Dual linked Ace Yokes... missing inox rings ???

[Nick1150]

Hello to all,

I have received months ago my dual linked yokes from ACE. The product is great apart from the fact the it is not really plug and and play and you need to experiment with the cables connection and the most important .... from the start I had only two inox rings for the yokes base instead of four in the package. After many e-mails I haven't received any response from Ali. I will try to copy the rings in my local inox shop, BUT just warning for the future buyers, be aware... Ace products are great, but luck after sales service.

Hope that helps someone.

Regards,

Nick

[Nick1150]

After the above message, I received a pm from Ali asking my address to send me the missing rings. I answered giving all details requested. That is 2 months ago.

Still waiting for those rings !!!

I must repeat my self, Ace products are great, but luck after sales service.

Be aware...

[daveaust]

Yes, they were supposed to send me a replacement for a defective trim switch on my new yoke at the time... 1 year ago!
I didn't bug them and ended up modifying the hole size and installing a real, essentially new, recon'd mason. A slightly better switch anyway...
Technically they still owe me one of those things. Oh well.

[oal331]

So, as i can see, ACE does not offer any after sales support, even when the problem is from defective or missing parts.
After 1 year ??? !!!:oops:
I'm afraid to think what could happens if the problem was from the customer's side !

[daveaust]

I think ACE are probably overall great guys with a great product and have great intentions, but just maybe aren't very organized with customer communication before and after, like some of these niche flight sim companies. Seems like I often read of these inconsistent attention spans towards customers in this hobby biz. I know they have many irons in the fire at any given time. I'm not throwing stones as much as I guess I'm saying maybe these smaller production entities may be side ventures, or have other fires to put out personally for example and don't have a large staff to pick up the ongoing agenda when they get pulled away. In general, if I get put on hold I don't get too bothered but I can understand when folks have multiple thousands invested in a product that they want to get working sooner rather than later and they can't get any responses. Quick update emails are worth their weight in gold but are conspicuously absent at times.

[Nick1150]

And still waiting.....

No comments

[Nick1150]

still waiting....

It's a pitty, so good products, so bad after sales service!!!

[PH737]

Yes, they were supposed to send me a replacement for a defective trim switch on my new yoke at the time... 1 year ago!
I didn't bug them and ended up modifying the hole size and installing a real, essentially new, recon'd mason. A slightly better switch anyway...
Technically they still owe me one of those things. Oh well.

Hi,

Just read your email by chance.
I am philippe from France.
Had the same problem as you.
Changed the trim switch on my ACE yoke (Ali sent me a new one) but still shows défets after few months.
You mentionned you modified the hole size of your yoke and installer a new one "recon'd mason".
Is recon'd mason a company where you found trim switch ?
Could not find any link on the net.

I ordered one from airline historical pilot society, and intended to install it on my yoke.
But the holà is too tight for a réal one>
Not too difficult to arrange ?

Thanks

Bye

Philippe

[daveaust]

Philippe - You did exactly what I did. Mason is the manufacturer for these trim switches. The "recon'd" reference was just short for "reconditioned" and I found mine at a aircraft reclamation/parts company close to me. I saw the mason switch on APHS website and noticed it being a good price. The new price is actually close to $3000 USD so you did a smart thing buying that up. I would have grabbed it but I had bought two previously. The solid feel of these switches is amazing. Now to get it into your ACE yoke, yes you must enlarge the hole. I used a dremel tool to gradually enlarge the hole using various burrs and then a fibre cutting disk after a certain point to finish hollowing it out larger. It was tedious but worth the trouble. Once in position you need to drill the two holes in the back side for the retention screws. Also a bit painful to line up but not too bad. I countersunk them a bit and used hex screws. I need to do the same process for my trip counter on the other side of the yoke but have been putting it off! Good luck. You will love it!

[PH737]

Philippe - You did exactly what I did. Mason is the manufacturer for these trim switches. The "recon'd" reference was just short for "reconditioned" and I found mine at a aircraft reclamation/parts company close to me. I saw the mason switch on APHS website and noticed it being a good price. The new price is actually close to $3000 USD so you did a smart thing buying that up. I would have grabbed it but I had bought two previously. The solid feel of these switches is amazing. Now to get it into your ACE yoke, yes you must enlarge the hole. I used a dremel tool to gradually enlarge the hole using various burrs and then a fibre cutting disk after a certain point to finish hollowing it out larger. It was tedious but worth the trouble. Once in position you need to drill the two holes in the back side for the retention screws. Also a bit painful to line up but not too bad. I countersunk them a bit and used hex screws. I need to do the same process for my trip counter on the other side of the yoke but have been putting it off! Good luck. You will love it!

