Rear Cowl Holder

So many aspects of the Heinkel were value engineered I've lost count. One that has come back to cause trouble for me is the rear cowl support. A little arm swings up and supports one side of the cowl under the hinge. Everything is a little flimsy in this arrangement.

Heinkel Rear Bonnet Support Holder- a Flimsy Arrangement

Unfortunately for me the use of this support has cracked my paint near the hinge above the bracket.

Cracked Paint Where the Exterior Flexes

I wanted to figure out a better way to support the cowl when I was working on my car (especially trying to adjust my Bing carburetor, but that's another story). I came up with simple solution- a stick:

Stick as Replacement Holder

This is pretty simple. I determined the optimal opening size and cut a stick, to length, then cut a semicircle in the bottom so the stick could rest on the top of the shock mount. That way normal vibration would not dislodge the stick when I was running engine. The other end of the stick fits under the lip of the cowl.

Holder in Place- One End on Shock Other End Under Cowl Lip

If you want to avoid the cracked paint problem I've suffered, here are some measurements so you can build your own.:

1. Length: 25.5"
2. Diameter of circle at one end: 1 1/16"
3. Width of stock (at shock absorber end): 7/8"
4. Width of stock (at bonnet end): 3/4"

The stick is lightweight and fits easily and unobtrusively beside the seats.