Brief Description: Fine tuned latch, installed roller botls & anchor
The canopy latch has to be trimmed and filed to lock the canopy without distorting or repositioning the canopy assembly. The latch was raising the rear of the canopy slightly which caused the gaps on the side skirts to become bigger. I filed the latch recess that engages the roll bar latch pin until it would no longer raise the rear of the canopy. It was an off then file, on then check, then off again and file some more about ten times. I didn't want to remove too much metal and have to order a new latch. Tedious and time consuming but not at all difficultl.
Next came the roller brackets that have to be bolted to the front canopy bow after all the height adjustments have been completed. I had cut off each side of the front bow twice to get the canopy and windshield close enough (about 1/32"to 1/16"). The hard part of match drilling the canopy bow and roller bracket is to get the roller bracket line perfectly with the roller track so it won't bind when opening and closing. We made marks and then C-clamped them when I drilled. Moderate difficulty but tedious.
Next came bolting the rear anchor blocks to the longeron. We had already fabricated them so it was a matter of just bolting them on. When we closed the canopy after all these almost forgotten parts were added, the side skirts gaps all snugged up to the fuselage nicely except the most rear which was still about 1/8". Good enough for us!! We start fiberglass work tomorrow.
Drilling the front bow to the roller brackets.
Roller bracket bolted into the front bow. (Temporary nut)
The rear anchors were bolted in place. (Temporary nuts)
