Removing control yokes on '67 F model

[danb35]

I've decided to send my control yokes off to AeroComfort for leather wrapping, so I went out to the airport this morning to remove them.  '48Q is a '67 M20F, but has the 201-style control yokes and shafts installed to terminate the recurring inspection requirement.  The pilot's yoke came off easily--a few wires to disconnect (and, in a couple of cases, clip off), the cross bolt, and the setscrew in the bottom.  However, the copilot's yoke doesn't want to come loose off the shaft.  I removed the same bolt (which is a pain, BTW--hard to get a wrench on the head of the bolt or on the nut) and setscrew, and the yoke will turn freely on the shaft, but it won't come off.  Is there a special tool or trick I need?

[Ned Gravel]

Dan:

I would suggest a "persuader" or the 5 lb adjusting tool, but that would prove that I know absolutely nothing about what you are doing. Which is true.

But, since I own a '65E with the intent to possibly replace my yolks with the newer style that has spots for all the buttons in them, I am very keen on learning how you actually do this.  Good luck.

[danb35]

Well, I am an honors graduate of the Bigger Hammer School of Technology, but I thought there could be some danger in applying those methods to the primary flight controls of the airplane.  I'm pondering using some sort of gear puller-like device, but I'm not sure if I'd be able to use an off-the-shelf tool or if I'd need to fabricate something myself.

[Scott Aviation]

I had real trouble getting the yokes off my 201 for powdercoating, after pulling the main bolt and removing the lower set screw the co-pilot side the yoke would spin on the shaft like you described but not come off, after gently prying on it for a bit I realized there was another set screw in the top and had to remove that and it came off, the shaft was a bit scored after that due to the set screw spinning but it cleaned up ok.  I guess the quick answer would be to triple check that the shaft is free of set screws, it seems with aviation brute force isnt always the best route

 

[Ned Gravel]

Ah yes.....  The old hidden-so-I-can't-find-it set screw trick. 

That will defeat the "bigger persuader" approach every time.

 

[Qwalton]

Not if you use a big enough "persuader"

[philipneeper]

what does a set of yokes run to get wrapped?

[danb35]

Normal price at AeroComfort is $500, $600 with embroidery.  They pretty routinely run specials in MAPA Log, though.

[DaV8or]

Quote: edgargravel

But, since I own a '65E with the intent to possibly replace my yolks with the newer style that has spots for all the buttons in them, I am very keen on learning how you actually do this.  Good luck.

[Ned Gravel]

Dan:

I read on the other list that you got your yolks off OK.

[danb35]

Yes, the yokes came off fine--just took a bit more pulling and twisting than I was comfortable with doing without having someone tell me it was OK.

My logs indicated that the retrofit was done IAW Mooney drawing # 917024--not sure how available that is, or if you need to buy a kit to go along with it.