The black shaft on the left is a pnuematic counter balance.

Behind the BLUE nut and bolt (and piece of black aluminum) is an 8mm skate bearing that rolls along the Z axis way

The pivot point of the lever is where the 1/4-20 nylon locking nut is (right and up from the blue bolt).

The black .5" x .5" x 1.5" block of aluminum (painted black) fixed by two button head bolts to the head holds a pressure screw. That screw puts pressure on the whole lever which will make the skate bearing ride with more or less force against the Z axis way. The more pressure on the bearing, the further away the lower portion of the head will ride away from the ways. With proper setting, the gap between the head and the way can be made parallel (rather than 'V' shaped). This allows the gibs to be tighten more than they normally would. This means less slop in the head, but more importantly makes for alot less binding between the head and the Z axis way. With the counter balance installed (but with the Z axis lead screw disengaged), it is easy to simply push the head up or down as there is little or no binding. Without the "counterlever" there is so much binding that you could stand on the head and it wouldn't move down (infact the more weight, the more it would bind until it finally slipped).

Anyway, that's the concept I am talking about. Probably nothing new. You may use the idea, but as it is now published, and prior art, not patent it.

Jeff