LOOSE YOKE - 67F ?

[DCarlton]

This is one those nit questions..  but the pilots side yoke on my '67F has been loose for as long as I can remember.  As you know it has a vertical bolt holding it on.  Then there is a set screw in the side.  Should I just snug the set screw up until it takes the play out?  I've never been a fan of the smaller yoke shafts or how the yoke attaches to the shaft. 

[RLCarter]

Just don’t over tighten the set screw and damage the shaft

[Utah20Gflyer]

May consider using loctite when you re tighten the screw.  I had a mechanic tighten mine for me when I bought my plane but 2 months later it was loose again.  I took out the screw, cleaned everything and then used some loctite when I put it back together.  4 months later it's still tight.  Like mentioned do not over torque and damage the shaft. That can lead to much more expensive problems later.  

[DCarlton]

5 hours ago, Utah20Gflyer said:

May consider using loctite when you re tighten the screw.  I had a mechanic tighten mine for me when I bought my plane but 2 months later it was loose again.  I took out the screw, cleaned everything and then used some loctite when I put it back together.  4 months later it's still tight.  Like mentioned do not over torque and damage the shaft. That can lead to much more expensive problems later.  

Over torquing is my concern.  Leaving it loose and letting it rock back and forth is not good either, especially when you pulling on the yoke with one hand.  Blue Loctite with it snug is probably a good idea.  Crazy but every time I do stalls during a BFR, I feel like I"m waiting for it to snap off...  

[mike20papa]

On my A model I removed shafts & yokes.  Re-bushed the yokes & carefully fit, silver soldered (hard brazed - 90ksi material) a piece of 4130 tubing in the shaft end to rebush/reinforce the hole and shaft end.  Reassembled, drilled & reamed holes.  No slop and that repair is close to 10 yrs. ago.  

Yes, it is a way less than desirable original design.

Edited September 5, 2021 by mike20papa

[Prior owner]

Rather than using a thread locking compound that may end up ruining the yoke when it comes times to remove the set screw for the 500 hr AD inspection, are there enough threads showing in the yoke for you to install a threaded plug on top of the set screw to lock it in place? If not, and you elect to use a thread locking compound, I would find the absolute weakest compound available and use it very, very sparingly.

[DCarlton]

5 hours ago, PilotCoyote said:

Rather than using a thread locking compound that may end up ruining the yoke when it comes times to remove the set screw for the 500 hr AD inspection, are there enough threads showing in the yoke for you to install a threaded plug on top of the set screw to lock it in place? If not, and you elect to use a thread locking compound, I would find the absolute weakest compound available and use it very, very sparingly.

Not enough threads.  Will try just tightening it down first and see what happens.  

[Utah20Gflyer]

7 hours ago, PilotCoyote said:

Rather than using a thread locking compound that may end up ruining the yoke when it comes times to remove the set screw for the 500 hr AD inspection, are there enough threads showing in the yoke for you to install a threaded plug on top of the set screw to lock it in place? If not, and you elect to use a thread locking compound, I would find the absolute weakest compound available and use it very, very sparingly.

I had the same concern about removal so I used the blue compound which is supposed to be more easily removed.  Also only applied to the back end of the set screw to make it easier to take out.  

My threads are relatively course and a bit loose which is why I think it kept loosening up on me.  The loctite seems to be a remedy for my situation.  Others may have a tighter set up that works without any help.