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And fabricate some strut locks to prevent a failing cylinder from allowing this to happen again.
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I found some of these type thingies on Amazon and use em:
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I like the idea of making a targa strip to reinforce the overhang and cover most of the damage, but what exactly do you guys use? I am not that familiar with what material would work best. Do I need to be concerned about the targa strip and the acrylic expanding and contracting at different rates with temperature change?
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Thanks again for the info. |
Targa Strip
Chuck:
While a few have made Targa strips using aluminum, the more common approach is using fiberglass and resin to create a buildup. Personally, I don't think aluminum would be a good choice in your case. I believe there are instructions for this in the plans - contact Vans if you don't have them. Construction involves masking off the canopy fore and aft, using a non-binding material on the area to be bridged, and scuffing the plexi on the forward bubble so that the glass will adhere. Builders have used different thickness and layer numbers for buildup, but in this case, more may be better. The good news with fiberglass is that after the layup is done, you can fill and fair to the level of perfection that you're looking for. As you've not yet painted, the targa will match perfectly with the rest of your aircraft. Look at some of the RV slider models - you'll see fiberglass fairings all around the canopy. Fairly easy to do and get great looking results. In your case, it can cover the cracked plexi completely. You'll be fine. Remember to breath in and out. You'll learn some new skills and afterwards will be able to offer first hand advice for others that encounter similar problems. Just like the rest of us. Good luck. Terry, CFI RV9A N323TP |
Weld-on
As a suggestion, don't let the crack repair on your canopy be your first attempt at using Weld-on. Watch some youtube videos and practice on scrap first. It's possibly to make an almost invisible repair but it takes practice. The targa strip solution with Sitka bond for the broken piece are great solutions.
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wild plane
Chuck
after cut my canopy under 48?C sunny day heating and breathing parts of it, that bad ugly inconvenient is my nightmare any time I open/close my tip-up :eek: ....but.... if I were in your shoes (hoping never) , like my friend Pete say, I would try to repair it, the cracks aren't in your view so no problem scanning around and, I would never a targa strip because that would cover the great scar that seem so bad and wild plane ;) tell us about your fix ciao Lucio |
Ordered two similar to this today from Amazon. They are called "Lift Support Clamps".
Thank you all for the detailed responses. I am much more relaxed now and looking forward to fixing this thing. ![]() |
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Or...you could just take a 6" length of 3/8" fuel hose, slit it length-wise, and slip it over the strut push rod for a nifty safety that will keep the canopy open. I carry a couple of them in the flight kit. I would be concerned about that clamp-thingie marring the strut pushrod and ruining the seal. |
The clamp thingies I bought have brass screws. No damage after many many many clamps.
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All of the talk about clamps, stronger struts, etc. are all sidestepping the root cause of the problem, that the canopy was left open while moving the aircraft. A cracked canopy is a painful (and expensive) way to learn that lesson.
When I bought my tip-up -6, one of the other RV owners on the field told me to never trust the pistons, and never leave the canopy open (a) unattended or (b) while moving the aircraft. |
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