Tipup latches: File the latch fingers or oval the bolt holes?

[John Courte]

When I drilled the holes for the aft canopy latches, I'm pretty sure I got them right. The latch mechanism was fully closed when I piloted the holes. Alignment seems OK, it's just that now, the latch fingers won't fully deploy. There is a convex curve on the underside of the latch fingers, the latch roller is supposed to roll over this and settle in a concave detent. For some reason, the latch rollers can't make it over that curve, and the system flexes too much to push the fingers all the way in. Is it OK to file the latch fingers down to the point where they'll close without incident or do I need to oval out the holes attaching the latches to the canopy bow?

 

[jsharkey]

Oval the Holes.

Also canopy is tighter in hot weather and looser in cold.

 

[robertahegy]

I would opt for ovaling the bolt holes. If you are putting a seal along the frame bottom, have that installed when you make the adjustment.

Roberta