Canopy pin blocks catching on roll bar when opening

I am not done with the canopy yet, so it's possible that this will go away as I continue, but in case it doesn't I want to start thinking about solutions. I have riveted teh canopy side skins into place. I have loosely installed the hardware in the canopy. I have riveted the wear strips into place. I have not tightened the canopy screws/nuts or installed the seals or the alignment pins. I have not installed the canopy clips or (obviously) done the fiberglass fairing lay-up.

When I open the canopy by lifting on the exterior handles, the opposite side canopy pin block (C-01424, the black plastic piece that bolts to the aft of the canopy frame and guides the latch pins into place) seems to bind on the roll bar. I need to get a friend to watch it closely since I can't see everything across the plane. But it seems that that's what is binding. And it happens on both sides. If I lift on the left side, the right side catches, and vice versa.

If I push the canopy frame inboard slightly as I lift, the canopy opens. So it appears that what is happening is a slight, temporary twist when I lift on the canopy rail, which causes the opposite aft bottom corner of the canopy frame to push aft just enough to catch on the rivets or doublers where the latch pins come through the roll bar.

Any ideas on solutions, before I just start grinding away at the bottom protruding part of the canopy pin blocks?

Might solve itself when canopy is completed...

because with the fiberglass work not finished, the canopy bubble not all fastened down, etc. the frame is probably twisting.

I suspect it is the sides of the canopy that is hitting the sides of the roll bar when you lift it up. Take a look at the aft of your side rail of the canopy and see if that is the part that is catching. If you have painted your canopy, this will leave a mark/scratch.

I have rub marks on the roll bar from this; once I installed the lucite and had everything down securely it is minimal. But the fit is close for sure. If you lift straight up from the midline handle, and all is well, you are good.

JDA_BTR said:

I have rub marks on the roll bar from this; once I installed the lucite and had everything down securely it is minimal. But the fit is close for sure. If you lift straight up from the midline handle, and all is well, you are good.

Click to expand...

Thanks for that last comment, and to everyone else who responded. It opens up fine when lifting on the center handle as far as I can tell. I'll wait to see how it works with the hardware tightened and the fairing built.