National Geographic Recent Questions, Troubleshooting Help & Support

Is the ball joint getting worn? I'd contact the manufacturer and see if you can order a new ball. As it gets older, it doesn't fit the socket as well (kind of like Grandma's first replacement hip!) and things get floppy. Either a new ball or perhaps putting something rubbery, like a gasket, around the socket, to provide some friction (you could use Sugru, a couple dabs of Marine Boat Glue or Shoe-Goo, really anything rubbery-feeling will do in a pinch,) should get it working. And if not, there's always black gaffer tape, the photographer's best friend!

Here are all of Meade Telescope manuals--

http://www.meade.com/manuals/index.html

Find one under either REFLECTOR or REFRACTOR that is similar to your scope. There are no manuals available for National Geographic, but they all assemble in a similar fashion.