compressing gas springs

Does anyone have an idea on how to compress the gas springs that hold the XL/650 canopy open? It looks like the end one the fuselage needs to be in place, then the spring compressed, and the other end put in place.

 

I don't have the oompf I once did, and I can't compress them at all. Ideas/solutions will be appreciated..

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Permalink Reply by Jay Carter on May 30, 2011 at 7:07pm

Jim,

              Open and hold the canopy. Put one end of the strut on the canopy stud. Lower the canopy till the other end of the strut will slip on the stud on the longeron. The struts are under high pressure. No need to attempt to compress by hand.

 

                                                                                                                                                                 Jay

Permalink Reply by Ron Lendon on May 30, 2011 at 11:34pm
I used a bar clamp, one of the quick clamp models with rubber pads, to close them on the bench. You should be able to fabricate something to hold them in the closed position to figure out where things need to be. Or just measure the closed position and place the end mounts to that dimension.
Permalink Reply by Jim Belcher on June 2, 2011 at 11:54am

I can't fully extend the canopy in my shop, which is probably why the solution wasn't obvious. I wound up putting the gas springs in place, with the front canopy bolts out. I managed to push things in place, had my wife hold them, and inserted the bolts. So it's really a variation of the suggestions I received.

 

Thanks for the ideas, guys!

Permalink Reply by Alan Uhr on June 2, 2011 at 7:48pm

I also found out that if you have your plane in a garage, do not leave the canopy 1/2 open. It will destroy the gas strut. Leave the canopy fully open or closed. It only took a few weeks for the struts to go bad. Also, if you have a 601, you might want to change to the 60lb struts. With the 40lb struts and out in the wind you might be supprised how many times that the canopy will auto close on your head or your arm.    Alan

Permalink Reply by Jim Belcher on June 3, 2011 at 10:38am
Good information. Thanks, Alan!
Permalink Reply by Theodore Richard Haller on June 5, 2011 at 5:36pm

Anybody tried a 60 pounder on the pilot side and a 40 pounder on the passenger side?

 

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