Scott Will

Scott Will

Well Known Member
I've been hesitating putting on the ball stud mounts on the fuselage rails for a couple of weeks now. I've seen two different measurement call-outs... one is 9 11/16 and the other is something like 10" (in the strut instructions).

Which is correct and how does that location work out? My 'official' plans say 9 11/16 minimum.

Can you put these on the fuselage without having the canopy on there while doing it? How does the 9 11/16 location work out?

Thanks,
Scott

REF: DWG 49
 
Need the canopy on

Imho, you will want the canopy ON when you make this measurement.

Here's the thing... at least on my RV-7 tip-up, the strut reaches its most compressed point when the canopy is slightly ajar. In other words, as the canopy lowers, the strut compresses, and then at the very end of the range it actually decompresses a bit.

The key is making sure you don't install the ball mounts so close together that it's bottomed out when the canopy is closed.

I mean hey...there may be variations in the geometry, so obviously your mileage may vary. But at least be aware of this.

So my advice is to wait until the canopy is on the airframe before you commit to the ball mount locations.

)_( Dan
RV-7 N714D (708 hours)
http://www.rvproject.com
 
Thanks Dan...

I had the canopy ON when I made the measurements and I marked 9 11/16. Then I removed the canopy... it should be OK to drill them now, right?

My canopy's like yours - no release mechanism and I simply have the canopy off in a corner of the shop while I dive into the sea of wires.

- Scott
 
Not fully compressed

It should be fine, but just as added insurance, take your struts and make sure that when the sockets (that go over the ball mounts) are 9 11/16" apart on center, the strut isn't fully compressed.

)_( Dan
RV-7 N714D (708 hours)
http://www.rvproject.com
 
Spacers

Jeff,

Looks like part of the problem initially (struts hitting the frame) is that you may not have used spacers between the mounting points and the canopy rails. Pretty sure the plans called for 1/8" spacer between. At least that's what I used.

)_( Dan
RV-7 N714D (709 hours)
http://www.rvproject.com
 
I used the measurements called out and the struts fit fine. They do not bottom out and you get the compression during close and a small amount of extension as the canopy closes. This extension of the strut actually pulls the canopy closed. I added the mounts during initial fitup of the frame.

Roberta

canopyframe74ri.jpg
 
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