Brief Description: Preliminary Gas Spring locations
I think I stood torn and scratching my head for at least 30 minutes trying to decide between 2 evils.... The original plan was to conceal everything within the canopy frame; (Hinges and gas springs). However after thinking about it some more, it will be Extremely difficult to do that while still getting a good seal around the canopy. The big gaps under the springs would mean a LOT of air on the passenger. I really didn't like my options this way and decided I'd rather give the passenger a little less shoulder room, then a blast of cold air in the winter :) The wife agreed :) SO I have decided to mount the springs on the inside of the longerons and canopy frame. This of course makes the installation 10 times easier in several ways, saves on hardware and when it comes time to replace the springs it will be a 5 minute job. I'm happy to convert. So I drilled out the longeron the same way that I drilled the poplar hardpoints for the cam lock pins up front. I then threaded them with a brass insert, floxed the inside of the threads, and threaded it in for cure. After cure, I will eventually layup a layer of glass over the brass insert. The next step will be to install the hardpoints on the canopy frame...
