Chromoly Joystick

I want to replace the aluminum joy stick on my Air Command with chromoly.

I just need to know what wall thickness you all in the know would recommend.

Thanks

Mark

I made a new aluminum one for my Mini-500 a few months ago and I used OEM spec. size 6061 T-6 tube. 1" O.D. 0.035" wall, More than adequate.

My Brantly had 3/4" O.D. chromoly, 0.035" wall.

Mark,

I don't know the different thicknesses that chrommoly is available in, but I know my SSC originally used an aluminum Cyclic stick and Larry later changed to a chromoly stick. I just went and measured mine. The wall thickness on the tube I have is ".0750" inches. I believe this is very strong and may be overkill, but that's what he went with.

Doug

Never use aluminum on any joystick. A couple of sticks have broke in flight.

been told

been told

Brent Drake said:

Never use aluminum on any joystick. A couple of sticks have broke in flight.

Click to expand...

Brent, yes I have been warned by a few others including Desmond. I am gathering needed parts and materials for some up grades and the joystick is one. I just do not know how thick the wall needs to be.

Doug thank you for checking the thickness on yours.

Bryan, also thank you for the input.

Mark

I thought I remembered an old bulletin on the Air Command website, and found it dated 1997, but it was only considered urgent for two-place machines:

http://www.aircommand.com/safety.php

... but the recommendation was 0.058" wall chromoly. The bulletin says these sticks are available from the factory.

PW_Plack said:

I thought I remembered an old bulletin on the Air Command website, and found it dated 1997, but it was only considered urgent for two-place machines:

http://www.aircommand.com/safety.php

... but the recommendation was 0.058" wall chromoly. The bulletin says these sticks are available from the factory.

Click to expand...

Paul, thank you that is perfect. If its good enough for a two place it will make my single that much safer too.

I will order a length and I have a place here in Salt Lake that will bend it for me to the same shape as the existing joystick.

Thanks again Paul for finding that bulletin.

Mark

I am a scaredy-cat when it comes to joysticks, so I would go for the od you have now but go the next size up from from .058 to .062 (from memory, or is it .068?) cant remember, but on a pump stick there is a lot of stress right at the universal/rocker joint, so I would personally go the next step up from .058I would prefer the stick weighs a few ounces more but be strong as all get out . What I used to do on mine was fill the tube (once all the bending and welding is done) with expanding foam (part a and part b, stir then pour down the tube) it sets and makes any bending/flexing near on impossible. I fill straight suspension tubes as well.... once a tube is full of this stuff.... it will never bend:yo: