Canopy cracking when pulling rivets

[skyyking]

Folks, I am worried when I go to pull the AACQ-4-4 rivets on the canopy frame it will crack the canopy. As you are aware, you can't control the pressure. I need to ask therefore; if any of you out there have had any problems, especially on the forward portion of the canopy frame where the rivet makes direct contact with the plexi.

Thanks!

[lucaperazzolli]

clean everything, deep breath, HOT plexy canopy, slightly deburr holes, run slowly, everythings will go !

Warm the canopy !!!!

2c

[Andy Hill]

I hear that the rivets crack the canopy when:

• You don't use the correct rivets (which are particularly "soft")
• They are "old" (=hardened)

When we did ours, had no issue, avoiding above. Of course, you will have plenty of spare plexi and AL, so do some practice with some spare riverts if you are not confident

As Luke says, "slightly deburr" holes. We went one further and used fine sandpaper to polish the holes such that the "countersink" corners were all smooth...

[aerovin]

I just did all those on my RV-8 canopy. OAT about 90 degrees. No problem and after I did a few I could anticipate when the rivet would pull and held the puller accordingly.

[MarkW]

Like Andy says. You will find that the recommended rivets require very little pull pressure. It therefore puts little pressure on the plexi.

[flyboy1963]

The times I've pop-rivetted plexi, a crack occurred when the rivet flared in the hole, not from the actual pulling together of the plexi to the support.
that said, be sure they are in TIGHT contact, and if you have used a washer or shim of any kind, ensure the rivet length is correct so it flares in the tube, not in the washer, or you get a false 'pull', and it may come out later.

all the comments on the warm or hot plexi, deburring and fresh rivets I'm sure are valid....remove any stress points.
I'd be concerned if the canopy were 5 or 10 years old also, as it hardens with age, or if stored in light or at hi temps, the moisture and/or plastic resins leach out in some way. ( IMO)

[12vaitor]

I also did the sandpaper polish after countersinking the holes. I also wet set all of the rivets with proseal before pulling them. All work was done in 90+ temps, so hopefully the future cracking potential is low.

[Mel]

As others have said, first make sure you use the correct rivets.
They should be aluminum!
Use a hand puller, NOT a pneumatic puller. That way you CAN more easily control the pressure.
I've done many and have never had a problem.

[jimbower]

I know this is not about rivets, but I used no rivets in my canopy...everything is #6 screws, no cracks.

Jim Bower
St. Louis
RV-6A (flying)

[rvpilot]

And glue it! No holes to drill, no rivets to pull.
Plenty on the forums about this!