Sticking yoke

[soxinbox]

When doing steep turns, I noticed that there is a little resistance to pitch
changes on the yoke. It seems it binds a little in the bearing through the
panel. Does anyone have a suggestion for the type of lubricant I could use
on this? Do they make anything for this purpose?

[Robert M. Gary]

If its really sticking you need to have it looked at. Its not likely a
lube issue, its probably an issue with something mechanical (bell
crank, etc). My Mooney requires 100 hr control tubes lube. When
controls need lube they certainly do not stick, they just feel
"heavier" in general.

-Robert

[Jay Honeck]

> When doing steep turns, I noticed that there is a little resistance to
> pitch changes on the yoke. It seems it binds a little in the bearing
> through the panel. Does anyone have a suggestion for the type of lubricant
> I could use on this? Do they make anything for this purpose?

A shot of silicone spray on the yoke shafts every 10 - 20 hours will keep
everything nice and loose.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[The Visitor]

Probably don't use an oil based lube. It may cause the bushing in there
to swell. I use a clear synthetic grease, then wipe off excess after
working it around lots. A silicone lube should be okay too.

soxinbox wrote:

> When doing steep turns, I noticed that there is a little resistance to pitch
> changes on the yoke. It seems it binds a little in the bearing through the
> panel. Does anyone have a suggestion for the type of lubricant I could use
> on this? Do they make anything for this purpose?
>
>

[LWG]

At the risk of disagreeing with Jay, I would not use a silicone spray. The
carrier for the silicone oil has destroyed more plastic than I care to tell.

I used silicone spray on the heater control levers on my car when they
started binding. Worked great, until all of the levers broke off within a
week of each other. Used it on plastic ski boots. Looked great and the snow
didn't stick. I dropped one onto concrete and it shattered into several
pieces.

My control yoke goes through a plastic bushing. Personally, I don't use
silicone spray on anything other than metal. I would try dry graphite, if
the bearing is black, or talcum powder, if the bearing is white and
completely free of oil or grease. If you use the silicone and the shaft
moves through a plastic bearing, spray it on the metal and let the carrier
evaporate before sliding it back and forth.


"Jay Honeck" > wrote in message
news:bfcKf.809772$xm3.486405@attbi_s21...
>> When doing steep turns, I noticed that there is a little resistance to
>> pitch changes on the yoke. It seems it binds a little in the bearing
>> through the panel. Does anyone have a suggestion for the type of
>> lubricant I could use on this? Do they make anything for this purpose?
>
> A shot of silicone spray on the yoke shafts every 10 - 20 hours will keep
> everything nice and loose.
> --
> Jay Honeck
> Iowa City, IA
> Pathfinder N56993
> www.AlexisParkInn.com
> "Your Aviation Destination"
>

[Jay Honeck]

> At the risk of disagreeing with Jay, I would not use a silicone spray.
> The carrier for the silicone oil has destroyed more plastic than I care to
> tell.

Interesting -- I've never heard that before. Having your yoke come off in
your hands could ruin your whole day.

Anyone else experienced this nasty side effect of silicone sprays?
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Bob Noel]

In article <t%vKf.811830$xm3.579900@attbi_s21>,
"Jay Honeck" > wrote:

> > At the risk of disagreeing with Jay, I would not use a silicone spray.
> > The carrier for the silicone oil has destroyed more plastic than I care to
> > tell.
>
> Interesting -- I've never heard that before. Having your yoke come off in
> your hands could ruin your whole day.
>
> Anyone else experienced this nasty side effect of silicone sprays?

yes - not with any plastic on an aircraft. But I've seen silicone destroy
some plastic years ago.

--
Bob Noel
Looking for a sig the
lawyers will hate

[Kobra]

"soxinbox" > wrote in message
...
> When doing steep turns, I noticed that there is a little resistance to
> pitch changes on the yoke. It seems it binds a little in the bearing
> through the panel. Does anyone have a suggestion for the type of lubricant
> I could use on this? Do they make anything for this purpose?

