I've dreaded anything happening to my yoke but this morning it did. The left button on the right side of the yoke handle is stuck down or the spring is broken.

I've sent a message to Chris but I'm not hopeful of a reply. Anyone any ideas how this can be repaired please? I've removed the black caps just to see what was underneath.

1 hour ago, Ray Proudfoot said:

Anyone any ideas how this can be repaired please?

Don't worry, Ray, it's not the end of the world😀. First remove the top cover (two screws, one can be seen on your photo). This is what you'll see underneath. The pushbuttons are of C&K 8125SHZ type- they should be easily available from Mouser, Farnell, Digikey or similar companies. You'll have to un-screw the button, slide the heatshrink tubes from the button contacts, un-solder and re-solder the wires and then put the new button in.  

@SergeyPe, I’m very grateful for your help. 👏 I don’t have the skills but I’m taking the yoke to a friend who has built his own cockpit so has the skills needed.

I’ve not heard of any of those companies but perhaps my friend has.

I did ring Chris but no answer and it didn’t go to voicemail. He’s disappeared. ☹️

2 hours ago, Ray Proudfoot said:

Anyone any ideas how this can be repaired please? I've removed the black caps just to see what was underneath.

As SergeyPe said, this should be an easy fix. If you haven't, you could try grabbing the white button shaft with a pair of pliers and giving it a careful pull and turn just to see if it pops loose by any chance.

Also suggest anytime you work on something like this, take plenty of pictures with your cell phone so you know exactly how it was before you started disconnecting wires, etc.

Al

😀😀😀

1 minute ago, Ray Proudfoot said:

I’ve not heard of any of those companies but perhaps my friend has.

I'd be very much surprised if he hasn't- these are the biggest electronic parts suppliers operating worldwide; in the UK for sure. And C&K 8020 series is widely used in various kinds of electronic equipment- shouldn't be a problem to get one.

BTW, there is another option, which is Salecom P8701. It's a cheaper 8125 Chinese clone of quite a good quality, but it's tactile "click" is slightly different from C&K, so I'd advise an original one.

6 minutes ago, ark said:

As SergeyPe said, this should be an easy fix. If you haven't, you could try grabbing the white button shaft with a pair of pliers and giving it a careful pull and turn just to see if it pops loose by any chance.

I did try that with a pair of pointed-nose pliers but no joy. I’m fine with software - it’s hardware I’m useless at. I’ll send my friend a link so he can see what Sergey has posted.

Searching the internet reveals this UK company and hopefully this is the correct part. I might as well order a few.

https://www.digikey.co.uk/en/products/detail/c-k/8125shzbe/181361

Edited October 29, 20232 yr by Ray Proudfoot
Different company

26 minutes ago, Ray Proudfoot said:

Searching the internet reveals this UK company and hopefully this is the correct part. I might as well order a few.

https://www.digikey.co.uk/en/products/detail/c-k/8125shzbe/181361

I see at that link there are also different color switch caps available. If they fit the push button switches you are ordering, it might be good to have a few different cap colors available (red, blue, green, black) to help identify particular functions you have assigned to the switches. And I had a cap come off somehow without me noticing it and it took me a while to find it on the floor, so having some spare caps is not a bad idea either.

Thanks very much to SergyPe for all the help and info he is providing, especially in the absence of Chris!

Al

Edited October 29, 20232 yr by ark

20 minutes ago, Ray Proudfoot said:

Searching the internet reveals this UK company and hopefully this is the correct part.

Yes, it's the correct part; hopefully you'll get the yoke fixed fast.

If any other questions pop up, don't hesitate to ask😀. 

22 minutes ago, SergeyPe said:

Yes, it's the correct part; hopefully you'll get the yoke fixed fast.

If any other questions pop up, don't hesitate to ask😀. 

  I see there seems to be two switch cap # series, 75270 and 80180. Do you happen to know which series of caps fit the yoke switches?

EDIT: Looks like both series will fit. The 75270 cap shape is described as "concave".

Thanks,

Al

Edited October 29, 20232 yr by ark

Actually there are three cap types fitting the yoke switches; they differ by the cap diameter: 70890 is 0.2 inches (5.08 mm), 75270 is 0.375 inches (9.53 mm) and 80180 is 0.310 inches (7.87 mm). 80180's are actually used on the Fulcrum. You can download the datasheet from the same Digikey link, it has all the information about the switches.

And just in case someone else needs this info (hopefully not😀)- the trim switches are C&K 7105, the hat switch- ALPS RKJXM (actually Chris used the kit from Leo Bodnar).

Edited October 29, 20232 yr by SergeyPe

@SergeyPe, would you mind posting a topic with details of the various parts that will probably need replacing over the lifetime of the Fulcrum yoke?

I’ll pin it so it’s easily accessible for any others in need of those parts. Looks like you’re the ideal person for help when it comes to the Fulcrum.

Many thanks.

47 minutes ago, ark said:

I see at that link there are also different color switch caps available. If they fit the push button switches you are ordering, it might be good to have a few different cap colors available (red, blue, green, black) to help identify particular functions you have assigned to the switches.

Other than the red button all others are black of course. I prefer that rather than an assortment if only for aesthetics.

5 minutes ago, Ray Proudfoot said:

Other than the red button all others are black of course. I prefer that rather than an assortment if only for aesthetics.

Sure, use of colored caps is certainly a personal preference issue.

Al

Edited October 29, 20232 yr by ark

12 minutes ago, Ray Proudfoot said:

@SergeyPe, would you mind posting a topic with details of the various parts that will probably need replacing over the lifetime of the Fulcrum yoke?

I’ll pin it so it’s easily accessible for any others in need of those parts. Looks like you’re the ideal person for help when it comes to the Fulcrum.

Many thanks.

Good idea!  And including any associated yoke pictures/links that are available would be very helpful as well.

Thanks!!

Al

Edited October 29, 20232 yr by ark