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  #31  
Old 06-01-2013, 04:06 PM
Dave12 Dave12 is offline
 
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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.
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  #32  
Old 06-01-2013, 10:13 PM
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Jetguy Jetguy is offline
 
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Thumbs up 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.
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  #33  
Old 06-02-2013, 05:37 AM
Dave12 Dave12 is offline
 
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Exactly....what John said!
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Wag Aero Sport Trainer built,sold and wrecked
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Currently restoring a 1978 Citabria GCBC
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  #34  
Old 06-02-2013, 06:33 AM
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WingedFrog WingedFrog is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gblwy View Post
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
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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  #35  
Old 06-02-2013, 07:19 AM
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DonFromTX DonFromTX is offline
 
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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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  #36  
Old 06-02-2013, 08:26 AM
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WingedFrog WingedFrog is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DonFromTX View Post
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.
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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  #37  
Old 06-03-2013, 04:09 PM
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gblwy gblwy is offline
 
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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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  #38  
Old 06-03-2013, 05:33 PM
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rvbuilder2002 rvbuilder2002 is offline
 
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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.
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  #39  
Old 06-03-2013, 07:05 PM
yankee-flyer yankee-flyer is offline
 
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Location: Dayton, OH
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Cool 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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  #40  
Old 06-04-2013, 02:04 PM
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gblwy gblwy is offline
 
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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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