My yoke goes through a plastic-like bushing and the co-pilot side squeaked
like heck. It was loud, sharp and would rattle my teeth. I asked my
mechanic if I could just give it a shot of WD40 or silicone spray. He said
not to use any liquid-like spray. Not because it destroyed plastic, but
because it would attract dirt and get all sticky and gummed up eventually.
He recommended graphite powder.

I tried the graphite and it didn't work. Frustrated, I sprayed WD40 in
there and haven't heard a peep since. I will now have to keep an eye on the
bushing.

Kobra

[[email protected]]

soxinbox wrote:
> When doing steep turns, I noticed that there is a little resistance to pitch
> changes on the yoke. It seems it binds a little in the bearing through the
> panel. Does anyone have a suggestion for the type of lubricant I could use
> on this? Do they make anything for this purpose?


What sort of airplane is it? Some of the older 172s had a
problem with a bending/breaking panel brace that would let the panel
flex enough that the control shaft bearing would start snagging and
restricting elevator control.
172s also have a problem with cracking forward horizontal stab
spars (caused mostly by people pushing down on the stab to turn the
airplane on the ground when parking or whatever) and I have seen the
spar broken clear through so that only the skin was keeping things
straight. Under higher loadings (such as a steep turn) the stab will
flex downward, misaligning the elevator hinges and making the elevator
stiffer. A really bad sign. Might be a good idea to get it checked, if
it's a 172. Look around the big lightening hole in the stab's forward
spar.
Sticky controls also result when pulley bearings dry out and
the pulley stops (or resists) turning.

Dan

[David Lesher]

"Kobra" > writes:


>I tried the graphite and it didn't work. Frustrated, I sprayed WD40 in
>there and haven't heard a peep since. I will now have to keep an eye on the
>bushing.


WD40 is a lousy lubricant. It's not supposed to be one...

You can look at the LPS series, there are various grades.
I also have a no-name silicon spray with a KS number,
but doubt you can find it easily...





--
A host is a host from coast to
& no one will talk to a host that's close........[v].(301) 56-LINUX
Unless the host (that isn't close).........................pob 1433
is busy, hung or dead....................................20915-1433

[Ross Richardson]

I have used a teflon spray. But it may have the same carrier characterists.

Bob Noel wrote:

> In article <t%vKf.811830$xm3.579900@attbi_s21>,
> "Jay Honeck" > wrote:
>
>
>>>At the risk of disagreeing with Jay, I would not use a silicone spray.
>>>The carrier for the silicone oil has destroyed more plastic than I care to
>>>tell.
>>
>>Interesting -- I've never heard that before. Having your yoke come off in
>>your hands could ruin your whole day.
>>
>>Anyone else experienced this nasty side effect of silicone sprays?
>
>
> yes - not with any plastic on an aircraft. But I've seen silicone destroy
> some plastic years ago.
>

[soxinbox]

My plane is a turbo arrow IV. The sticking is definitely right in the
bearing that goes through the panel. It provides just a little bit of
resistance so that when you try to make fine adjustments, its sticks and
then gives a little causing me to slightly overshoot. It does not pose a
real problem, but I think I would be more precise if it was smooth as silk.
I am now working on my instrument rating and that is all about being smooth.


> wrote in message
ps.com...
>
> soxinbox wrote:
>> When doing steep turns, I noticed that there is a little resistance to
>> pitch
>> changes on the yoke. It seems it binds a little in the bearing through
>> the
>> panel. Does anyone have a suggestion for the type of lubricant I could
>> use
>> on this? Do they make anything for this purpose?
>
>
> What sort of airplane is it? Some of the older 172s had a
> problem with a bending/breaking panel brace that would let the panel
> flex enough that the control shaft bearing would start snagging and
> restricting elevator control.
> 172s also have a problem with cracking forward horizontal stab
> spars (caused mostly by people pushing down on the stab to turn the
> airplane on the ground when parking or whatever) and I have seen the
> spar broken clear through so that only the skin was keeping things
> straight. Under higher loadings (such as a steep turn) the stab will
> flex downward, misaligning the elevator hinges and making the elevator
> stiffer. A really bad sign. Might be a good idea to get it checked, if
> it's a 172. Look around the big lightening hole in the stab's forward
> spar.
> Sticky controls also result when pulley bearings dry out and
> the pulley stops (or resists) turning.
>
> Dan
>

