Slider roll bar question

[Maxrate]

After fitting the roll bar in place each side has about 1/8" gap when the other is flush with the fuselage top rail. I placed it on several other flat surfaces to verify the issue. I know shimming is always an option but it looks like I'm going to have to take a torch to get it squared up. Thought I'd get advice before heading down that road.

[Kyle Boatright]

Doesn't the roll bar land right in an area where the longeron has a bend? I know it did on the -6 and the plans instructed you to shim it to plumb.

That's what I'd do in your case.

[wirejock]

Mine was a little off too. Vans said to shim. However, don't cut or drill your forward brace until the canopy is complete. Then shim it to fit the canopy then cut and drill the forward bar.

[jibby212]

Mine required a 3/16 shim, I ended up cutting and rewelding it.

[Maxrate]

Good advice Larry. Usually Vans Powder Coated steel parts fit well. I?m surprised the rollbar is this far off. I?ve laid it on several flat surfaces and it definitely is not square. I hate to take heat to it but I don?t want a bunch of ugly shims under this thing either. After laying it down flat on a table the passenger side is the one that is sticking up slightly. I?ll have to take a torch to get it square. I guess most people have to adjust side to side. Mine is within the 1/16? per the plans.

[jcarne]

Yep your 1st pic looks pretty identical to mine. I put a shim in there and called it good.

[Maxrate]

Jibby, did you reweld it with MIG. I don’t have access to TIG. Man I’m pretty disappointed with Vans right now. The QC on this part would not be that difficult to get right!

[rightrudder]

I'd shim it and move on. Once the windscreen and 'glassed fairing are in place, it will barely be noticeable.

It's all about massaging it all and making it work. On my -9A slider, the main hoop sat nice and flat, but to match the hoop's contour with the canopy frame, I had to shim the frame up about 3/8" on one side at the roller, and make a side skirt that was 3/8" deeper.

Slightly asymmetrical, but wholly unnoticeable. You can only see one side of the plane at a time!!

[D Weisgerber]

I just got back from flying, I shimmed by roll bar and forgot all about it. I did look at it today after reading this post.

[Russ McCutcheon]

Van?s received the welding fixture for this roll bar earlier this year from the fellow that was building them, Van?s did some adjustments to it and it?s now in my shop. I just put a couple complete roll bars on my flat 1/2? thick aluminum table and they?re sitting flat. Maybe going forward they won?t need any shimming.