Update On CanAm Rear Clip "Safety Pin"

[USCANAM]

Here's the first few photos of our "safety pin" under construction.
http://home.comcast.net/~rosenracing3/wsb/html/view.cgi-photo.html--SiteID-1135739.html
http://home.comcast.net/~rosenracing3/wsb/html/view.cgi-photo.html--SiteID-1135756.html
The pin is spring loaded to stay in the "locked" position. At this point, we still have to choose one of the many ways we have come up with to keep the pin in the "open" position for opening and closing the rear clip. Once the clip is in position, it will be necessary to release the pin so the spring will put it into hole in the clip. There will be an aluminum plate added to rear clip to also accept the pin.
For those not familiar with the CanAm, there is a fiberglass housing that covers the narrow rear deck, and the housing for the safety pin is inside it. A 1 1/4" hole will be drilled in the cover for the forward edge of the housing to protrude through.
Having not seen the corresponding area in a GTR, I'm not sure if this same design will work.
Jack

[BigAl1]

I like the concept Jack. I think it can be adapted to the GTR, in the upper rear GRP bulkhead, above the rollbar arch. Maybe the "retracted" position of the pin is held by 1/2 turn of the handle? When the pin is extended (engaged), then an electrical contact is made to lite a lamp or ?

Allan

[USCANAM]

BigAl1 said:

I like the concept Jack. I think it can be adapted to the GTR, in the upper rear GRP bulkhead, above the rollbar arch. Maybe the "retracted" position of the pin is held by 1/2 turn of the handle? When the pin is extended (engaged), then an electrical contact is made to lite a lamp or ? Allan

Al
The simplest way will be a pin protruding out for the handle to rest on. This will keep it out of the locking hole. Since both pieces, the safety pin and the pin to hold the handle are mounted in fiberglass, they are insulated, and therefore easy to act as a switch to illuminate a red panel light to indicate the safety pin is in a supported position, and not locked into the rear clip.
Another way, since there is an aluminum plate attached to the rear clip that the safety pin will pass through that can be used to illuminate a green light on the panel to indicate the pin is in closed position.
I choose the former, since the mechanical contact will be better.
Ahh, the beauty of building your own car, and taking steps to insure it stays together.
Jack

[USCANAM]

Here's the latest photo of the "Safety Pin". All that remains is the plate to fabricate that will hold the pin in the unlocked position.
http://home.comcast.net/~rosenracing5/wsb/html/view.cgi-photo.html--SiteID-1149103.html
I wasn't sure if it would, but because the pin is spring loaded, it automatically engages itself into the rear clip if it's unlocked from the retaining post by compressing as it contacts the striker plate.
I'll feel a lot more comfortable now driving the car knowing there's no way the clip can open (I know, as long as the pin is place). The best way to insure this will not happen is to put the pin in the locked position as soon as you open the rear lid, and it will lock itself as soon as it's closed.
Jack

[k wright]

Cool and elegant. I plan a similar arrangement on the GTR. I'm too lazy to make it spring loaded.

[USCANAM]

k wright said:

Cool and elegant. I plan a similar arrangement on the GTR. I'm too lazy to make it spring loaded.

Ken
Could you send me some photos direct of the area on the GTR that is similar to the CanAm where I put the pin.
Yes, it makes it a lot easier not to have the pin spring loaded. Just make sure you have some device to keep it in place, and be sure you don't close the rear clip with the pin extended
Thanks
Jack

[mkoch1]

Jack,
Did you consider angling the plate that is attached to the rear deck so it pushes the pin back when you go to close it? Then the spring would pop the pin back out when it lines up with the hole. Similar to how the latch works on a door in your house. Maybe the spring you are using is to strong, just a though.


mark

[USCANAM]

mkoch1 said:

Jack, Did you consider angling the plate that is attached to the rear deck so it pushes the pin back when you go to close it? Then the spring would pop the pin back out when it lines up with the hole. Similar to how the latch works on a door in your house. Maybe the spring you are using is to strong, just a though. mark

Mark
That's exactly how it works. The spring is just the right tension to allow the pin to retract, then it pushes itself back into the hole. If you look closely, you'll see a slight angle at the bottom of the plate.
I didn't clean up all the shavings before I took the photo, so it's not that clear. Will update the photo when the other plate is made and installed.
Jack

[Steve_D]

USCANAM said:

That's exactly how it works. The spring is just the right tension to allow the pin to retract, then it pushes itself back into the hole. Jack