Thanks for your reply.
I will get some support to procceed to the installation as I do not have any tools hère at my place.
Just few additional question :
- you said you found a trim switch at an aircraft réclamation/part company. could you tell me the name as I currently looking for réal 737 QUAD and webwe or ipeco seat
- Do you have the dual linked ACE yoles or 2 single for your simulator ?
I am about to build my sim, and still hésitante between single or dual seat. for budget and space issue. But even in case of dual seat, was thinking about two single ACE as I am flying alone most if the time, and that the limitation of 40 degree bank angle on the dual ACE is an issue I think.

Thanks

Philippe

[daveaust]

Philippe- sorry for delay in resonding! My Ace yoke is non-linked. I only have one ace at this time. The other is a real 727 yoke that I am going to sensor up to use in 1st officer position. I have both yokes from the 727, but the Ace is so close to real and is already wired I have kept it in there for now. I will see how the conversion goes and maybe swap it out down the road. The centering mechanism was a bear on the real yoke and isn't perfect yet so I have some tweaking to do. I used some gas push-shocks off of a junkyard Ford Explorer along with some wire rope. It took some serious experimentation to get a stong mechanism to live in a 4-inch floor space. I don't have any room under or over my cockpit.
On the seats, the best bet is to look on APHS website or on ebay. My source is very expensive compared to those places. I just happened onto a couple of the only "needs work" seats they had. My trim switch was also $600 price tag as it was new(I got a good deal). APHS (airline pilots historical society)has one for much less. Get that one. Believe me the real ones are unbelievable compare to fakes! The new list price for a mason trim switch used in the boeing yokes is 3200 bucks!
One more thing, my first idea was a single seat but if you have room go ahead and do a dual seater. You can build up the 1st officer side later as you fell like it. My idea is to be able to get a person in there that knows nothing and help them take a flight and let them see what goes on just to fly even a short flight. This will be just an approximation of reality as I am no expert on flying the real thing of course, but the things I have learned and am learning will at least give them an idea even with my amateur piloting!
PS- Just checked APHS and they still have that mason trim switch for $250. A steal and no I don't work for them ha! He also still has a real trip counter for the opposite side of the yoke for 110 and those are really cool too. Hope I don't break any forum rules for pointing that stuff out. Sorry if I did.

[PH737]

No problem for the delay, dont worry.
I was myself in vacations and just came back.
Everything is clear. Thanks for your response.
I Just received the real one I ordered, (used) but the click feel is not so good on push as it is one pull.
So ordered two not real ones, just received them but it's terrible. quality is ...
So might try to really get the real one, but in better condition.

Best

Philippe

[PH737]

Hi,

And just one more question about the wiring and interfacing.
How did you proceeded with the wiring of the new real trim switch on your ACE yoke (not on your 727 one)
Is there anything to modify on the trim, or you just connect it to the existing cables coming from the base of the ACE yoke ?

Thanks

Philippe

[PH737]

Hi David,

As the trim switch is key for me, I consider getting a new one.
Would you mind to give me the company you purchased yours from. I am aware it will cost more that the recond ones, but I want this part to work perfectly. As said, the real one I received is fine, but the click feel is just perfect when you press for nose down, but for nose up, the click feel is barely noticeable, which is the problem. Ready to invest to get a real good one. Thanks David for your help !

Phikippe

[daveaust]

Philippe-
I don't get over here too often and I'm not getting email notifications on this thread so I missed these posts again!
I got the last one from my place(also it was $600) but I see a very nice one on the APHS site (www.oncealoft.com) for $250. Nick can tell you if it functions well before you buy it. I just wired it into the existing wire stub on the ACE yoke. Now the real switch is actually 2 switches side by side so on the real plane both must flip together as a sort of safety mechanism. One switch activates the trim motor system and the other tells the trim motors to actually move(may not be the most accurate description). To fake this on the sim just wire them in series. The diagram is on the side of the switch. ALso, a cool addition to add is the trip counter, which Nick also usually has. Unfortunately, you will need to carve the other hole wider too and put a 5v or 12v to this and it glows quite well. I have one of my real yokes up with this but not my ACE yet.