klbcfi Posted January 1, 2012 Report Posted January 1, 2012 After getting some help here when it came time to remove my yokes and send them off, I wanted to let everyone know what I learned. First of all, my mission was to remove my yokes and send them to Aero Comfort for new leather wrapping. Step one, label the wires on the back of your yokes if they're not color coded. You'll be using environmental splices to put them back together. You're going to snip them on the back of the yoke (yes, this is a little scarry). Remove the caps on top of the yokes and all the hardware. At this point you'll have all caps and screws and switches off. Remove the set screw in the bottom of the yoke with an allan wrench. Remove the nut on the bolt that goes through yoke and connects it to all control surfaces. You'll likely have to use a center punch of some sort to "encourage" the bolt out of the yoke. this was the hard part. Send all yokes and caps to Aero Comfort. $600 they charged me - two day turnaround. Very efficient. Remount everything - have your A&P help out with the environmental splices. Essentially, you strip both ends of these tiny wires, then insert them into splice and heat. Works great. Test all connections and put all caps and switches on. Aero Comfort put new label plates on both yokes. Looks much better. If you have questions, just ask Hector at Aero Comfort. This seems like an ad for them - sorry. They just helped me out. Quote
aerobat95 Posted January 1, 2012 Report Posted January 1, 2012 Very nice....I got mine done about 8 months ago....I have no complaints at all. Very nice work. Quote
jpjp Posted January 2, 2012 Report Posted January 2, 2012 Congrats...those look great. You will surely enjoy the feel. Quote
Parker_Woodruff Posted January 2, 2012 Report Posted January 2, 2012 I need to do the same for mine in the next year or two. Quote
lahso Posted January 2, 2012 Report Posted January 2, 2012 I need to do that next year, too. I love the look of the sewn-on vs.Warren Gregoire (what I have now). Quote
kris_adams Posted January 3, 2012 Report Posted January 3, 2012 One of my favoritte upgrades on my plane! Quote
David Mazer Posted January 3, 2012 Report Posted January 3, 2012 Parker, you could get yours done at VNC without removing the yokes and it looks and feels great. Probably costs half too. If you are ever at SFB, you could check out mine. Quote
bnicolette Posted January 3, 2012 Report Posted January 3, 2012 Very nice indeed!! Definitely my favorite upgrade so far. Something I use every single time I fly!! Quote
ToddDPT Posted January 4, 2012 Report Posted January 4, 2012 If we don't go with Aero Comfort for our new interior we will definitely be shipping our yokes to them! Quote
aviatoreb Posted January 4, 2012 Report Posted January 4, 2012 Quote: Mazerbase Parker, you could get yours done at VNC without removing the yokes and it looks and feels great. Probably costs half too. If you are ever at SFB, you could check out mine. Quote
David Mazer Posted January 4, 2012 Report Posted January 4, 2012 VNC is Venice airport. It is very close to Lakeland (LAL) airport and very convenient to Parker. Even if it wasn't, I would still recommend Gayle (that is the person who actually does the work) as the yokes don't need to come off, avoiding all the potential installation issues, and I believe it is less expensive then Aero Comfort. Quote
xftrplt Posted January 4, 2012 Report Posted January 4, 2012 Quote: Mazerbase VNC is Venice airport. It is very close to Lakeland (LAL) airport and very convenient to Parker. Even if it wasn't, I would still recommend Gayle (that is the person who actually does the work) as the yokes don't need to come off, avoiding all the potential installation issues, and I believe it is less expensive then Aero Comfort. Quote
Dale Posted January 10, 2012 Report Posted January 10, 2012 Mazerbase, I am based in Florida and I would also like to get the information for the person who does the work at KVNC. Thanks for your help. Quote
xftrplt Posted January 10, 2012 Report Posted January 10, 2012 From Mazerbase's info, I emailed Gayle Harrison at KVNC (touchandsew@yahoo.com) Here's what she told me via email: Down time is 1 1/2 days, cost is $ 550.00 pr. $ 25.00 additional if you want an embroidered logo. Quote
David Mazer Posted January 10, 2012 Report Posted January 10, 2012 About the same cost as Aero Comfort. I'm surprised but at least there is no dissassembly and reassembly of a complicated yoke. I can tell you the quality is excellent. Quote
fantom Posted January 10, 2012 Report Posted January 10, 2012 Is that Gayle's work in your photo gallery? Looks very good. I guess the tradeoff is the extra padding that Aero Comfort installs. Quote
Parker_Woodruff Posted January 10, 2012 Report Posted January 10, 2012 I think mine on my former Mooney was $540 with logo, including 10% MAPA discount. Quote
Dale Posted January 10, 2012 Report Posted January 10, 2012 Do you know if Gayle does the work in a hanger or do you just leave the plane on the ramp at Venice? The price is not bad considering that the cost of removing the yokes and cutting and splicing the wiring that goes along with removing, and then replacing, the yokes is not insignificant. Along with the downtime of the airplane. Quote
David Mazer Posted January 10, 2012 Report Posted January 10, 2012 Gayle had been using a corner of Sarasota Avionics' hangar at VNC. She may have moved though and I think you need to get the info from her directly. Extra padding? I don't think I would like the diameter of the yoke to be any greater than it is now. Quote
201er Posted January 10, 2012 Report Posted January 10, 2012 What do you think of just getting the pilot yoke done? Is it half us much? I was originally thinking of re-powdercoating both of mine but it's only the pilot yoke that's bad. Maybe I can get the pilot yoke done in leather for $300 and leave the copilot yoke (which is very rarely used) as is. Quote
trjymr Posted January 10, 2012 Report Posted January 10, 2012 Quote: 201er What do you think of just getting the pilot yoke done? Is it half us much? I was originally thinking of re-powdercoating both of mine but it's only the pilot yoke that's bad. Maybe I can get the pilot yoke done in leather for $300 and leave the copilot yoke (which is very rarely used) as is. Quote
bnicolette Posted January 10, 2012 Report Posted January 10, 2012 Quote: Mazerbase Extra padding? I don't think I would like the diameter of the yoke to be any greater than it is now. Quote
fantom Posted January 11, 2012 Report Posted January 11, 2012 Quote: Mazerbase Gayle had been using a corner of Sarasota Avionics' hangar at VNC. She may have moved though and I think you need to get the info from her directly. Extra padding? I don't think I would like the diameter of the yoke to be any greater than it is now. Quote
201er Posted January 11, 2012 Report Posted January 11, 2012 Brett, get over here so I could feel yours. I gotta know that the girth is right and that it will still please hours on end. Quote
steelerp Posted January 17, 2012 Report Posted January 17, 2012 I considered powdercoating mine until I visited Aero Comfort. They had a set of yokes on the counter that probably have been handled by 100s. They were no worse for the wear and they felt awesome. It was an easy decision at that point. Hector and Juan Pablo turn out an outstanding product. Rick Quote
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