Canopy Frame

[daviddancer99]

I completed my canopy frame and finally got the chance to put it on the plane to check the fitment. The pilot side fits great but the copilot side not so much. Ant ideas on how to correct this?

 

[justa6ereh]

analyze, cut, bend, fit…repeat

 

[daviddancer99]

Have others had this issue?

Just trying to figure where to start correcting the problem

Thinking of removing the inner rivets and trying to bend the supports

 

[bertschb]

Have others had this issue?

I didn't have this issue.

 

[mc607]

Ant ideas on how to correct this?

I think the lack of replies on this one is because there’s no real fast easy fix. I did have a twist in mine and I drilled out most of the pulled rivets and got it back to where I wanted it. You could try that But it’s hard to tell if your issue is from a twist. How does the rest of the canopy line up? This is going to be one of the more challenging pieces in the build because it has to align with four different structures. Roll bar, sides and the forward section. The three options that come to mind is start backtracking (drilling out rivets) and see if you can get it back to where it’s acceptable. Drill out a bit, fit it and so on. As mentioned above. Keep everything as true and square as possible. Second would be to salvage as much as possible and order new parts. Third would be to leave it and have the painter fair in that area. Hard from the picture to know if that’s a reasonable solution. Good luck. Perfection is the enemy of excellence

 

[BravoAlphaRomeo]

I would review the plans and your construction particularly of the forward canopy where the hinge attach points are. Seems like there has to be something assembled incorrectly. Did the forward and mid canopy fixtures fit into their holes no problem as you were assembling the canopy (section 38-09) ?

 

[lipper03]

Are you sure it's fully seated in the hinges? Like you have the hinge pins engaged? Sure looks like maybe it's not set in the right hinge all the way.

I only have a slight mismatch on each side at the bottom front corner, which looks like it's just a bit of shaping/forming the front edge (pushing in) to match.

Sorry, frustrating to have a potential issue, and I was out flying today, and priming my baffles yesterday, so not online much. But we are here to talk it out.

 

[johnpstoll]

I'm going thru the same process right now. Very frustrating. Look under and see if the upper flange on the frame is flush with the skin. I had to bend mine to get a better fit. I observed that when I disengaged the hinge pins and pushed down on the hinge area, my gap really closed up. It was only about .030 In but it made a big difference. I ordered new plastic hinge blocks. This time I plan on drilling the 1/4 in hinge pin holes first, aligning the frame and then drilling the two bolt holes to see if that works.

Hope this helps.

 

[daviddancer99]

I removed the rivets in the closeout to re-install the fixture and I was able to install the clecos without issue. I also checked the twist and it is within 0.2 degrees so I don't believe it is a twist issue.

When I had the canopy frame on the plane, I inserted the pins and tried pulling the canopy frame up on both sides and it appears that both hinge pins are inserted correctly.

Scratching my head and baffled on this one. I have put in a support ticket with Vans to see if they have any suggestions before I start taking anything apart.

Thanks for everyone's replies.

 

[daviddancer99]

I'm going thru the same process right now. Very frustrating. Look under and see if the upper flange on the frame is flush with the skin. I had to bend mine to get a better fit. I observed that when I disengaged the hinge pins and pushed down on the hinge area, my gap really closed up. It was only about .030 In but it made a big difference. I ordered new plastic hinge blocks. This time I plan on drilling the 1/4 in hinge pin holes first, aligning the frame and then drilling the two bolt holes to see if that works.

Hope this helps.

I will check that to see if that is my issue. Thanks.