The International Cessna^® 170 Association

What's involved in changing over to later style cessna yokes in a '54 B? How labor intensive is the process?

Thanks,

Jaime

Are you asking about the "yoke" behind the panel or you asking about the control wheels that extend through the panel on a round shaft.
If it's the control wheels you're concerned with, most of them are physically interchangeable if they have the same diameter shaft, by simply unbolting the shaft from the universal joint connecting the shaft to the yoke. I have "Rams Horn" type C-172 control wheels installed in my '52 C-170B and there was no other modification required.
The actual changeover time is probably less than one half hour. It only requires the removal of a couple of 3/16th bolts, pulling out the old wheels, installing the new wheels and reinstalling the bolts.
If you're a nit picking purist, I recommend extensive paperwork and $$$$$ for the job. If you're a really cheap asset bootlegger like me, Just do it.
It's a helluva lot easier to plead ignorance and beg forgiveness than to get permission.

There's a few styles so could you be a bit more specific and note the length of the tubes will vary if you go to the later 172 style.

I like the originals

mit wrote:I like the originals

Me too. They have cool factor.

Why do you want to change them? Are they in bad condition?

Bill

When I was looking for a 170 to buy. If it had the ram horn yokes or the later style cast rudder pedals on it I would ask if they had the originals still and if they did not I took that into account on finding them. IMHO they belong in a 172 and so on. It would be like some guy putting a Bonanza yoke in a Stearman.

Every time someone puts a late-model panel/yoke/instruments/windshield (tinted or not)/wheelpants/paint/etc on a 170... it makes all the ones that still look original that much more valuable.

Yep, teekers & rodders, just depends on what yur lookin for.I personally love to see all the origanal 170's at the fly in's*& such,but mine was anything but when I got it so I don't think about origanality just what is best to do the job.If that is dif yokes,brakes,windshield,stol cuff etc.fine. Just so I keep it looking like a 170.

gahorn wrote:Every time someone puts a late-model panel/yoke/instruments/windshield (tinted or not)/wheelpants/paint/etc on a 170... it makes all the ones that still look original that much more valuable.

So the only reason you have one is for an investment?

mit wrote:

gahorn wrote:Every time someone puts a late-model panel/yoke/instruments/windshield (tinted or not)/wheelpants/paint/etc on a 170... it makes all the ones that still look original that much more valuable.

So the only reason you have one is for an investment?

That's quite a segue, Tim.

Of course not. I never said that. But just because someone sells drooped wingtips that will fit this airplane is no reason to go out and buy them, just so I can be different and also reduce the value of my investment. Would you put tail-fins on a 1939 Buick? (Air-conditioning maybe, because that'd help the functionality without altering the looks. But 1960's tail fins?) How in the world is rams-horn yoke handles going to improve functionality of a 170? Yet it destroys it's classic looks. Of course, that's the prerogative of it's owner. And it makes original-appearing airplanes more rare and more valuable.

The reason I bought a 170 was because I was attracted to the classic good looks of the period-style, while it's also a pretty darn nice-flying 4-place airplane. I've made some modifications to it that I feel improved it's functionality while maintaining it's classic looks (and the appearance value that still carries for the airplane.) It still appears to be original (mostly), although it has numerous mods that don't detract from it's classic looks, which improve it's function.
I married Jamie because I fell in love with her after her good looks got my attention. I've never tried to change her looks, only her functionality. (She, on the other hand, has tried to change just about everything about me, and I'm still the ugly, ornery cuss she married.)


PS: Any of my personal opinions with regard to such matters is only that: Opinion. I sincerely don't wish for anyone to feel seriously criticized. A person gets to do whatever they wish with their own property as regards such matters. My comments are not to be taken as an attack, only as an intent to guide folks toward "preserving and promoting" the airplane.

George your such a softy..

mit wrote:George your such a softy..

HESA SOFIN HIS HED MOSLY

========================================================

RE: CHANGING CONTROL WHEELS. THERE ARE TWO RIVETS THAT PIN THE WHEEL TO THE CONTROL WHEEL TORQUE TUBE. THEY ARE "GRIP FIT" AND FOR SMOOTH FINISH THE FACTORY ONES WERE INSTALLED WITH A "C-SQUEEZE". THERE ARE PROBABLY ALTERNATE WAYS TO UPSET THE STEM BUT BECAUSE THE TORQUE TUBE IS HOLLOW BE CAREFUL NOT TO BEND THE RIVETS BY LEAVING TOO MUCH MATERIAL ON THE BOTTOM END TO "UPSET".

THE RAMS HORNS AND CAST PEDALS ARE FROM LATER 100 SERIES. I HAVE SOME ORIGINAL PEDALS IF YOU WANT TO GO ORIGINAL.

A good many of the stamped sheet aluminum pedals are seriously warn and need to be bushed. The same holds true for the cast aluminum pedals. The cast plastic pedals are practically wear proof and keep all the linkages rattle free.
The rams horn control wheels can be easily drilled to accomodate hidden PTT wires and are more aesthetically pleasimg to non conformists like myself.
I personally am not much of an originality conformist except for the general appearance of the airplane. I like it to look like a C-170, not a converted
C-172 or C-175. I certainly have nothing against those conversions, but I like the looks of the C-170. Inside the office, I want it to be the way I want it.