Yoke removal for leather covering

[klbcfi]

I decided to tackle removing my yokes on my K model today. Pretty straight forward on right side. Only the ptt switch. On the left side, I have ptt, trim, control wheel steer and auto pilot disconnect.  There is also a map light.   There is a small set screw on the bottom of each yoke.  The bolt that holds the yoke on won't budge. I suppose I could tap on it with a hammer but I'm pretty reluctant to so that.  Is there any way to do the leather wraps without taking the yokes off?  

[danb35]

I found that I needed to gently tap with a hammer or similar tool to get the bolt loose when I removed mine.  I doubt they could be covered without removing them--maybe if you flew the plane to Aero Comfort?

[PTK]

You can sand them and clean them up really good and then prime and paint them with a nice flat black without removing them!

All at a small fraction of the cost of removing leathering and reinstalling.  And yes they can be leathered without removing them!

[David Mazer]

My yokes were leather wrapped without being removed.

[Cruiser]

Ok, details, details.

Give us the who, what, how to get yokes leather wrapped without being removed.

[rbridges]

Quote: allsmiles

You can sand them and clean them up really good and then prime and paint them with a nice flat black without removing them!

 

I always wondered why people never did this b/c the yokes usually look pretty bad in the pics I've seen.  I figured spray paint didn't hold up well.

[PTK]

You can do it yourself!  Or a local auto/boat upholsterer can do it for you. No need to go through the hassle to remove, ship and reinstall yokes. 

[David Mazer]

Gayle Harrison did mine at VNC.  You can contact her directly at touchandsew@yahoo.com.  Let her know I sent you.  She is a nice person.

As far as painting goes, the leather feels much better and, to do a decent paint job, you probably want to powder coat them anyway and doing that installed might pose a number of technical difficulties.

[jpjp]

It depends on whether you want a real leather wrap or a partial. 

The picture of the "wrapped" yokes above is leather covered only on the center of the yokes.   More than likely because they could not work around the yoke to install the covering without removing the yoke. So if you do not want the grips covered(which is the part you actually touch) you may have to remove them.

As far as painting...well it is also less expensive to leave them as they are as opposed to painting but that was not the question now was it.

[PTK]

Quote: jpjp

It depends on whether you want a real leather wrap or a partial. 

The picture of the "wrapped" yokes above is leather covered only on the center of the yokes.   More than likely because they could not work around the yoke to install the covering without removing the yoke. So if you do not want the grips covered(which is the part you actually touch) you may have to remove them.

As far as painting...well it is also less expensive to leave them as they are as opposed to painting but that was not the question now was it.

[N601RX]

Remove the nut and turn the bolt backwards and it will come out.  It is a tighter fit than normal.

[David Mazer]

Quote: jpjp

It depends on whether you want a real leather wrap or a partial. 

The picture of the "wrapped" yokes above is leather covered only on the center of the yokes.   More than likely because they could not work around the yoke to install the covering without removing the yoke. So if you do not want the grips covered(which is the part you actually touch) you may have to remove them.

As far as painting...well it is also less expensive to leave them as they are as opposed to painting but that was not the question now was it.

[DonMuncy]

I did a CB job on mine, covering all but the center of the hub with doe-skin. Building the patterns was quite a chore, and lacing on the "horns" was a bit of a challange. I am satisfied with the result.

[jwilkins]

I am not a mechanic but have seen loose control wheels and scored shafts.

So, I'm offering my unofficial yoke removal comments:

Pre 201 yokes have a tapered pin. Loosen the nut and then GENTLY tap with a plastic mallet to loosen the pin. If you smash too hard you can mangle the threads on the tapered pin When re-installing do not over tighten the pin. The pin attaches the CW to the shaft but the set screw takes out the play. DO NOT attempt to tighten the pin enough to remove all play between the shaft and CW. This is partially what causes the  cracked control wheel shafts (in addition to the  thin wall tubing).   

