Simple Canopy Latch
The lever latches into the lower catch, locking the canopy.
Key elements:
The head of the lower “handle” bolt catches into the center of the lower wire element.
The original lever was moved forward. A new catch was installed to replace the lever and catch the fwd canopy catch. An extension connects them. The lever latches into the lower element but does not catch the canopy, so it does not need the top
hook any more.
The lower wire catch element is 3/16 stainless welding rod. No sharp edges :) The smaller center loop simply goes through the panel and is bent and held on the forward side. The outer loop was swaged on, expecting to be needed to aid hooking
the lever bolt head. However, once the three canopy latches are in place, the latching movement is simply to push the “handle” forward a little and move the lever left, to hook the head into the center wire element.
The thin black oval on the inside of the center loop is the extended arm from the micro switch for the canopy/gear/throttle relay.
BillJames
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On Jan 21, 2020, at 4:07 PM, Curtis Martin via Groups.Io < rebflyer@...> wrote:
Going with the kiss method,
Picture the standard canopy latching system front ….snip
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|
Hello, please advise on where to find a set of Bob Bittner’s shark latch plans.
Thanks,
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On Jan 22, 2020, at 2:08 PM, Bill James <bill@...> wrote:
Simple Canopy Latch
The lever latches into the lower catch, locking the canopy.
Key elements:
The head of the lower “handle” bolt catches into the center of the lower wire element.
The original lever was moved forward. A new catch was installed to replace the lever and catch the fwd canopy catch. An extension connects them. The lever latches into the lower element but does not catch the canopy, so it does not need the top
hook any more.
The lower wire catch element is 3/16 stainless welding rod. No sharp edges :) The smaller center loop simply goes through the panel and is bent and held on the forward side. The outer loop was swaged on, expecting to be needed to aid hooking
the lever bolt head. However, once the three canopy latches are in place, the latching movement is simply to push the “handle” forward a little and move the lever left, to hook the head into the center wire element.
The thin black oval on the inside of the center loop is the extended arm from the micro switch for the canopy/gear/throttle relay.
BillJames
<IMG_1744.jpeg> <IMG_1745.jpeg> <IMG_1748.jpeg>
On Jan 21, 2020, at 4:07 PM, Curtis Martin via Groups.Io < rebflyer@...> wrote:
Going with the kiss method,
Picture the standard canopy latching system front ….snip
|
|

Keith Spreuer
Bill, Got a photo of the locking part of the unit forward of the instrument panel?
Keith
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
On Wed, Jan 22, 2020 at 2:08 PM Bill James < bill@...> wrote:
Simple Canopy Latch
The lever latches into the lower catch, locking the canopy.
Key elements:
The head of the lower “handle” bolt catches into the center of the lower wire element.
The original lever was moved forward. A new catch was installed to replace the lever and catch the fwd canopy catch. An extension connects them. The lever latches into the lower element but does not catch the canopy, so it does not need the top
hook any more.
The lower wire catch element is 3/16 stainless welding rod. No sharp edges :) The smaller center loop simply goes through the panel and is bent and held on the forward side. The outer loop was swaged on, expecting to be needed to aid hooking
the lever bolt head. However, once the three canopy latches are in place, the latching movement is simply to push the “handle” forward a little and move the lever left, to hook the head into the center wire element.
The thin black oval on the inside of the center loop is the extended arm from the micro switch for the canopy/gear/throttle relay.
BillJames
On Jan 21, 2020, at 4:07 PM, Curtis Martin via Groups.Io < rebflyer@...> wrote:
Going with the kiss method,
Picture the standard canopy latching system front ….snip
|
|
Keith, the wire ends are simply bent 90 degrees. The strength and tension of the wire, 3/16 stainless welding rod, has held it in place 23 yrs. i May have put some flox in the holes. It is a little busy fwd of the panel with the micro switch right there. The
welding shop only sold the rods by the pound so he just gave me one rod. Another strong type wire or rod would work. The simple solid mechanism has worked well.As you know the exterior canopy lock doesn’t have to be located right there using that catch. :)
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
On Jan 22, 2020, at 4:29 PM, Keith Spreuer via Groups.Io <kspreuer@...> wrote:
Bill,
Got a photo of the locking part of the unit forward of the instrument panel?
Keith
On Wed, Jan 22, 2020 at 2:08 PM Bill James < bill@...> wrote:
Simple Canopy Latch
The lever latches into the lower catch, locking the canopy.
Key elements:
The head of the lower “handle” bolt catches into the center of the lower wire element.
The original lever was moved forward. A new catch was installed to replace the lever and catch the fwd canopy catch. An extension connects them. The lever latches into the lower element but does not catch the canopy, so it does not need the top hook any
more.
The lower wire catch element is 3/16 stainless welding rod. No sharp edges :) The smaller center loop simply goes through the panel and is bent and held on the forward side. The outer loop was swaged on, expecting to be needed to aid hooking the lever
bolt head. However, once the three canopy latches are in place, the latching movement is simply to push the “handle” forward a little and move the lever left, to hook the head into the center wire element.
