Resetting loose rivets

[chuck hahn]

I have a pretty decent fender from the skunk #2 project but the rivets that hold the inner bracing frame are loose. Does anyone have access to a press to maybe squeeze them and retighten them? May have to heat them from the inside with a acetelyn torch and then squeeze them. Will pay for the repair.

 

[Steve]

How about an anvil and a hammer? :-k

.

 

[bwringer]

How about an anvil and a hammer? :-k

.

Yep. I've tightened these with careful use of the anvil end of a large vice and a large hammer. Coupla good whacks and you're done!

 

[chuck hahn]

I dont have an anvil or know of one to use. How do you get around having a flat spot on the head of the rivet.

 

[esj001]

if you use the right rivet set for the head of the rivet and a bucking bar you can get it squeezed and not flaten the head

Could you post a pic? I'm an airplane mechanic and have all types of ways to fix rivets------id do it for free if it was fairly easy ---just pay for shipping

 

[Guest]

I dont have an anvil or know of one to use. How do you get around having a flat spot on the head of the rivet.

You must have a bench vice??

 

[razor02097]

First try this...

Get a piece of hardwood and place the dome down on the wood. Use a hammer to tighten the rivet. Don't wale on it... if the rivet is too far gone you either need to replace it or use a rivet setter to reform it.


if you can get a leather rivet setter of the right size (should be about 8 dollars) or set (should be about 25 dollars) and a small hammer it should make quick work of it.

something like this
http://www.amazon.com/Tandy-Leather-Domed-Setter-8084-02/dp/B003AC588E
http://www.amazon.com/Tandy-Leather-Craftool-Snap-All-8105-00/dp/B003A5Z4N0
They are used primarily for saddle repair. Usually the rivets on saddles are pretty hefty so I would imagine it would work for your application.

 

[chuck hahn]

Todd..dont have a vice either.

 

[DanTheMan]

Aw, c'mon, Chuck, you must have some vices.....j/k. At any rate, to tighten the rivets, a ball peen hammer is required, and a solid backing point for the other side. I've place one side (say, the top accessible side) on a sledge hammer, balanced the object and peened the rivet with the ball end of the ball peen (that's what they're made for) until it's tight. You just work around the mushroom side of the rivet, the peened side, until it's tight again. You might need a helper to hold the the sledge on the backing side and to hold the fender in place though.

 

[argonsagas]

Todd..dont have a vice either.

YES you do! You like motorcycles! And probably beer!




(Of course, you may have meant vise)

 

[chuck hahn]

Cycles yes...alcohol and drugs free for almost 21 years now.

 

[JimmyR]

That's funny - here in Australia there is a brewery called Hahn's which was started by a guy from the US called Chuck Hahn. He sold it to a big brewery chain and now runs a brewery called James Squire. He loves good beer.

 

[Guest]

You didn't say if it was a plastic or metal fender. I had the same problem, rivets loose and fender (have a chrome fender) rattled, tried tighten them nothing work, got them spot welded no more rattle and no burn marks on the outside of the fender. The welder used a wire welder and turned it down. He just touched the rivets inside to spot them onto the fender. Worked great, 16 years later it's still tight.

 

[obgrayone]

take it to a small airport that has a aircraft mech, odds are for a 6 pack someone will tighten them

 

[Flyboy]

^^^^^ :clap::clap: