Van's Air Force
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Canopy Gas Strut
- Thread starter TnMike
- Start date
Michael Henning
Well Known Member
I used a piece of nylon cord. Simple, light, won't leave a mark on the passengers head if you have to jettison canopy. Granted it won't hold the canopy open, but I don't walk away from plane with the canopy open unless it is inside the hangar.
fixnflyguy
Well Known Member
I have a gas strut on mine, and it's a very nice clean installation. The key is to use a neutral pressure strut, which doesn't push up at all. It simply acts as a hold open and if wind blows it over,the canopy doesn't slam down. Mine is only about 8" long and requires very little work to install. I can post pictures later, as I am away from any photos at the moment.
daddyman
Well Known Member
My gas strut
Mike,
I'd follow what Fixinflying guy says.
I installed one on mine last year after I had a blow-over/blow off incident.
I did not know the hold down had fractured (because it is behind my point of view)- and my back seater didn't say anything.
I purchased the strut from McMaster-Carr pat number LGP85-150-30 15' long and 30# of lift.
In retrospect I should have used 50#.
I thought 30 # was way more than the weight of the canopy, but oh well.
The knob end came from the Chevy dealer- it is intended to hold up the rear tailgate of a Suburban/Tahoe (which weighs about 250#) I asked for 2008 (upper bolt) but I think they are all the same though 2015.
It comes with a threaded end, but a cleaner installation was to cut off the bolt and braise an AN-4 bolt to it.
Total cost: about $40 Looks slick.
Daddyman
Mike,
I'd follow what Fixinflying guy says.
I installed one on mine last year after I had a blow-over/blow off incident.
I did not know the hold down had fractured (because it is behind my point of view)- and my back seater didn't say anything.
I purchased the strut from McMaster-Carr pat number LGP85-150-30 15' long and 30# of lift.
In retrospect I should have used 50#.
I thought 30 # was way more than the weight of the canopy, but oh well.
The knob end came from the Chevy dealer- it is intended to hold up the rear tailgate of a Suburban/Tahoe (which weighs about 250#) I asked for 2008 (upper bolt) but I think they are all the same though 2015.
It comes with a threaded end, but a cleaner installation was to cut off the bolt and braise an AN-4 bolt to it.
Total cost: about $40 Looks slick.
Daddyman
I have this one in this picture installed, and I think it is replaceable with this one in this link:
http://truck-hardware.orrorr.com/item/gas-springs/gas-springs-with-composite-ends/h-9503-25?:
[/IMG]
http://truck-hardware.orrorr.com/item/gas-springs/gas-springs-with-composite-ends/h-9503-25?:
f14av8r
Well Known Member
Photo Please
I'd like to do the same thing. And, a picture being worth a thousand words and all, would you mind posting a photo?
Thanks,
Randy
I'd like to do the same thing. And, a picture being worth a thousand words and all, would you mind posting a photo?
Thanks,
Randy
f14av8r
Well Known Member
I'm using a piece of nylon cord now too. One of my concerns is that the cord may not break if I try and jettison the canopy in flight. That's some pretty strong cord, and depending on airspeed, it might keep the canopy from cleaning zipping off the hinge.
I'd prefer a gas hinge solution but photos of an install with a decent parts list is hard to come by. I'd sure appreciate some of you guys who have put one together posting the details!
Thanks,
Randy
f14av8r
Well Known Member
Are you sure that's the McMaster Carr part number? All the struts I found on their website had a part number that looked more like this - 4138T54. Any help appreciated!
Thanks,
Randy
Michael Henning
Well Known Member
Hi Randy,
I used an 80 lb test line... Strong enough to hold on the ground, weak enough to break in the air.
PS- you have great taste in aircraft- F-14 and RV-4. Love jet blue too, fly them from BOS to JAX and back
I used an 80 lb test line... Strong enough to hold on the ground, weak enough to break in the air.
PS- you have great taste in aircraft- F-14 and RV-4. Love jet blue too, fly them from BOS to JAX and back
Last edited:
n82rb
Well Known Member
TnMike
Well Known Member
fixnflyguy
Well Known Member
Gas Strut canopy hold open.
IMG]
Here is my "gas strut" installation. Its actually a damper for an airliner overhead bin I salvaged from my day job. It has no real push or pull, but its set up to hold the canopy in the normal open position, and if let go when closing it will slow the fall. Its 12" from eye to eye in full open. I just made a little attach angle that bolts to roll bar bolt, an put a large area washer each side of the bolt in the cross member. I sat in the back seat and open/closed the canopy to determine where the cross member bolt hole needed drilled..no real science, just simple and looks aircraft grade. Somewhere, I have some spares, but I believe any similar light weight automotive type will do the same.Mine has Heim type ends, but is mounted parallel with cross member, so that's not really an issue.
Here is my "gas strut" installation. Its actually a damper for an airliner overhead bin I salvaged from my day job. It has no real push or pull, but its set up to hold the canopy in the normal open position, and if let go when closing it will slow the fall. Its 12" from eye to eye in full open. I just made a little attach angle that bolts to roll bar bolt, an put a large area washer each side of the bolt in the cross member. I sat in the back seat and open/closed the canopy to determine where the cross member bolt hole needed drilled..no real science, just simple and looks aircraft grade. Somewhere, I have some spares, but I believe any similar light weight automotive type will do the same.Mine has Heim type ends, but is mounted parallel with cross member, so that's not really an issue.
RV4 Canopy strut
Here is the setup in my RV4. The tab on the roll bar is welded on, but you could clamp a piece of angle to accomplish the same thing.
The strut is a NAPA part:
http://www.napaonline.com/napa/en/p/BK_8195516
Jim
RV4 N444 JT
Here is the setup in my RV4. The tab on the roll bar is welded on, but you could clamp a piece of angle to accomplish the same thing.
The strut is a NAPA part:
http://www.napaonline.com/napa/en/p/BK_8195516
Jim
RV4 N444 JT
fixnflyguy
Well Known Member
I'm looking..
I searched my hangar inventory of various salvaged do-dads and what-nots, and cant find any others exactly like the one I have installed on my canopy. I know at one time I had several, so if and when I uncover them I will post. In the mean time, I will also look at similar equivelants, as they can be abundant at times...just threw out an entire B757 and B777 interior to the crusher...most would simply cry.
I searched my hangar inventory of various salvaged do-dads and what-nots, and cant find any others exactly like the one I have installed on my canopy. I know at one time I had several, so if and when I uncover them I will post. In the mean time, I will also look at similar equivelants, as they can be abundant at times...just threw out an entire B757 and B777 interior to the crusher...most would simply cry.
f14av8r
Well Known Member
McMaster Carr
I found a wide range of gas struts and fittings at McMaster Carr. Still toying with how I want to make the installation but I have a couple of different struts and fittings to use. Here's a link http://www.mcmaster.com/#gas-struts/=119otpo
I found a wide range of gas struts and fittings at McMaster Carr. Still toying with how I want to make the installation but I have a couple of different struts and fittings to use. Here's a link http://www.mcmaster.com/#gas-struts/=119otpo