The thin black oval on the inside of the center loop is the extended arm from the micro switch for the canopy/gear/throttle relay.
BillJames
<IMG_1744.jpeg>
<IMG_1745.jpeg>
<IMG_1748.jpeg>
On Jan 21, 2020, at 4:07 PM, Curtis Martin via Groups.Io < rebflyer@...> wrote:
Going with the kiss method,
Picture the standard canopy latching system front ….snip
|
|

Keith Spreuer
I was referring to the rod further up. Looks to be about an inch from the pivot. It has a slight bend and goes thru the IP. Isn't that an exterior lock?
Keith
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
On Thu, Jan 23, 2020 at 8:35 AM Bill James < bill@...> wrote:
Keith, the wire ends are simply bent 90 degrees. The strength and tension of the wire, 3/16 stainless welding rod, has held it in place 23 yrs. i May have put some flox in the holes. It is a little busy fwd of the panel with the micro switch right there. The
welding shop only sold the rods by the pound so he just gave me one rod. Another strong type wire or rod would work. The simple solid mechanism has worked well.As you know the exterior canopy lock doesn’t have to be located right there using that catch. :)
Bill
Bill,
Got a photo of the locking part of the unit forward of the instrument panel?
Keith
On Wed, Jan 22, 2020 at 2:08 PM Bill James < bill@...> wrote:
Simple Canopy Latch
The lever latches into the lower catch, locking the canopy.
Key elements:
The head of the lower “handle” bolt catches into the center of the lower wire element.
The original lever was moved forward. A new catch was installed to replace the lever and catch the fwd canopy catch. An extension connects them. The lever latches into the lower element but does not catch the canopy, so it does not need the top hook any
more.
The lower wire catch element is 3/16 stainless welding rod. No sharp edges :) The smaller center loop simply goes through the panel and is bent and held on the forward side. The outer loop was swaged on, expecting to be needed to aid hooking the lever
bolt head. However, once the three canopy latches are in place, the latching movement is simply to push the “handle” forward a little and move the lever left, to hook the head into the center wire element.
The thin black oval on the inside of the center loop is the extended arm from the micro switch for the canopy/gear/throttle relay.
BillJames
<IMG_1744.jpeg>
<IMG_1745.jpeg>
<IMG_1748.jpeg>
On Jan 21, 2020, at 4:07 PM, Curtis Martin via Groups.Io < rebflyer@...> wrote:
Going with the kiss method,
Picture the standard canopy latching system front ….snip
|
|
Arms the ejection seat.
Actually Previouslyused to activate the canopy micro switch.
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
On Jan 23, 2020, at 11:53 AM, Keith Spreuer via Groups.Io <kspreuer@...> wrote:
I was referring to the rod further up. Looks to be about an inch from the pivot. It has a slight bend and goes thru the IP. Isn't that an exterior lock?
Keith
On Thu, Jan 23, 2020 at 8:35 AM Bill James < bill@...> wrote:
Keith, the wire ends are simply bent 90 degrees. The strength and tension of the wire, 3/16 stainless welding rod, has held it in place 23 yrs. i May have put some flox in the holes. It is a little busy fwd of the panel with the micro switch
right there. The welding shop only sold the rods by the pound so he just gave me one rod. Another strong type wire or rod would work. The simple solid mechanism has worked well.As you know the exterior canopy lock doesn’t have to be located right there using
that catch. :)
Bill
Bill,
Got a photo of the locking part of the unit forward of the instrument panel?
Keith
On Wed, Jan 22, 2020 at 2:08 PM Bill James < bill@...> wrote:
Simple Canopy Latch
The lever latches into the lower catch, locking the canopy.
Key elements:
The head of the lower “handle” bolt catches into the center of the lower wire element.
The original lever was moved forward. A new catch was installed to replace the lever and catch the fwd canopy catch. An extension connects them. The lever latches into the lower element but does not catch the canopy, so it does not need the top hook any
more.
The lower wire catch element is 3/16 stainless welding rod. No sharp edges :) The smaller center loop simply goes through the panel and is bent and held on the forward side. The outer loop was swaged on, expecting to be needed to aid hooking the lever
bolt head. However, once the three canopy latches are in place, the latching movement is simply to push the “handle” forward a little and move the lever left, to hook the head into the center wire element.
The thin black oval on the inside of the center loop is the extended arm from the micro switch for the canopy/gear/throttle relay.
BillJames
<IMG_1744.jpeg>
<IMG_1745.jpeg>
<IMG_1748.jpeg>
On Jan 21, 2020, at 4:07 PM, Curtis Martin via Groups.Io < rebflyer@...> wrote:
Going with the kiss method,
Picture the standard canopy latching system front ….snip
|
|

Keith Spreuer
Oh I see. So do you have anyway to lock it from the outside? I don't on mine either but perhaps that would be nice.
