser. I can't find anything in the manual, the one with 8 screws not the finder mount? 

[ollypenrice]

I can't see that your arrow is pointing to anything. I guess you mean the black plate on the top of the focuser? That's the component which is the highest black one in the picture. Beneath it, on the draw tube, is a metal strip so my guess (no more than that) would be that there will be a bearing or roller of some kind under the plate, probably adjustable so as to counteract the pressure on the drawtube from the rack and pinion on the bottom or even to adjust the clearance between rack and pinion.

But remember the old saying, If it ain't broke...

lly