Check those U-Joints on the yoke

Huckster79

Huckster79

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During a recent “panel upgrade” (fresh paint, placards, push/pull knobs and a remade main trim piece) My mechanic supervised me to change my pilot side yoke u joint...

WOW!!!! What a worthwhile upgrade... $350 - seemed like one of those tiny parts that’s overpriced but for what it did for her flying characteristics it was beyond worth it...

I was shocked at how much easier it was to get her to kiss the ground with the increased smoothness In response in the ailerons...

it was much like having a car with bad ball joints and tie rod ends and getting new ones and an alignment.

Check your yokes for play in their u-joint. Replacing it will be worth your while if it’s loose...

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Huckster79 said:
During a recent “panel upgrade” (fresh paint, placards, push/pull knobs and a remade main trim piece) My mechanic supervised me to change my pilot side yoke u joint...

WOW!!!! What a worthwhile upgrade... $350 - seemed like one of those tiny parts that’s overpriced but for what it did for her flying characteristics it was beyond worth it...

I was shocked at how much easier it was to get her to kiss the ground with the increased smoothness In response in the ailerons...

it was much like having a car with bad ball joints and tie rod ends and getting new ones and an alignment.

Check your yokes for play in their u-joint. Replacing it will be worth your while if it’s loose...

View attachment 90553 View attachment 90554
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That might be the coolest panel I've ever seen.
 
Nice job..:thumbsup::thumbsup:
Received a u-joint for my control colum yesterday. Will install this week
 
sourdough44 said:
Where’s the GPS? How do you find the airport??
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lol no doubt! Won’t lie I cheat with the iPad often but I do enjoy just pointing her in the rightish direction and hunt water towers too :)
 
AKBill said:
Nice job..:thumbsup::thumbsup:
Received a u-joint for my control colum yesterday. Will install this week
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thanks! Let me know if you feel similar...

Mine was looser than a discount lady of the night
 
Control parts like that are supposed to be checked at every annual. It's part of the FAR 43 Appendix D minima. They shouldn't be getting "discovered" at avionics upgrades. What else might be wrong elsewhere in such an airplane?

Flight school airplanes with their many thousands of hours wear those things out. I've replaced them. Not cheap.

Appendix D to Part 43—Scope and Detail of Items (as Applicable to the Particular Aircraft) To Be Included in Annual and 100-Hour Inspections

(a) Each person performing an annual or 100-hour inspection shall, before that inspection, remove or open all necessary inspection plates, access doors, fairing, and cowling. He shall thoroughly clean the aircraft and aircraft engine.
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(b) Each person performing an annual or 100-hour inspection shall inspect (where applicable) the following components of the fuselage and hull group:
(2) Systems and components—for improper installation, apparent defects, and unsatisfactory operation.
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(c) Each person performing an annual or 100-hour inspection shall inspect (where applicable) the following components of the cabin and cockpit group:

(1) Generally—for uncleanliness and loose equipment that might foul the controls.
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(5) Flight and engine controls—for improper installation and improper operation.
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(7) All systems—for improper installation, poor general condition, apparent and obvious defects, and insecurity of attachment.
 
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Just did mine on the pilot side. What a difference! Feels like a new plane.
 
Huckster79 said:
Thanks! I love the “Art Deco” look of the 47s on...I’m really happy with how it turned out. It’s kinda lost all its ratty rugged old plane feel inside... I feel like I need to clunk off my shoes before getting in :)
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Thank you for leaving the panel unmolested by modern space age technology such as those newfangled transistors! Love the classic look.

P.S. no shame in having an iPad in your lap, as long as you don't install one of those hideous airgizmo docks.
 
Brad Z said:
Thank you for leaving the panel unmolested by modern space age technology such as those newfangled transistors! Love the classic look.

P.S. no shame in having an iPad in your lap, as long as you don't install one of those hideous airgizmo docks.
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thank you! That’s completely my intentions. I may not go to museum level historical accurate type refurb - BUT I like it kept in the “spirit of”

frankly if I had endless funds I’m not sure I’d buy anything with glass in the panel. for those missions it’s suited to- I’m all for it. But that’s not my mission (at least at this time) I love the romance of flying a vintage classic.

I have zero desire for fancy avionics, especially in her, really for flying to camp and have fun she has far more gauges than necessary as is. Do I really need to know my verticals speed? Altimeter isn’t needed really either for that, could cover the tach (I have ears), a turn coordinator for what? Eyes outside and fly the damned thing :)
 
I had the 50 yr old U-joints replaced on both yokes on the cherokee 2 yrs ago. Definitely an improvement in control.
 
my first AP/IA replaced those the very first day he saw the plane, i was there when he was working on it, without taking the seats off.
i learned some new expletives that day
 
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I’m in the process of replacing one myself. Did you guys order factory parts or from McFarlane? I’d like to know how they compare. They are actually a few dollars cheaper from Cessna.
 
Been working to get all the play out of my control systems bit by bit over the last 3 years. Lots of places where it can be introduced - the u-joints are just one thing to look at. Cables not properly tensioned, heim joints, control surface bushing, bell cranks, push rods and pulleys should all be looked at for wear and play .

On my bird, I went so far as to replace the rudder pedal torque tubes because the holes connecting the rudder pedals to the torque tube were elongated causing significant play in the rudder system. Not only was ground handling greatly improved but rudder inputs in flight were practically eliminated.

Highly encourage the removal of any play in a plane's control systems. Once you get it all out it ... WOW! What a difference.
 
I just replaced the pilots yoke ujoint in the Cherokee. Why can't they use a common taper, like a morse, rather than some obscure browne and sharpe?
 
Jdm said:
I’m in the process of replacing one myself. Did you guys order factory parts or from McFarlane? I’d like to know how they compare. They are actually a few dollars cheaper from Cessna.
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I went McFarlane... not a lot of reasoning behind it... which is kinda odd for me- usually I study that stuff out like crazy...sometimes to a fault
 
bluerooster said:
I just replaced the pilots yoke ujoint in the Cherokee. Why can't they use a common taper, like a morse, rather than some obscure browne and sharpe?
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our cessna ones are super simple... or at least mine were... it was a 30 minute 2 wrench fix...
 
Huckster79 said:
our cessna ones are super simple... or at least mine were... it was a 30 minute 2 wrench fix...
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The Piper ones are held to the yoke shaft with 2 bolts, and the other end at the sprocket is a tapered pin. The joint needs to have that hole drilled in the field, and tapered to fit the pin. The price of a Browne and Sharpe #1 tapered reamer is shocking when compared to other tapers of similar (but different) size.
 
I believe if you send your old joint to MacFarlane they will

match drill and ream for taper pin.

Money-well spent.
 
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