Does anyone know where I can get new control yoke bushings for a straight tail 182? The ones made by Wag-Aero seem to be discontinued? Any Ideas who makes some like those white teflon ones Wag-Aero used to sell?

Yeah, wow, those seem scarce now. You might find a machinist who can lathe you some from UHMW.

One thing that's important during reinstallation: Don't overtighten the clamps that hold the balls in place. The balls have to be free to reorient as the control column moves through its arc.

Bushings can be made in a half hour on a lathe and drill press. PTFE filled delrin is better than UMHW though...tougher and slipperier. You can find enough to make a small fleet's worth of bushings for about 30 bucks including shipping. I had some laying around to do mine, and it worked really well...smoother than PE. If you really care, there are V0 grades of delrin too.

I did a quick search, but it's kinda tough without part numbers & my IPC is at the hangar. But I wouldn't be surprised if Spruce or McFarlane sells them.

I bought a half dozen Teflon balls from McMaster Carr last year and had a local machine shop drill them out. Can't remember the dimensions, but it was pretty easy, and less than $50 for everything.

Per my C180/182 IPC:
"ball- control tube" p/n 0411224
Can't see where McFarlane has them.
Their website sez Skywagon City has some but don't know the price or condition.
Found one listed under surplus parts on the Sportsman Airpark (near Portland OR) website.
FWIW McFarlane does have the "control wheel universal joint" p/n 0411257, but unfortunately they're over $250 each. I can see now why so many Cessnas (like mine) have u-joints with a lot of play.

Here is a place that can supply just about any kind of ball ya need!!
http://www.plasticballs.com/
If someone wanted to give me the ID and the OD of the bushings and what they wanted it made out of I have a friend who would machine some for you. PM me

Having your balls get overtightened is very dangerous! Proceed with caution

M6RV6 wrote:Here is a place that can supply just about any kind of ball ya need!!
http://www.plasticballs.com/
If someone wanted to give me the ID and the OD of the bushings and what they wanted it made out of I have a friend who would machine some for you. PM me

I'd be interested in that. Can your "friend" make them brown in color to match original equipment??? That Teflon filled Delrin mentioned above sounds like a winner.

For future reference, I've taken the time to measure mine:

Yoke Shaft: .746"
Ball O.D. : 1.492"
Ball I.D. : .770"

Delrin with molybdenum disulfide is brown. It would be good too. Teflon is easy to get though.

mcmaster.com part number 9164K39

1 1/2 inch white delrin ball, $3.58 each.

Couple of those and some beer for your favorite machinist do drill a couple holes...

That's the way I would do it.

SOOOOO, My friend just ordered some 10-Delrin, 2 -Teflon, and 20 -Poly Prop balls, Should be delivered by Monday.
He's going to machine a hole in each of them and see what they look like.
PM me and I'll let you know how they turn out
GT

My control yoke (the rods) are very loose in the bushings. I haven’t pulled the panel apart yet but is it possible the collar holding the balls is loose, thereby causing the “slop” in the tube? If not then what is the best option for replacing the balls...a few years after this thread stopped...maybe a fresh source out there. Thanks!

BirdyinBOI wrote:My control yoke (the rods) are very loose in the bushings. I haven’t pulled the panel apart yet but is it possible the collar holding the balls is loose, thereby causing the “slop” in the tube? If not then what is the best option for replacing the balls...a few years after this thread stopped...maybe a fresh source out there. Thanks!

This might not work for your application, but I am in the process of retrofitting these into my bird.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/0513311-1-156- ... 2497660433

The teflon insert on the inside of the collar is part number 0513056-3.

Mine is actually 0411224. Triangular base with the ball inside. All the pics are from the front. I wonder what the back looks like and if the ball is easily removed? I guess it looks the same. Just 2 halves mating together.

BirdyinBOI wrote:Mine is actually 0411224. Triangular base with the ball inside. All the pics are from the front. I wonder what the back looks like and if the ball is easily removed? I guess it looks the same. Just 2 halves mating together.

he triangle ball holder (for lack of a better name) is the same on the back as you see on the front. Remove the three screws and the ball falls out so long as the yoke is out.

There is a little bit of trial and error to getting these set up not too lose or not too tight. If tight, add a thin washer between one of the corners and the panel to clamp less on the ball. To lose, remove a washer or two. too too lose and the ball is probably worn.

To drill a new one, all you really need is a drill press and a 1/2" forstner bit (or whatever the yoke diameter is). No machinist needed.

akgreg wrote:Having your balls get overtightened is very dangerous! Proceed with caution

For a second I though you wrote: "Proceed with cocktion."

Bringing this back....... I am in need a one or two. whats the new word on these

c170pete wrote:mcmaster.com part number 9164K39

1 1/2 inch white delrin ball, $3.58 each.

Couple of those and some beer for your favorite machinist do drill a couple holes...

That's the way I would do it.

I went this route and drilled them out myself with a drill press. Owner produced part. It worked out really well. Should last another 69 years.

c170pete wrote:
mcmaster.com part number 9164K39

1 1/2 inch white delrin ball, $3.58 each.

Couple of those and some beer for your favorite machinist do drill a couple holes...

That's the way I would do it.


I went this route and drilled them out myself with a drill press. Owner produced part. It worked out really well. Should last another 69 years.

The McMaster- Carr number is 9614K39