Brief Description: Install C-1216-1 Gas Struts & Canopy Catch
Bought the new gas strut kit with steel rod ends as well as the canopy catch retrofit. Used later revision pages of section 34 to install.
First step was to remove the old gas struts, one at a time. The left gas strut was totally deflated and bad so it would needed to be replaced anyway. Also removed the top fuselage skin to more easily access the inboard screw at the cylinder end of the struts.
Page 34-02 (rev 4) Drilled both ends of each gas strut. Plans call for 17/64 on the cylinder end but used 1/4 instead. (step 1)
The CS-1204-1 bushing that came with the kit apeared to not be the correct part. The outside diameter of the shoulder worked fine in the cylinder end hole, but there was no way that the AN509-10R16 screw was going to go through the inside diameter. I was able to screw the threaded portion through but no way the shank was going through. Decided to use the existing bushing instead. Also, with the fiberglass already complete, it would have difficult to trim the AN 509 screw so reused the old one as well. Installed cylinder end of gas strut to canopy frame. (part of step 2) Page 34-02 (rev4) steps 1 and partial step 2 is all that's required for this install.
Page 34-03 (rev 4) Used provided hardware and connected rod end of gas struts to the fuselage. Canopy is definitely more firmer when moving between open and close. (part of step 1) Page 34-03 (rev4) partial step 1 is all that's required for this install.
Page 34-25 (rev 0) Removed rivets from roll bar. deburred canopy catch, and primed. (steps 1 and 2) Riveted canopy catch to roll bar. (step 3) Checked operation of canopy handle into canopy catch. Operation is as described in the plans without any bending of the catch required. (step 4) Installed UHMW tape to inside of canopy handle. PAGE 34-25 IS COMPLETE
