I was wondering if anyone has an iOptron SmartCube and could give me some experience advice with it with respect to the mount's weight limits. I believe I have seen at least one SmartCube at one of SLAS's summer star parties. I have inherited a small Meade 4 1/4 inch refractor (4501) that has a toy-like EQ1 mount. I have converted the essentially sound tube and mirror to 1 1/4" eyepieces. I took it down to UPS to weigh it. The tube with a fat 32mm Possel e.p. weighs 8lbs stripped and 9lbs with a light LPI camera and flip mirror. The tube is 35" long. I am considering buying an iOptron Smart Cube - which is on sale for $218 - to upgrade the EQ1 mount. I called Oceanside to place an order. The salesperson suggested that the tube was too heavy for the SmartCube and that I should not buy it. "That thing only has plastic gears in it." The Oceanside and iOptron specs and ad literature states that the tube will work - that is the weight limit is 7lbs to 11lbs and specifically mentions tubes up to 40". I believe there is a lever effect to this recommendation with respect to the 35" reflector tube. The alternative suggestion was to buy the $800 iOptron Cube mount. Confused by the difference between the advertising and spec literature and the honest practical advice of the salesperson, I wanted to get some experience based input from any one who owns a SmartCube and may have used it with a small refractor or reflector of similar weigh and dimensions as I intend to use it for. Thanks in advance - Kurt