How to hide my yoke

[FSAddon_boss]

I suck at thinking up proper titles for threads, sorry. Just wanted to pick your brains here..... my problem being that I am not sure how to make my yoke stick out from the panel on the proper height.

The problem is that the panel is made of 8 mm plywood WITH a monitor stuck BEHIND it..... and the housing f the CH Eclipse yoke is preventing the monitor to be lowered to the level of the yoke axis.

Moving the panel/monitor further forward will limit the movement of the yoke....

Anybody know if it is possible to disassemble the plastic housing and cut off the top/forward part of it, so the monitor can fit in lower?

Any other ideas??

[Trevor Hale]

Like many things that prevent us from getting the proper look and feel. We need to explore.  Carefully open up your yoke, and I am sure you will see there is a lot of useless plastic in the way.

The real test is when you buy brand new monitors and immediately pull all the plastics and bezels off them, voiding the warranty and your wife watching you and asking what are you doing.

Just be careful, you can always put it back together.

[RayS]

I've seen folks cut the yoke tube and add an extension of some sort. THere will be wires in that tube so you'll need to be careful if you go that route.

If you do, it should be a simple matter of adding wiring to reconnect everything.

[FSAddon_boss]

Good thoughts...... will try and see what's inside......

[FSAddon_boss]

The real test is when you buy brand new monitors and immediately pull all the plastics and bezels off them, voiding the warranty and your wife watching you and asking what are you doing.

Just be careful, you can always put it back together.

Googling how to remove  a bezel from a monitor...... now you did it !!!

[FSAddon_boss]

I found this video (and website) that shows me how to disassemble the CH yoke.

Making the shaft longer seems like a difficult job (to me), but am thinking that I can saw off part of the upper housing to accommodate for the monitor and panel....

https://youtu.be/TmKrffu4QlU

[RayS]

I can saw off part of the upper housing to accommodate

Spoken like a true sim builder!

[FSAddon_boss]

I can saw off part of the upper housing to accommodate

Spoken like a true sim builder!

Hahaha ! Thanks Ray.

Well, I bit the bullet and decided to have a go at extending the yoke shaft........ Found a video that showed me how to open the CH Products yoke unit, and what was inside...... since I have TWO of the units lying around here, I figured I could try it and possibly ruin one, and still have the other.

Turns out I didn't need the spare one. I cut off the shaft, inserted a bit of metal tube and extended it just enough so I can mount the panel in front of it. Had to extend the internal (tiny!) wires too..... and while at it, I replaced the original springs with bits of rubber band, to make the yoke move lighter.

Going to TEST it today.......          

[FSAddon_boss]

Update: it all works fine !! PHEW !!!!!

I extended the shaft so the yoke sticks out of the panel while hiding the casing behind it.
I also replaced the very stiff springs by rubber bands .... easier to control now, although they could be a bit stiffer I guess.... experimenting.

[jackpilot]

Try different springs
Rubber bands get weaker after a while.

[FSAddon_boss]

Try different springs
Rubber bands get weaker after a while.

True, but not easy to find springs around here...... will keep it in mind (and will try to design the cockpit so that I can take it apart easily in order to change parts).