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rivet guns

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(@Anonymous 38608)
Posts: 10
Topic starter
 
[#14511]

I am replacing my rear track and bought a hand rivet gun, but the nose is too big to fit in the track to pull the rivet. Anybody know of a gun that can do the job on the rear track?


 
Posted : October 23, 2004 11:30 pm
(@mbounds)
Posts: 1823
Master Chief Registered
 

You don't need to get a new gun - just stack a few small washers on the tail of the rivet - just enough to get clearance for the nose of the gun. Too many though, and there won't be enought "tail" for the gun to grab onto.

I've even used a small nut before. It's not perfect, but it works.

Since you're doing the whole track, I would consider modifying the nose of the gun to fit the track. I used a Dremel tool to cut away enough material so that the nose fits into the track.

Two tricks for installing the track:
- Use a large drill bit to slightly (and I mean slightly) increase the countersinks on the track. It's OK for the rivet heads to be below the bottom of the track. It's very bad for them to be above it - they'll catch the bottom of the traveller, which can hang up on one side when you least want it to hang up.

- Use duct tape to hold the track down and in place while you rivet it. The track has to be firmly seated on the crossbar and the rivet firmly seated in the hole. The rivet will not pull the track down if it's loose, and you end up with loose rivets.

Good luck! (I hope you bought a good gun - you've got a lot of rivets to pull!)


 
Posted : October 24, 2004 7:35 am
(@Anonymous 38608)
Posts: 10
Topic starter
 

Worked great! Thanks for the tips.


 
Posted : October 24, 2004 8:06 pm
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