[Dave Butler]

soxinbox wrote:
> My plane is a turbo arrow IV. The sticking is definitely right in the
> bearing that goes through the panel. It provides just a little bit of
> resistance so that when you try to make fine adjustments, its sticks and
> then gives a little causing me to slightly overshoot. It does not pose a
> real problem, but I think I would be more precise if it was smooth as silk.
> I am now working on my instrument rating and that is all about being smooth.

That sticking / overshooting phenomenon is endemic to the whole Cherokee model
line if that bearing is not kept lubricated. I used a silicone lubricant when I
owned one. It makes a huge difference in the flying qualities of the airplane.
Reapply the silicone every oil change.

[Roger]

I have a Cessna 150 that had silicone sprayed on the yoke shaft during it's
annual without me knowing. The next time I fly it the yoke was grabby. I
wiped off most of the silicone and use a little Wd40. Was ok after that.
Roger

"Dave Butler" > wrote in message
news:1140709739.67207@sj-nntpcache-5...
> soxinbox wrote:
>> My plane is a turbo arrow IV. The sticking is definitely right in the
>> bearing that goes through the panel. It provides just a little bit of
>> resistance so that when you try to make fine adjustments, its sticks and
>> then gives a little causing me to slightly overshoot. It does not pose a
>> real problem, but I think I would be more precise if it was smooth as
>> silk. I am now working on my instrument rating and that is all about
>> being smooth.
>
> That sticking / overshooting phenomenon is endemic to the whole Cherokee
> model line if that bearing is not kept lubricated. I used a silicone
> lubricant when I owned one. It makes a huge difference in the flying
> qualities of the airplane. Reapply the silicone every oil change.

[The Visitor]

In my Seneca the bushing sort of floats and articulates as the shaft
changes angles as it is pulled aft. On the left side it doesn't and I
think it is a bit of a binding problem for me. Very minor and keeping it
lubed seems to fix it.

soxinbox wrote:

> When doing steep turns, I noticed that there is a little resistance to pitch
> changes on the yoke. It seems it binds a little in the bearing through the
> panel. Does anyone have a suggestion for the type of lubricant I could use
> on this? Do they make anything for this purpose?
>
>

[Mike Noel]

All this talk about sticky yokes make me realize mine had started getting
stiff also. I sprayed a bit of LPS1 on the extended shaft and wiped off the
greyish film from the previous annual, then put on a little more and let the
carrier evaporate. After that the yoke was smooth as silk. My bearing also
floats a bit in and out and allows fine adjustments even when the yoke binds
a bit.
--
Best Regards,
Mike
http://photoshow.comcast.net/mikenoel
> wrote in message
oups.com...
>> My plane is a turbo arrow IV. The sticking is definitely right in the
>> bearing that goes through the panel. It provides just a little bit of
>> resistance so that when you try to make fine adjustments, its sticks and
>> then gives a little causing me to slightly overshoot. It does not pose a
>> real problem, but I think I would be more precise if it was smooth as
>> silk.
>> I am now working on my instrument rating and that is all about being
>> smooth.
>
>
> Sounds like oil has attracted dust which accumulates inside the
> bearing and reduces the clearance between it and the shaft. The oil
> dries and leaves behind the guck, which is made of dirt and varnish.
> Repeated applications of lube build it up further. The shaft should be
> removed and the hard scale cleaned out of the bearing. Some cold day
> that bearing might shrink enough to stop movement altogether.
>
> Dan
>