Crimping a spade termination onto the 5"
wire which will become the ground wire for the micro switch.
The ground wire requires a #19 mounting hole to be drilled in the F-1232A roll bar brace so the ring termination on the 5" ground wire can be attached onto the roll bar brace to obtain an electrical grounding point for the canopy latch electrical circuit. Because the parts have been primed and painted the paint and primer around the hole was removed from the inside face of the F-1232A roll bar brace so a good electrical ground would be obtained. Measurements were taken per the plans and a lead hole was drilled through from the inside of the F-1232A roll bar brace using the angle drill outfitted with a #50 drill bit. The lead hole was then enlarged in steps from the outside to a final size of #19.
Drilling a lead hole through the F-1232A roll
bar brace using the angle drill outfitted with a #50 drill bit.
Drilling the mounting hole in the F-1232 roll
bar brace for the canopy latch micro switch’s ground wire to final size #19.
Before the micro-switch can be installed, the plans instruct the builder to cut off the roller assembly on the end of the micro switch’s arm. I used a ScotchBrite wheel to grind off the pin for the wheel and then ground off the remaining tangs. The micro switch is mounted via two screws and uses two small nuts under the body of the micro switch as spacers so the micro switch clears the heads of the rivets on the canopy latch plate allowing the switch's body to be pivoted for adjustment.
The canopy latch micro switch prepped and ready
for instillation.
Here is where things went terribly wrong … As the micro switch was being screwed into position, it was noticed the bottom screw that goes through the slotted hole in the canopy latch plate was dragging just a little on the upper edge of the slot. The micro switch was removed and placed beside me on the longeron … a small file was rounded up and the inside of the slot was filed slightly larger so the switch could move freely. When stepping back to put the file away, I heard a gut wrenching CRUNCH about the same time I realized there was something under my shoe. Apparently, while filing the slot, my arm must have brushed the micro switch off the longeron and onto the hangar floor so when I stepped back, I stepped on it and completely broke one of the micro switch’s mounting holes. So a new micro switch is on order from Van’s … fortunately, it is only around $6 so it was not an expensive mistake.
This micro switch did not pass the 200 foot pound
test.
Disgusted with myself, decided it was best to call it a day.
