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06-01-2013, 04:06 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Elkton, Md.
Posts: 1,652
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I will agree with Keith on this. By the time the ears are drilled out enough for the bushing, they are thin. It does stiffen up the mounting though.
__________________
Wag Aero Sport Trainer built,sold and wrecked
N588DF RV12 #336 built, sold and alive and well in New York
N73DF RV12 #244 built, sold and alive and well in Florida
N91 RV RV9 I wish I could say I built this one! Mark Santoleri hit the ball out of the park on this gem.
Currently restoring a 1978 Citabria GCBC
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06-01-2013, 10:13 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Texas, Fort Worth
Posts: 1,237
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Ho the Mainsail my Maties!
This point is duly noted & maybe Vans will make metal ends to go on the gas struts. But I think it's important for all of us to understand that all planes are somewhat fragile. Care should always be taken when opening and closing the canopy. It acts like a big sail in windy conditions. Also it can be blown down very quickly if you try to leave it open during engine start. Durning full power run ups it can float upward if not secured. Always think of the wind direction when parking at unfamiliar ramps before opening up in windy conditions. This is just an idiosyncrasies of our model like the aft window and fuel exposure. 
But thanks for the info. 
__________________
John
RV12 N1212K
Flying Since June 2010
1020 Hours as of 9/30/2017
Johnrv12@icloud.com
RV14 Wing, arrived and building at Rdog's new Hanger at 16X
S/N 140014
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06-02-2013, 05:37 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Elkton, Md.
Posts: 1,652
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Exactly....what John said!
__________________
Wag Aero Sport Trainer built,sold and wrecked
N588DF RV12 #336 built, sold and alive and well in New York
N73DF RV12 #244 built, sold and alive and well in Florida
N91 RV RV9 I wish I could say I built this one! Mark Santoleri hit the ball out of the park on this gem.
Currently restoring a 1978 Citabria GCBC
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06-02-2013, 06:33 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 863
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gblwy
I installed the bushings last week and, as posted by others, it really stiffened up the mounting.
Today I was showing the aircraft to someone at an exhibition in the UK. It was a bit windy (10 knots) and the canopy was up. Suddenly both bottom gas strut "ears" snapped and the canopy swung forward towards (or possibly onto) the cowling.
I'm not sure if my onlooker caught the canopy before it hit the cowling. There was no damage to the canopy or cowling, fortunately, but I will need new gas struts or new ears at least if these are renewable. Anyone know if the ears can be removed/replaced?
I'd advise you to think twice before installing this update, if you have not already done so. I propose to advise Vans, too.
Cheers...Keith
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I broke one of my struts ear (my mistake) some time ago while dismounting the canopy. As it's just a piece of plastic screwed into the arm, I tried to order one. No chance at VAN's but they gave me the phone number of the supplier. No chance there either, they don't do that. Had to order the full part. With this new mod, it would be nice to have the ear made of metal (although it's an opportunity for the vendor to sell more struts  )
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06-02-2013, 07:19 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: La Feria Texas
Posts: 3,822
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With a lathe and milling machine in my shop tool inventory, it don't look that hard to just make me a pair from metal if they are not commercially available.
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06-02-2013, 08:26 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 863
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DonFromTX
With a lathe and milling machine in my shop tool inventory, it don't look that hard to just make me a pair from metal if they are not commercially available.
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That would be great, Don, put me on the waiting list for 2!
Seriously, I think we have not seen the end of this story. Even with the smaller hole I though that the plastic head looked a tad weak (in my case it broke when I tried to unscrew the bolt while the strut was under pressure - not trying to find an excuse for my mistake). With a larger hole made with step drills or other kind of workshop tools, there is a chance for weak spots in the plastic leading to future incidents like the one reported by Keith.
Let's see: 4 heads per RV-12 times 700 kits = 2800 pieces. Almost worth going at it as a side business, Don! 
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06-03-2013, 04:09 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Perth, Scotland
Posts: 494
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Vans response was: This is the only complaint. Order another couple of struts. This, of course, doen't make the unit any stronger.
Does anyone know if the ends just unscrew anticlockwise. They seem to be tight and I don't want to attempt to unscrew the "wrong" way. I may try to get a couple of ends made up in steel or ali with a bronze bushing.
Cheers...Keith
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06-03-2013, 05:33 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Hubbard Oregon
Posts: 9,035
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To expand on this a little further...
Many RV-12's have been operating for quite a while now with struts drilled to this diameter. It is doubtful by this time, that there hasn't been many other wind tests of the strut strength (I know there has been on N412RV).
So, short of having a lot more detailed information (chance to examine the failed struts, etc.) regarding this one instance, it would make no sense to begin a redesign process. When time becomes available in the future, a load test will be performed. Current speculation is that the failure point will be somewhere other than the strut end... we shall see.
__________________
Opinions, information and comments are my own unless stated otherwise. They do not necessarily represent the direction/opinions of my employer.
Scott McDaniels
Van's Aircraft Engineering Prototype Shop Manager
Hubbard, Oregon
RV-6A (aka "Junkyard Special ")
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06-03-2013, 07:05 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Dayton, OH
Posts: 838
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I'll take a set, too, Don
After drilling out the holes I had exactly the same thought: "this doesn't look like there's a lot of material left and it was a LOT softer than I expected it to be." I'm thinking about ordering a new pair of struts "just in case" but would really like some aluminum ears! Meanwhile, I'm being VERY careful with the canopy.
Wayne 120241/143WM
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06-04-2013, 02:04 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Perth, Scotland
Posts: 494
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Thanks for your input guys. Having removed the gas struts I see there is a metal core embedded within the black plastic, it's about a third of the width of the end-piece so not too thick. It's not magnetic so not steel.
I couldn't remove the end-piece without risking damage to the rod, so gound down the piece until I could see what was going on. There is a threaded core to the rod but it is small diameter, and an obscure thread pitch (for us European types anyway).
I'm thinking of cutting off the narrow-diameter thread, then threading the end of the rod. The end piece to be made in steel will have a female thread to match. I don't recommend aluminium unless it has a bronze bushing, as ali to ali is probably not a great solution.
And belt-and-braces, I'll probably just order two more C-1216 units anyway.
Cheers...Keith
Last edited by gblwy : 06-04-2013 at 03:15 PM.
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