On Friday, March 25, 2016 at 4:00:08 PM UTC-4, Eric Munk wrote:
Go to any medical hardware store and invest in a pair of lean long-reach
surgical pliers that can be locked into place. Even better than a pair of
bulky pliers. Have been using them for years now. Bought lots of
lottery-tickets since the rudder goes in in one go most of the time...

Gas strut for canopy: factory sells a handy compression tool. Use an allen
key to align the holes. Works even better if fuselage upside down for
access, and instrument panel removed.

At 18:08 25 March 2016, krasw wrote:
On Friday, 25 March 2016 18:33:31 UTC+2, wrote:
Le vendredi 25 mars 2016 11:41:58 UTC+1, krasw a =E9crit=A0:
Next level of challenge is removing canopy gas spring front bolt.
Even
=
writing about it gets my blood pressure up.
=20
I suppose you are talking about the transverse bolt through the "swivel
b=
lock" in the nose? I assume it's the same as on the ASW-20... Normally,
you=
don't have to unscrew that bolt (you might well have to cut a hole
through=
the side of the nose to take it out). If you undo the bolt at the rear
of
=
the spring (canopy side), the gas spring can then be unscrewed from the
fro=
nt "swivel block". That block is tapped for the M8 plunger end, it is not
i=
ntegral with the plunger.=20
=20

That is all fine if you have a gas spring that you can be unscrewed from
fr=
ont fitting, mine was stamped fixed...



Better to look at a surgical supply (or "Medical marijuana supplier") and ask for "10" hemostats", or, "long roach clips". They lock in place.

The SS safety wire is cheap, does many things and won't tend to raise a ton of questions from "official looking types wearing official looking uniforms of various colors".