Shaft lubrication

[Pilot2PC 25]

On 7/9/2023 at 12:26 AM, Stuwy said:

In order to reduce the amount of drag wouldn’t a trio of bearings to guide the shaft through the body be a better option? 
i have noticed on my unit that if I take weight of the yoke body the shaft lifts a mm or two and when fully central it allows a much more free movement. 
 

a trio of bearings as a shaft guide attached to the front casing would reduce the friction on the bushing. 

I've noticed the same, slightly lifting the shaft gives a better feeling (even though I love the yoke as it is).

What would a trio of bearings look like?

[Ixoye 1,823]

12 hours ago, Pilot2PC said:

I've noticed the same, slightly lifting the shaft gives a better feeling (even though I love the yoke as it is)

The teflon bushing is not strong enough to hold up the weight of the handle, the product is otherwise top notch.

Edited October 12, 2023 by Ixoye

[SergeyPe 95]

10 hours ago, Ixoye said:

The teflon bushing is not strong enough to hold up the weight of the handle

The issue is not with the bushing but with a pitch rail (linear guideway) used which needs a front support for the shaft. In a front bushing you have a friction pair and teflon (PTFE) is the best material for it; still the friction is there and of course when you are lifting the shaft the friction is removed.

The only way to get rid of this friction is to use a different rail type which would eliminate the need for a front bushing; this is how the Yoko is designed. I know that Chris was also considering a similar mod for a Fulcrum; not sure if any units were produced before the operation stopped...

[buzzbee 53]

There is no reason to lubricate the shaft.  My Fulcrum Yoke started to have a bit of friction and rubbing noise when rotating to the right.  Since Fulcrum is sadly no more, I pulled the cover off and discovered that lubricating the shaft is pointless.  At no time does the shaft move through any bearing or collar. 

My issue was caused by the return springs rubbing on the shaft itself.  It appeared to have a light lithium grease on the springs 

[SergeyPe 95]

7 hours ago, buzzbee said:

At no time does the shaft move through any bearing or collar.

It depends on the Fulcrum version. The "basic" design (with a low-profile black pitch rail) relies both on the carriage and the front collar support. Depending on the assembly tolerances the shaft/ collar contact may be permanent, intermittent or theoretically (in rare cases) there may be no contact at all.

The latest design is using the much stronger Hiwin rail/ carriage system (as I mentioned before) which eliminates the need for a front collar so there is no chance for developing a pitch axis friction.  

[c150student 8]

I had no idea that there were different versions. Mine definitely uses a front bushing and requires semi-frequent application of PTFE to keep at its best. The first Fulcrum yoke I received had a bushing made out of a material that literally scored the shaft as it went in and out, increasing friction and necessitating a replacement by Chris (which he did without hassle) and a redesign.

[Ron Attwood 3,467]

On 10/20/2021 at 2:28 PM, tutmeister said:

am not going to solely recommend a brand because there are many brands in different parts of the world, but during assembly and testing we have now taken to using WD-40 Specialist Anti Friction Dry PTFE Lubricant on the mainshaft and bushing. Then cycling the shaft a few times and allowing it to dry

Just to clarify what Chris said at the start of this thread.

 

[Ixoye 1,823]

I had the Fulkrum at the same time as my YOKO+, and the noticeable resistance in the middle made me send it back, otherwise it was a better yoke than my Yoko+, I really like the handle.