New Canopy strut installation

Either the width of the canopy frame has changed since LBII was built or the countersunk machine screws for the canopy/strut attachment supplied with the new "Steel canopy gas strut kit" are wrong. The screws are maybe 3 mm longer than the ones that came out, and bottom out against the outside of the frame before the screw is seated in the countersink. I used the old screws. Also, the new tiny steel locknuts supplied are a bear to work with compared with the nylon insert locknuts originally supplied. Since this area doesn't get hot (I hope!) does anyone know why the switch was made?

Wayne 120241/143WM/ "Little Bird II"

I had the same issue and also used the old screws instead of the ones supplied in the kit as they would have poked through the fiberglass faring



Upon examining it, the end of the screw looks like it was filed down (possibly during the sanding/finishing of the canopy faring) I was glad to notice this before fully tightening the screw/nut.

Page 34-02, step 2: trim the ends of the AN509 screws so that only two threads protrude beyond the end of the nut.

John Salak
RV-12 N896HS

OK-- shows just how much I can forget in

five years. Thanks

Wayne