Gear Lever
3D-printed gear lever assembly with solenoid-held detents and MobiFlight integration.
4 min read Updated 2026-03
Overview
The gear lever is a 3D-printed assembly mounted to the left side of the center pedestal. It replicates the three-position (UP / OFF / DOWN) lever with realistic detent resistance.
Design
The lever body is printed in PETG for strength. The detent mechanism uses a spring-loaded ball bearing to hold each position with a satisfying click.
A magnetic reed switch at each detent position signals the Arduino. MobiFlight maps each position to the corresponding SimConnect gear event.
Parts
| Part | Material | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lever body | PETG | 3 perimeters, 40% infill |
| Detent housing | PETG | Press-fit into pedestal |
| Reed switches | Generic NO | 3× per lever |
| Spring | 0.5mm wire, 8mm OD | Detent pressure |
| Magnet | 6×3mm neodymium | Mounted in lever tip |
Wiring
Three reed switches connect to consecutive digital input pins on the pedestal Arduino. MobiFlight reads them as a selector and fires the appropriate gear up/off/down event.
Photos
Photos coming soon.