Long time lurker, first time poster here! I’ve owned my ‘74 Traveler for a little over a year and it is an absolute joy. Love this bird! I went flying yesterday and when I went to engage the canopy latch something clearly came loose and the latch handle started moving freely and the arm inside the latch mechanism that should engage the pin to pull it tightly and lock became disconnected from the assembly. After parking and shutdown and A&P buddy and myself removed some of the plastics to get a better look and a broken spring inside the assembly was the culprit. After researching in the maintenance manual it is the lower, fatter spring that connects to a cotter pin and attaches to the hook shaped arm that engages the pin to shut the canopy securely. I could not find a part number for this spring in the maintenance manual. Any advice on finding a replacement? I thought about calling FletchAir to ask but haven’t yet. Also, to remove the entire assembly it seems like 4 rivets must be drilled out of the front of the canopy rail for the entire assembly to drop out. Any advice on moving forward on how to replace that little spring?
I can still engage the arm by closing the canopy and sticking my finger into the assembly and moving the arm to grab the pin and then cycling the latch handle to pull it shut and it does securely engage but I would prefer a functioning latch obviously.