While preparing the airplane to move 80 miles (closer to final home), I had an issue with the canopy latch.The canopy has been done for quite some time and the latch was always a bit hard to move but it seems much worse than I remembered. The airplane has sat for most of the past year and the canopy has been closed most of this time but not latched. I can latch it from the inside but the canopy frame aft bow flexes forward (best guess is 1/4+ inch) which makes the problem worse. I can unlatch it from the inside but with great difficulty. My concern is that if I latch it from the outside for the move, I will not be able to unlatch it. Sent an emaiil to Van's with photos and they provided several photos with dimensional checks from the demonstrator aircraft. Dimensions where between the latch handle stop and aft side of roll bar with the handle latched and unlatched. They also provide the measurement between the aft side of the handle shaft and the forward edge on the aft side of the D-handle at the weld (to ensure no manufacturing anomaly). I measured the same points and all where very close (within 1/16'). Van's then suggested that I remove the spacer under the C-1205 block (if installed) or sand off some of the material on the C-1205 surface that mates with the roll bar. No spacer installed so aggressively sanded the C-1205 block, reinstalled, and checked latch. After four iterations, was able to resolve the problem.
