I need a nut…

Sluggo63

Sluggo63

Pattern Altitude
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Sluggo63
Sometime over the last however long, the retaining nut (locking nut?) for my PTT switch must have come loose and backed out and disappeared. I was able to cannibalize one from the other control wheel so I can use the switch without it burying itself in the yoke. I need to find a replacement somewhere. Any ideas? It’s about 1/4 diameter.

208C2B54-CF2B-459F-9FD4-C965E33A3F37.jpeg
 
I’ve seen these at my local hardware store. Just take one with you to check the size

I can’t let the joke go …. Now I know what the lose nut between the stick and throttle is ;)
 
luvflyin said:
Just about any ol’ hardware store?
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Initial Fix said:
I’ve seen these at my local hardware store. Just take one with you to check the size

I can’t let the joke go …. Now I know what the lose nut between the stick and throttle is ;)
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Ok. I’ll have to go more local then. I hit up Home Depot (it was late and they were still open) and no luck there. Back in the day, I would have gone to Radio Shack and I bet they would have had them, but that’s no longer an option.

I’ll try and find a local Ace Hardware or something. The one drawback to living in a big city, it tends to be dominated by the big box chains.
 
Mcmaster? they usually get orders to you in 1-2 days.
 
I also prefer Ace or TrueValue for these types of parts. The staff is usually fantastic in helping too
 
Mouser might be one other option. You might have to buy a switch and toss it, but you'll get your nut.
 
Sluggo63 said:
Ok. I’ll have to go more local then. I hit up Home Depot (it was late and they were still open) and no luck there. Back in the day, I would have gone to Radio Shack and I bet they would have had them, but that’s no longer an option.

I’ll try and find a local Ace Hardware or something. The one drawback to living in a big city, it tends to be dominated by the big box chains.
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Yeah. The big boxes dont usually have as big a selection as the local hardware stores. Some of those have those drawer things that have like everything.
 
Sluggo63 said:
I need to find a replacement somewhere.
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It may depend on the switch on how easy to find one. The nut usually comes with the switch and can be tough to find at times. If the local routes don't work out go to an electronic supply house for the nut. Or stop by an aircraft salvage yard.
 
Sluggo63 said:
Sometime over the last however long, the retaining nut (locking nut?) for my PTT switch must have come loose and backed out and disappeared. I was able to cannibalize one from the other control wheel so I can use the switch without it burying itself in the yoke. I need to find a replacement somewhere. Any ideas? It’s about 1/4 diameter.

View attachment 101412
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Like said it is a unique nut not found at most hardware stores.

like said you probably need to buy a switch just like it to get the nut you need.
Good luck
 
Potentially car stereo shops (where they had old two-post radios for volume and tuning) - same sized nut, I believe. Otherwise two thumbs up for McMaster Carr
 
"About ¼" doesn't do it, you need to know the exact thread size. Judging from the picture it might be 5/16" or 8mm, but there are fine and coarse thread pitches as well.

Go to a local hardware store. They probably won't have the nut, but you can try different sizes of bolts and see which one screws easily into it, then you know what size to order. If you get real lucky they might have a cheap switch with the same size nut.
 
I'd think home depot would have one in the little white drawers. Maybe not.
 
nrpetersen said:
It is almost certainly a 10-32 thread. If you can establish the thread & PM me details with a mailing address, I can make/cut down a nut on my lathe. N/C

It could be metric (4 or 5 mm?) in which case, good luck............
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IMO it will be metric. Most electric switches are made over seas.
 
Gary Ward said:
IMO it will be metric. Most electric switches are made over seas.
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They are now. The switches found in the typical GA light airplane weren't, because those airplanes were built when Asian countries were still underdeveloped.

Like I said, go to the avionics shop. I used to walk from our aircraft shop over to the avionics shop where they had lots of various small hardware. I'd bet that most shops will have a boxful of nuts and washers taken off dead switches. Most technicians hate to be held up by the lack of some weird nut. Looking for an avionics part anywhere else is a big, frustrating waste of time. Do owners go to Wal-Mart or Rock Auto to look for their aircraft engine oil or spark plugs?
 
If there is a local avionics shop near you...they will have one. I know I have one in my parts bin...lots of old switches and miniature jacks here. PM me if you cannot find one.
 
Dan Thomas said:
Yup. But what engine??
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Ok, I don't buy oil or plugs for the morning there... but I did for the Mosler. And if I switch to Pmags like I've been thinking about, I'll again get spark plugs there. And I did get the new battery for the Hatz at Autozone. Gotta love experimentals... :)
 
Dana said:
"About ¼" doesn't do it, you need to know the exact thread size. Judging from the picture it might be 5/16" or 8mm, but there are fine and coarse thread pitches as well.

Go to a local hardware store. They probably won't have the nut, but you can try different sizes of bolts and see which one screws easily into it, then you know what size to order. If you get real lucky they might have a cheap switch with the same size nut.
Click to expand...

So the saga is complete, I think. I went to the hardware store and fit (diameter wise) a #8 bolt, but wouldn't screw on correctly, so I figured that the thread size was off. I thought maybe it could be metric and tried a M4-0.7 bolt and the nut I had taken off the plane fit perfectly to the Home Depot bolt. I bought a M4-0.7 nut, but when I got to the plane, it still didn't fit quite right. So, $0.13 down the drain there.

I found this on Aircraft Spruce:
https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/elpages/edmomomentary6.php

with this schematic:

11-01899spec.png


And it's showing a 8-40 thread. That would make sense since the #8-32 fit, but wouldn't thread correctly.

I looked far and wide online but couldn't find anyone selling #8-40 nuts, so I ended up buying this switch just for the nut. It should be here in a few days.

And then I saw this post:

pburger said:
If it is a Grayhill 39-series switch (like the 39-1 or 39-3), then this is your nut:

https://www.digikey.com/en/products.../2410101?s=N4IgTCBcDaIMwE4DCBGADGgHAWhSAugL5A
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Ugh. Where were you a few days ago? Your google-fu is much better than mine. I couldn't find one anywhere. Thanks!
 
I knew a guy once, in his youth he scaled a fence with those spikes sticking up on top. He ended up in the hospital, REALLY needing a new nut. At the risk of TMI, I’ll leave it there.
 
Ace is definitely the place. Try both metric and SAE nuts of about that size since it depends where the switch was made. They are cheap.
 
I would also check Grainger.
Then I probably have a couple in my own inventory.
 
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