Aero Comfort Yokes on M20K

[klbcfi]

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.  

[aerobat95]

Very nice....I got mine done about 8 months ago....I have no complaints at all.  Very nice work.

[jpjp]

Congrats...those look great. You will surely enjoy the feel.

[Parker_Woodruff]

I need to do the same for mine in the next year or two.

[lahso]

I need to do that next year, too. I love the look of the sewn-on vs.Warren Gregoire (what I have now).

[kris_adams]

One of my favoritte upgrades on my plane!

[David Mazer]

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.

[bnicolette]

Very nice indeed!!

Definitely my favorite upgrade so far.  Something I use every single time I fly!!  

[ToddDPT]

If we don't go with Aero Comfort for our new interior we will definitely be shipping our yokes to them!

[aviatoreb]

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.

[David Mazer]

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.

[xftrplt]

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.

[Dale]

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.

[xftrplt]

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.

 

[David Mazer]

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.

[fantom]

Is that Gayle's work in your photo gallery? Looks very good. I guess the tradeoff is the extra padding that Aero Comfort installs.

 

[Parker_Woodruff]

I think mine on my former Mooney was $540 with logo, including 10% MAPA discount.

[Dale]

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. 

[David Mazer]

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.

[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.

[trjymr]

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.

[bnicolette]

Quote: Mazerbase

Extra padding?  I don't think I would like the diameter of the yoke to be any greater than it is now.

[fantom]

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.

[201er]

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.

[steelerp]

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