Greetings All I trust you all had an awesome and blessed Christmas and I wish you a fantastic 2021.
I have almost finished the KR2 fibreglass seats which I chose so I could learn where mistakes are not dangerous or really costly and want to tackle securing the canopy with latches and locks etc next. My canopy opens forward similar to Mark's photo : http://www.n56ml.com/04103050m.jpg My objective is to fabricate a latching mechanism that can lock to secure the cockpit with a key from the outside and latch the canopy securely closed in flight. As far as possible I would like to incorporate an automatic safety mechanism/ability to prevent the canopy opening on its own; something like an over-center latch where once closed, any external pressure tightens the mechanism instead of potentially loosening it - I think Cub Crafter door latches are like this. It also needs to be simple to use during normal operations and during an emergency. I have had a few ideas that I have jotted down and started working on, the simplist being a mechanism similar to the latch on my Hilux canopy where turning the handle pushes two opposing rods securely into holes in the corners of the canopy securing it in place. This idea will need some MacGyvering as the KR2 canopy is round not flat like the Hilux canopy door but doable. Like for like it would not have an automatic locking mechanism so needs to be modified to slam lock, see idea #2. ( My current Toyota Hilux canopy latch example : https://general-hinges.co.za/product/rrand-non-slam-two-way-lock/ ) The next idea is based on the first but uses standard household door lock latches (stripped out of a standard door lock) or Hilux Canopy slam-lock upgrades in a frame & spring loaded so they auto-latch in place when the canopy is closed and use cables (throttle cable or bicycle brakes etc) from a Turtledeck mounted handle (inside & outside) to operate the latch. Satisfies the auto-locking and an emergency release can be Mac Gyver'd in rather easily. So far this is my prefered idea as it is simple, light and should be effective. I may add an additional manual sliding latch as a backup. ( Slam-lock upgrade : https://general-hinges.co.za/product/two-way-cable-locks/ ) The last feasible idea is to use an automotive bonnet/trunk loop-and-latch mechanism with cable release. I see it mentioned on krnet archives too. It is the strongest idea I have had but also the heaviest and more difficult to install properly. I found one or two pretty decent solutions using this method and should not be a problem and can also be easily controlled from a Turtledeck mounted handle setup. * https://www.auto-grip.co.za/product/clk-fliptop-canopy-lock-kit-fliptop-tonneau/ * https://www.auto-grip.co.za/product/clk-bek-m-canopy-lock-kit-b-half-door-pair/ * I will more than likely also take a tour through a few scrap yards :) The one concern I have is that the first two do not grip/hold fast onto the canopy to latch it down and rely on pressure but if the canopy bows out for whatever reason they would be negated. The second solves this but is far more complex & heavy. I have searched the krnet archive and see this has been asked before and don't see a definitive answer. Scott Watt's Super2 manual does not have the canopy latch page yet and the many build logs I have read refer to the latches but have no real details; I suspect it is in the plans/manual which I am still trying to source before buying a brand new set. Before I reinvent the wheel; any comments on these ideas or suggestions? Thank you again for all the valuable advise this forum has provided!! Regards שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם (Shalom aleichem) Michael L Griffin mileg...@gmail.com Fax : 086 733 0650 Cel : +27 83 462 0462 Please consider the environment before printing this email He who play in root, eventually kill tree. Linode Private Server :: http://goo.gl/OnpGMS EvE Online 21day trial :: http://goo.gl/TAZSJ8 _______________________________________________ Search the KRnet Archives at https://www.mail-archive.com/krnet@list.krnet.org/. Please see LIST RULES and KRnet info at http://www.krnet.org/info.html. see http://list.krnet.org/mailman/listinfo/krnet_list.krnet.org to change options. To UNsubscribe from KRnet, send a message to krnet-le...@list.krnet.org
