Changing P18 Traveler Car Tips
-
- Rank: Mate
- Registered: Feb 06, 2009
- Last visit: Jun 25, 2017
- Posts: 223
Posted: Mar 19, 2016 - 09:02 AM
Does anyone know what size rivets I need to reinstall the endcap? What size drill should I use to drill out the old rivets? -
- Rank: Mate
- Registered: Mar 12, 2003
- Last visit: Feb 19, 2021
- Posts: 879
Posted: Mar 19, 2016 - 11:17 AM
3/16, but they're tough to drill out. Quicker way is to use cut-off grinder & cut off the 1" stopper portion, rounding the sharp corners as well. Pete -
- Rank: Mate
- Registered: Mar 12, 2003
- Last visit: Feb 19, 2021
- Posts: 879
Posted: Mar 19, 2016 - 11:18 AM
3/16, but they're tough to drill out. Quicker way is to use cut-off grinder & cut off the 1" stopper portion, rounding the sharp corners as well. Pete -
- Rank: Mate
- Registered: Feb 06, 2009
- Last visit: Jun 25, 2017
- Posts: 223
Posted: Mar 19, 2016 - 02:50 PM
Cut off the stopper on the end cap? And then the bolt keeps the car from coming off? -
- Rank: Mate
- Registered: Mar 12, 2003
- Last visit: Feb 19, 2021
- Posts: 879
Posted: Mar 20, 2016 - 12:24 AM
If you want to be more positive, back off the bolt & put another washer under bolt head. You may find that traveler does not pass the head of the slotted bolt, whereupon you will have to remove it & countersink a little further. Pete -
- Rank: Mate
- Registered: Feb 06, 2009
- Last visit: Jun 25, 2017
- Posts: 223
Posted: Mar 26, 2016 - 01:29 PM
Drilling out the rivets was easy. I used 3/16 by 1/4 inch rivets. -
- Rank: Lubber
- Registered: Oct 08, 2012
- Last visit: May 04, 2017
- Posts: 2
Posted: Apr 23, 2016 - 08:36 PM
Don't let the rivets scare you, do it right.
Use a bit *slightly* smaller than 3/16 if you can (whatever you have - size isn't extremely critical), if the rivet starts spinning, angle the drill a little and let it spin while you drill away the head material. When the rivet head material is thin enough (you don't need to drill the head completely off), take a center punch and hammer and hit the center of the body of the rivet through the hole. Very easy. You don't want to use a 3/16 bit because if you're off center in the slightest, you don't want to risk enlarging the hole. If you do, this part isn't structural, so I wouldn't worry too much.
You may want to use a little silicone on the new rivets when installing for two reasons: to weatherproof and to keep a less-than-perfect rivet installation from any movement.
The above are techniques I learned as an aircraft mechanic. I can't tell you how many rivets I've replaced.
Like Pete, I needed to countersink the hole for the inner slotted bolt just a hair to allow clearance for the new car to get to the outer bolt (stop).
I used 3/16 x 5/8" but they were a little long. 1/2" long might be a little better. -
- Rank: Mate
- Registered: Aug 06, 2004
- Last visit: Oct 20, 2024
- Posts: 878
Posted: Apr 25, 2016 - 07:40 AM
The rivets are easy to drill out, just make sure you have a new bit and a drill with variable speeds. Use the drill on the slowest speed not the fastest. Running the drill on the fastest speed will dull the bit very quickly
