What are y'all using for push to talk?

How to keep the Cessna 170 flying and airworthy.

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oldtrucksrule
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What are y'all using for push to talk?

Post by oldtrucksrule »

I'd like to have something more permanent than the Velcro PTT. Let me see what y'all have come up with.

Cory
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GAHorn
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Re: What are y'all using for push to talk?

Post by GAHorn »

I am using the Telex velcro-PTT in the 170. Our 172 has a PTT adaptor permanently mounted to the yoke via an adaptor.. just be aware that drilling holes in your original yoke may render it unairworthy according to many inspectors.
'53 B-model N146YS SN:25713
50th Anniversary of Flight Model. Winner-Best Original 170B, 100th Anniversary of Flight Convention.
An originality nut (mostly) for the right reasons. ;)
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dstates
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Re: What are y'all using for push to talk?

Post by dstates »

I just have a velcro PTT right now but I’ve been saving pictures of others as I plan to upgrade mine someday. Here are a few of them.
C91C17A6-02F4-400A-9CD8-C8D78B06C45D.jpeg
F3318A50-C571-4336-8F31-EE51B93A4750.jpeg
AF380CEF-745C-46B5-B2C3-989601431928.jpeg
I believe this bottom one is a small panel held with adel clamps and then leather wrap over the clamps.
98CD5DC3-C684-42D6-97C7-EAB8B396F8B2.jpeg
N1235D - 1951 170A - SN: 20118
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oldtrucksrule
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Re: What are y'all using for push to talk?

Post by oldtrucksrule »

These are all great examples, exactly what I'm looking for. I really like the leather wrapped yoke. I agree drilling into yoke is probably not a good idea. Thanks
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GAHorn
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Re: What are y'all using for push to talk?

Post by GAHorn »

Electric Trim in a 170…?? Very Sophisticated. Would love to see the paperwork on that.
'53 B-model N146YS SN:25713
50th Anniversary of Flight Model. Winner-Best Original 170B, 100th Anniversary of Flight Convention.
An originality nut (mostly) for the right reasons. ;)
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dstates
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Re: What are y'all using for push to talk?

Post by dstates »

GAHorn wrote:Electric Trim in a 170…?? Very Sophisticated. Would love to see the paperwork on that.
It was in a 172 that plans to have a Garmin auto pilot installed. I’m not an expert, but I believe that is an option for that installation. I only saved the image and showed it here to show options for PTT on the yoke.

https://youtu.be/Z4Q2aY5MO_Q
Last edited by dstates on Wed Mar 09, 2022 4:51 pm, edited 1 time in total.
N1235D - 1951 170A - SN: 20118
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falco
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Re: What are y'all using for push to talk?

Post by falco »

oldtrucksrule wrote:I'd like to have something more permanent than the Velcro PTT. Let me see what y'all have come up with.

Cory

After 22 years of ownership, I thought my velcro PTT WAS permanent.

It was probably installed when the avionics were upgraded in the early 80s. Works so well I never think about it.

pete
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Karl Towle
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Re: What are y'all using for push to talk?

Post by Karl Towle »

Here's a shot of the yoke PTT I came up with before changing out my yokes. It used one of those miniature toggle switches, spring loaded to off. It was positioned on the yoke in such a way that I could reach it with my left index finger when grasping the yoke from the side, while I could also reach around and activate it if I were flying with my hand on the top of the yoke. It was an interim solution, so I never painted it. I had one small self-tap screw from the rear to keep it from sliding away from where it was mounted, and a coiled cord carried the PTT signal to the panel, through a grommet under the shaft.
YokePTT1.jpg
Here's what I have now. From memory, the hole for the switch is 1/4" or maybe 5/16" but only goes as deep as needed to seat the switch. Below that (to provide a shoulder) there is a smaller hole for the switch's terminals and junction with the wires. Finally, both wires fit in a 1/8" hole, which comes out the bottom corner of the yoke. From there the wires go through the horizontal part of the handle, and come out in the recess bottom center of the yoke. Then a 3rd 1/8" passage gets the wires inside the shaft. The holes at the bottom corner form an oval opening which is filled with black RTV (which can be pealed out should the switch ever need replacement). Since this is a very low-current circuit, the wires can be quite small (24 ga) if they are protected from mechanical stresses. (Yes, I know I drilled the yoke. Fortunately, my IA is a big-picture kind of mechanic.)
YokePTT2.jpg
I love the simplicity of the Adel clamp attached PTT above. It looks like the depicted yoke may not be a 170 style. As an enhancement to that idea, adapting it to a 170 style yoke, how about soldering the wire to the switch terminals so they come off at 90 degrees, parallel to the top of the yoke. Then, build a "form" with some masking tape and pot the connections with epoxy. That would clean up the wire considerably IMHO.
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daedaluscan
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Re: What are y'all using for push to talk?

Post by daedaluscan »

I have the velcro, and although it is totally functional I don't like it. I have thought about a welded in tab, and may do that one day. I have also tried to come up with an elegant clamp on solution but have failed so far. I like it out in the corner of the yoke where I hold it with my left hand. Might have another go at this.
Charlie

1956 170B C-GDRG #27019
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Avee8or
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Re: What are y'all using for push to talk?

Post by Avee8or »

My Telex velcro ptt’s have deteriorated….plastic coil coating is separating from wires making a mess. Time for better solution. Has anyone tried to epoxy a metal bracket to their yoke in lieu of drilling holes for the bracket?
Varel Freeman

170B N3211A
195 N195GW
PA31 N508Y
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dstates
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Re: What are y'all using for push to talk?

Post by dstates »

Avee8or wrote:My Telex velcro ptt’s have deteriorated….plastic coil coating is separating from wires making a mess. Time for better solution. Has anyone tried to epoxy a metal bracket to their yoke in lieu of drilling holes for the bracket?
I haven’t done it, but I would be concerned that if the epoxy let go it would let go all at once. If I were to epoxy it I would add at least one mechanical fastener.
N1235D - 1951 170A - SN: 20118
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dstates
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Re: What are y'all using for push to talk?

Post by dstates »

Here are a few more pictures of how others have added a PTT. I’m still deciding how I will do mine.

This one uses an adel clamp to mount the switch bracket.
IMG_5012.jpeg
The following one looks like there is only one screw so maybe this one might be using epoxy.
IMG_4589.jpeg
IMG_4590.jpeg
IMG_4591.jpeg
N1235D - 1951 170A - SN: 20118
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