Have you checked to make sure your elevator spring isn't disconnected and dangling in the tail?
Some people 'lose' those on purpose. It would probably be all the 'assist' your yoke would have needed to mask a poor bushing set up. It would also explain a 'looser' feel. Flies like crap is subjective, what do you mean by that?

You were probably anxious to get back in and go and were overly optimistic on your version of 'CIGAR', 'stir the pot' or whatever.... been there done that, probably weren't looking for those answers when you reached out for ideas.

Check behind the panel, and in the tail.

The #'s don't have much value as they are different instruments. Previous GPS speeds vs current would have helped verify that. You probably have enough time in that bird to recognize missing an approach speed by 15mph, that isn't a small amount. You said flies like crap, not 'lands like a streak of shit' is it really landing 15mph faster?

Good luck, as above, I bet it's an easy peasy, but necessary fix.

Take care, Rob

If they weighed it for the new W&B, it’s possible they weighed it with full tanks and subtracted out the usable fuel. This isn’t the way to do it, as often the tanks hold a few more gallons than advertised. This results in a higher empty weight than if they’d actually weighed it empty.

Holy crap. So many good responses. Thank you! I checked under the panel and nothing was binding. The install looks really quality and neat. No random harnesses still installed. When I say it flew like crap it was really because of the yok issues. Understandably, the 185 isn’t a light plane to begin with and with a binding yoke, it was a real pain in the ass.

So we figured out it was the yoke binding. The shop checked elevator cable tension and we inspected in the tail. It ended up just being the yoke bushing. They put a liquid lube on it that really loosened it up and it has little to zero resistance now. BigRenna did tell me that it shouldn’t be lubed, so we will have to trouble shoot why the binding is occurring. But at least we know what it was, and there aren’t some big question marks about cables being pinched in the tail. As some said, event or angle could be slightly off.

On the stall speed, that could just be from new instruments, but it still varies so much. It was 55 mph one day, then the next day it was 47 mph with the same weight. I was able to get that stall speed with the AP circuit breaker removed and by holding disconnect. Maybe that is just normal but we don’t realize because we typically use analog gauges? This is my first digital numeric gauge so I’m not used to that precision, but it still seems weird to fluctuate THAT much.

On the weight side, I think I’m just giving up on the “paper” for now. Greg weighed it last year so the first WB was accurate. Most likely all the gas wasn’t removed but I don’t really have a clue. It’s just a little disconcerting to have a 1958 lb 185 when you’ve done a lot to try and make it light. Maybe later this summer I’ll do it again with him and get it really dialed in.

So for now, she is flying much better and at least we know she is safe. Thank you for all of the good responses. Really appreciate helping me trouble shoot this.

If you're going to lube the yoke shaft, use graphite. No spray lubes.
John

ington6 wrote:It’s just a little disconcerting to have a 1958 lb 185 when you’ve done a lot to try and make it light. Maybe later this summer I’ll do it again with him and get it really dialed in.

I spent so much time and money trying to lose weight out of my Maule. I weighed it and was satisfied, it is definitely one of the lighter long wing 235 Maules without doing anything drastic like composite prop, carbon cowling, etc.

But a week later I forgot the weight and now honestly don’t give a shit. When packing for 6 months in Alaska I filled it to the brim. If it weighed 50lb more, I probably would’ve fit the exact same amount of stuff in there.

I have a feeling you will be the same way and not care so much once you start flying it regularly. CG is much more noticeable than weight in my experience.

Could be fun to weigh it yourself after a while and see if the weight matches up though.

Glad you found the binding yoke. It looks like a beautiful airplane that you’ll enjoy for a long time to come.