Keith
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
On Thu, Jan 23, 2020 at 12:15 PM Bill James < bill@...> wrote:
Arms the ejection seat.
Actually Previouslyused to activate the canopy micro switch.
On Jan 23, 2020, at 11:53 AM, Keith Spreuer via Groups.Io <kspreuer=gmail.com@groups.io> wrote:
I was referring to the rod further up. Looks to be about an inch from the pivot. It has a slight bend and goes thru the IP. Isn't that an exterior lock?
Keith
On Thu, Jan 23, 2020 at 8:35 AM Bill James < bill@...> wrote:
Keith, the wire ends are simply bent 90 degrees. The strength and tension of the wire, 3/16 stainless welding rod, has held it in place 23 yrs. i May have put some flox in the holes. It is a little busy fwd of the panel with the micro switch
right there. The welding shop only sold the rods by the pound so he just gave me one rod. Another strong type wire or rod would work. The simple solid mechanism has worked well.As you know the exterior canopy lock doesn’t have to be located right there using
that catch. :)
Bill
Bill,
Got a photo of the locking part of the unit forward of the instrument panel?
Keith
On Wed, Jan 22, 2020 at 2:08 PM Bill James < bill@...> wrote:
Simple Canopy Latch
The lever latches into the lower catch, locking the canopy.
Key elements:
The head of the lower “handle” bolt catches into the center of the lower wire element.
The original lever was moved forward. A new catch was installed to replace the lever and catch the fwd canopy catch. An extension connects them. The lever latches into the lower element but does not catch the canopy, so it does not need the top hook any
more.
The lower wire catch element is 3/16 stainless welding rod. No sharp edges :) The smaller center loop simply goes through the panel and is bent and held on the forward side. The outer loop was swaged on, expecting to be needed to aid hooking the lever
bolt head. However, once the three canopy latches are in place, the latching movement is simply to push the “handle” forward a little and move the lever left, to hook the head into the center wire element.
The thin black oval on the inside of the center loop is the extended arm from the micro switch for the canopy/gear/throttle relay.
BillJames
<IMG_1744.jpeg>
<IMG_1745.jpeg>
<IMG_1748.jpeg>
On Jan 21, 2020, at 4:07 PM, Curtis Martin via Groups.Io < rebflyer@...> wrote:
Going with the kiss method,
Picture the standard canopy latching system front ….snip
|
|
I don’t lock mine. I don’t want someone to break the Canopy to steal my radio!
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
On Jan 23, 2020, at 1:17 PM, Keith Spreuer <kspreuer@...> wrote:
Oh I see. So do you have anyway to lock it from the outside? I don't on mine either but perhaps that would be nice.
Keith On Thu, Jan 23, 2020 at 12:15 PM Bill James < bill@...> wrote:
Arms the ejection seat.
Actually Previouslyused to activate the canopy micro switch.
On Jan 23, 2020, at 11:53 AM, Keith Spreuer via Groups.Io <kspreuer=gmail.com@groups.io> wrote:
I was referring to the rod further up. Looks to be about an inch from the pivot. It has a slight bend and goes thru the IP. Isn't that an exterior lock?
Keith
On Thu, Jan 23, 2020 at 8:35 AM Bill James < bill@...> wrote:
Keith, the wire ends are simply bent 90 degrees. The strength and tension of the wire, 3/16 stainless welding rod, has held it in place 23 yrs. i May have put some flox in the holes. It is a little busy fwd of the panel with the micro switch
right there. The welding shop only sold the rods by the pound so he just gave me one rod. Another strong type wire or rod would work. The simple solid mechanism has worked well.As you know the exterior canopy lock doesn’t have to be located right there using
that catch. :)
Bill
Bill,
Got a photo of the locking part of the unit forward of the instrument panel?
Keith
On Wed, Jan 22, 2020 at 2:08 PM Bill James < bill@...> wrote:
Simple Canopy Latch
The lever latches into the lower catch, locking the canopy.
Key elements:
The head of the lower “handle” bolt catches into the center of the lower wire element.
The original lever was moved forward. A new catch was installed to replace the lever and catch the fwd canopy catch. An extension connects them. The lever latches into the lower element but does not catch the canopy, so it does not need the top hook any
more.
The lower wire catch element is 3/16 stainless welding rod. No sharp edges :) The smaller center loop simply goes through the panel and is bent and held on the forward side. The outer loop was swaged on, expecting to be needed to aid hooking the lever
bolt head. However, once the three canopy latches are in place, the latching movement is simply to push the “handle” forward a little and move the lever left, to hook the head into the center wire element.
The thin black oval on the inside of the center loop is the extended arm from the micro switch for the canopy/gear/throttle relay.
BillJames
<IMG_1744.jpeg>
<IMG_1745.jpeg>
<IMG_1748.jpeg>
On Jan 21, 2020, at 4:07 PM, Curtis Martin via Groups.Io < rebflyer@...> wrote:
Going with the kiss method,
Picture the standard canopy latching system front ….snip
|
|