Both pre and post 201 have a set screw that keeps the CW from wobbling on the shaft. LOOSEN THE SET SCREW. Many control wheel shafts from salvage a/c have scoring from twisting the CW off without loosening the setscrew. In some cases the CW shafts are ruined.

My 62 'C' had yokes which the previous owner had carefully covered with a premium leather automotive steering wheel cover. Not as nice as the professional jobs, but looked nice and were comfortable. The hand grip were covered; not the entire yoke. Not as nice as Aero Comfort's professional jobs.

jim

 

[fantom]

I sat in a bunch of Mooneys before deciding to spend five hundred bucks and have THE experts at Aero-Comfort do the job. All but one repainting job looked cheap and they don't offer the padding and comfort of tightly stitched quality leather. There is, or was, a company that advertises a leather slip on yoke kit on the MAPA Log.

For several hundred bucks more why not spend all your flying time with your hands wrapped around the best quality yokes possible.

[jelswick]

I'll add another vote for AeroComfort.  They did mine when I purchased the J in 2007 and they still look like new!  It seemed like a lot of money then, but wanted to do it just once and now am very happy I did.  Pic of their work is below in 45T...

[201er]

Since I'm looking to having the yokes redone eventually as well, I want to ask the guys who got the leather. It looks like the leather yokes are notably thicker than the standard yokes. Is it hard to get a good grip in your hand that way or does it compress? Does it tire your hand to be wrapped around a wider yoke this way?

[KSMooniac]

Quote: 201er

Since I'm looking to having the yokes redone eventually as well, I want to ask the guys who got the leather. It looks like the leather yokes are notably thicker than the standard yokes. Is it hard to get a good grip in your hand that way or does it compress? Does it tire your hand to be wrapped around a wider yoke this way?

[John Pleisse]

Aerocomfort is also pretty easy. They keep their word on turnaround. Mine were done in just a few days.

[kris_adams]

Not sure how I could be any happier than with the work Aerocomfort did for me.  Great product and amazing customer service...that's how it's supposed to be.  While I didn't think the cost was cheap, it did seem pretty reasonable.  Think I paid around $550, but don't exactly remember any more.

[Chris Strube]

A company called Warren Gregoire Associates sells complete sets of leather yoke wraps.  I had them on my 66E, and will put them on my (new to me) 65E.  They're a bit of a pain to install, but look and feel great once they're done.

 

Chris Strube, 1965 M20E, C-FPCK @ CYLI

[PTK]

You can buy the best Spinneybeck leather and do them right yourself at a small fraction of the cost!

Or you can pay the big bucks not knowing what you're going to get!

[Amelia]

Aerocomfort did my interior several years ago, and I am still tickled to pieces. I cheaped out, though, and had the yokes powder-coated with shiny black paint, but it is already chipping. Should have sprung for more Aerocomfort artistry.

[PaulB]

You can buy the best Spinneybeck leather and do them right yourself at a small fraction of the cost!

image.jpgimage.jpgimage.jpgimage.jpg

Or you can pay the big bucks not knowing what you're going to get!

image.jpg

I'm still really impressed with your work on these.  Did you learn this by trial and error or is there a good resource that you used to learn to work with leather?

[PTK]

I'm still really impressed with your work on these. Did you learn this by trial and error or is there a good resource that you used to learn to work with leather?

Thanks Paul. You're very kind!

Basically I like the leather feel of the yokes and I wasn't about to pay 700$ or whatever they charge and risk getting that ugly look as in the bottom picture above. I don't know what happened there!

It's a matter of thinking outside the box and using common sense to come up with a nice looking design.

Then just do it!

Choice of leather is critical. I chose Spinneybeck full grain aviation certified. It's very high quality leather with just the right "stretchiness" to it. This is crucial in order to get the nice tight wrap around the yokes.

Cost for leather, supplies and embroidery was right around 150$. I bought a hide and have plenty left over for other projects. Took me a couple days working on them on and off.

I'm going to make a nice leather cover for the down tube next.