Does this pin engage when the cover is sitting on, but not engaged with, the factory latches?
If it does not then its function is as prone to forgetfulness as the standard latches.
In order for this to work the plate you talk about on the face of the cover will need to be slotted. The fact that it does not hold the cover in the closed position does not matter as its purpose was only a safety measure in the event of the factory latches not being secured.
Steve

[USCANAM]

Steve_D said:

USCANAM said: That's exactly how it works. The spring is just the right tension to allow the pin to retract, then it pushes itself back into the hole. Jack Does this pin engage when the cover is sitting on, Steve

Steve
Absolutely.
Sorry I didn't make that clear. The pin starts to engage the hole in the rear clip when the clip is still about a 1/4" up. When the clip is all the way down, the pin has fully engaged itself.
the car can be driven now with all three Ultima latches undone. The only indication you'll have of this condition are the rattles. At that time, you'll stop the car, release all the straps, exit the vehicle as gracefully as you can for the enjoyment of the spectators, smartley hit each side of the clip to engage the appropriate latch, reach over and secure the center latch, reverse the exit maneouvers carefully so as to not amuse the onlookers, and then continue on your way, thankfull that you had the safety pin, and not that loud banging, scraping NOISE!!
Jack

[mkoch1]

I got confused when I read the caption at the bottom of the picture

"All that remains is plate to hold handle in open position"

If you had something that held the pin in the open position your back at square one. Now you have to remember to lock the pin.

Nice solution, much better than just slapping a set of hood pins on the trunk lid.


mark

[USCANAM]

mkoch1 said:

"All that remains is plate to hold handle in open position" If you had something that held the pin in the open position your back at square one. Now you have to remember to lock the pin. mark

Mark
You really need a way to hold the pin out so you can raise the clip. It can be done, but it's awkward. You would have to get in the habit to release the pin as soon as the clip is up so it will return to the locked position.
There comes a point in life where you have to be a little responsible for your actions.
That being said, when I get to the shop tomorrow, I'm going to see exactly how difficult it would be with a little practice. In the case of my car, it might be easier to lift the clip from the left side, since I've cheated the pin a little off center towards the left.
Basically, what you'd have to do is reach in to hold the pin out, and raise the clip at the same time. I think the easiest way I did it was by pulling the pin and raising the clip by grabbing the top edge of the air intake. At least it's good for something else besides feeding hot air into the cockpit!!
I don't have anymore space on my buildsite for photos, but can email a small group of shots to interested parties showing more detail if you email me direct with your address.
Jack

[james]

I'd be inclined to modify the striker plate so that when you pull the pin out, a shutter drops partly over the hole, preventing the pin from re-entering. When you are closing the rear clip, the striker plate will be brought down across the pin, so the pin will re-open the shutter as it slides across.

Not sure whether this description will make much sense to you (it's perfectly clear to me), or the practicality of modifying the striker plate to add the shutter (you're going to have to put a small recess in it to allow for the shutter to clear the bodywork).

James

[USCANAM]

james said:

Not sure whether this description will make much sense to you (it's perfectly clear to me), or the practicality of modifying the striker plate to add the shutter (you're going to have to put a small recess in it to allow for the shutter to clear the bodywork). James

James
Good idea. It makes sense to me. The only thing I would add is perhaps a tab on the shutter to be able to move it by hand so the hole can be re-exposed in case the pin was pulled out without lifting up the rear clip. This would save having to lift the clip in order to re-position the shutter.
Jack

[USCANAM]

James
Kudos to you. Thanks to your idea, we have decided to try the KISS principle. At this stage in the development, we'll not have any pin holding device.
Tested the difficulty of opening the rear lid several times by reaching over the seat, holding the pin out, and lifting the rear clip by grabbing the top of the air intake being careful not to dislodge the glued in grill. Did it about 6 times, from both sides of the car, and no problem. Not sure if this would work with the GTR because of the roof.
But in the case of the CanAm, it means an almost fool-proof locking device.
Jack

[USCANAM]

"Safety Pin" is finished!!!
We've added some photos. You'll need to start with the following one, then change pages by going to Links, then page 6
http://home.comcast.net/~rosenracing5/wsb/html/view.cgi-photo.html--SiteID-1178456.html

At this point we've decided to use it as is, and not install a device to keep the pin in an open position. It's not that difficult to hold the pin open and lift the rear clip.
Now we have one less thing to worry about while driving, since it's virtually impossible for the rear to open, even if we forget to engage the facory latches.

>> Edited by USCANAM on Monday 15th December 21:44