The issue is the canopy hinges. First I had to get the canopy closing properly. Sorry no pics for this, there will be some later. I reinstalled the canopy latches and spent quite a while getting it to again close from the outside so I could lock the canopy in position. I’m going to have to modify the canopy latch in a couple of ways and get some new push rods too for the hardware. One is a bit short.

I want the canopy to close easily and now is the time to sort it all out. Fine tuning just takes a while.

Meanwhile …those hinges.

Here’s a hinge pic again. I need to get a strong flox bed under the outer edge of these hinges to take the canopy weight evenly when its open. This will reduce stress on the longeron holes which are only spruce after all, an extremely soft timber. I do have a metal plate under the screws before the nuts so with this support, I think it will be all good.

I first taped up the gap. This is the forward hinge which is quite deep.

This is the rear gap. My idea is to just stuff quite stiff flox in there and hope I have enough release tape to open the canopy after the cure.

This was the easy bit, just add flox and some peel ply. This is the rear hinge.

Here’s the front hinge. I don’t need it all the way to the exact front just a nice triangle wedge of support in there.