Day 431 Flip-out Midi Box, transmission co-shifter
Once again, I have searched for an item that I thought I saw somewhere, only to discover it is no longer made due to mainstream supply and demand, or just smaller custom manufacturers unable to compete in a global economy.

What I need is fairly simple in concept, a dual hinge that allows 2 directions 90º to each other and a lock on one. So, once again, I set to work on building my own. I created it as an animation first (see animation video below), like a blue print, making adjustments along the way, and today put the thing together.
 The basic hinge didn't take long. The hinge points are made of 1/2" ID hydraulic pipe, slightly drilled out to stop seizing, welded on to flat bar for to mount.

I had to lower the hinge with a block because I overlooked the sliding door frame that *just* blocked the box from fitting in place. Oh well!

The photo to the right shows me freezing my butt off!
        Here is a little video on how I planned it would work. Pretty close! Just shows you can do anything in a day if your minds to it.
   
If you can't see it in your browser, just click on it to open in your windows media player.
The lock is comprised of a "lever" welded on, and a 1/4" bolt tapped into the rod. (Photo above) That way, if things wear down with use, the bolt can be adjusted. It was so gratifying  to see it actually worked as planned!

This "box" is for a mixer-like midibox that  I just couldn't find any room for anywhere else, and has too many wires 'n stuff to have to pull it out and hook it up every time I want to do anything musical. It will of course need to be attached inside the box, being expensive and all.

   
Gena had a couple of projects in mind today, which included making that giant drawer under the pilot seat. This will be great for putting charts in, which, even folded can accumulate into a large mass of paper in no time.
 
 I, of course, had to apologize for this and that being out of square, and explain that sliders will need to be added so it doesn't drag across the carpet leaving rub marks, but I think it was worth it. A nice face still needs to be added, then a handle and latching mechanism.

Dual station shifter in place		 Genas second job was to install the "sliding" dual station transmission shifter. I had offered to make a pivoting dual connection, but Gena found this on eBay, so it will be used instead.

It presented a number of problems though. Annoying problems with pre-design compatibility.
I had designed the outside binnacle shifter to use the threaded end of the teflon shifter cable, as it wasn't a big deal to use the "eye" end in my "to be designed" dual shifter arm. Now the slider requires the threaded ends! Luckiliy, that one can be used with the arm.

The idea is the cable coming in the top side shifts the whole assembly on the slider, including the cable attached to the shifter arm, back and forth, while the other cable is held by position snaps in the shifting positions. The other directly shifts it.

 
 The other unforeseen problem is that the cable that slides along with the assembly needs space behind it, so a hole needed to be cut through the bulkhead, then sealed with silicone and grease to allow motion but keep a relatively tight seal. Ugg! Now this thing is getting to be a pain! The final problem presented itself outside on the binnacle. As previously mentioned, the original idea was a pivot style shifter so the arm would move ahead when the cable was pushed. The shifter handle inside can go either way. This arrangement pulls the cable when the shifter is in forward position. Double ugg!!
We'll just have to remember that it's like an airplane, sorta. The good thing is the handle pulled into the wheel doesn't stick out awkwardly during forward mode, like it does in reverse.

In any case, it seems to work. The dual station throttle is next. We plan to just join them together as these cables slide pretty easily. We hope it works because the other method would be a real nightmare!

Addendum: Gena managed to coil the cable around so it could move freely, without moving through the bulkhead, thereby reducing the possibilty of failure.

 

Day 431:
11 hours - Made the cool flip out midi box thing, a drawer under pilothouse seat, and bracketed on the dual shifter assembly

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