Brief Description: Canopy retaining pins & latch mod
Tonight I drilled the canopy retaining blocks and bent up some 3/16" 4130 rod for the pins. These will be welded to the canopy frame such that when the canopy slides shut the pins locate into the holes in the retaining blocks. Pictures to follow after welding.
After that I decided to take a look at the "Sliding Canopy Latch" [CA CANOPY LATCH] that I previously purchased from Vans. Short version: it won't fit. Not a chance. The clearance beween the roller and the canopy retaining blocks is already minimal. There certainly isn't room for anotehr 1/8" of angle in there. Not only that, but perhaps things used to be different on the old RV-8 or other planes, but as designed the spring-loaded pin would be on the outside of the rail (the opening of the rails faces outboard on the new pre-punched RV-8 kits). A new plan was needed.
What I came up with was a similar idea, but a more permanent solution (i.e. not removable or retro-fitable). I had some 1/8" 4130 steel plate so I cut out a mount plate for the spring loaded pin supplied in the latch kit. I'll knock up a drawing tomorrow night but the photo below shows the general idea. The mount plate is not yet final shape. It will be welded to the canopy frame, rather than the roller, since I'm already having to re-paint the frame after all the other welding. What's one more piece on there. An AN316 jam nut wleded to the bottom of the plate will allow the spring-loaded pin assembly to be screwed in place and height adjusted.
As with most changes, I'll now have to think about the canopy release method. I was thinking of using spring loaded pins through the canopy frame and rollers. However, the latch may be in the way. The other method is to cut clearance slots in the top of the slide rail that the rollers can simply be pushed up through. I'll have to think about these and any other ides that come to mind...
