These latches are the gift that keeps on giving. I spent a few more days on this and more than the 12 hours in this log. Given my highly modified canopy from the plans version I get what I deserve.

I had the latches on and off several times using Builder’s bog (Bondo). The secret to lining them up turns out to be getting the latches sitting just forward of the capture point as in the picture above.

As the canopy comes down it should just miss the capture bolt as shown above, This is the correct position IMHO. Then when the canopy comes down the hook is past the center point so that the fitting it lives in forces the hook to move rearward and wrap around the capture bolt. When you think about it if the hook is too upright it is just going nowhere and the canopy will jam open. The hooks need to follow the canopy down so it can capture that pesky little AN3 bolt. All you smart people probably knew this. I needed a few hours of trial and error.

I fastened each latch one at a time continually checking that all was good. When I was happy with the first one I drilled through while the builder’s bog was still in place. I then worked close to the plans. I removed the latches and cleaned it all up. I drilled through the holes in the canopy rail and then dremeled out a place for the screw heads. I tapped the latches for 3/16″ machine screws per plans as well. I did use my numbered drills to just open the canopy side holes a tiny bit so that the screws dropped in place. Given I was going to put flox in the holes a little room is a good thing.

Here are the bolts in place and floxed into position. I did a trial fit first of course and that took a while. It was an overnight cure and all is good.

Over three days I did the three latches, floxed in place. This was after a lot of checking and fitting and refitting work. Now the canopy, once the latches are aligned, will then drop into place and the catches do ‘grab’. We can call that success. The canopy latch is meant to then lock it all in place and that’s coming up soon.

Ok a few bonus pics of the canopy spreader. I wanted to show how good it is sitting in the back seat and using this as something to grab onto.

I’ve been very careful in positioning this bar so that its not a finger trap and you can still get you hand around it.

See… its all good if you come for a ride in the back seat if you need something to hold on to.