----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following any advice in this forum.]---- Robert,
I have replaced my wing attach fitting rivets on my right wing, and am getting ready to replace them on the left wing. My IA and I are in the process of rebuilding the wings on my Alon. I had a machine shop build a special hydraulic press that I designed to squeeze the 5/16ths inch rivets. They came out perfect. The press lets you squeeze the rivets in a nice, controlled manner. Let me know if you are interested in what I did. BTW, after investigating the details of how all the parts fit together on these wing attach fittings, I am convinced that replacing the rivets with bolts is not the way to go, even disregarding the legality and/or paperwork involved. The reason for this is that the holes in the pieces of metal that the rivets go through were not drilled as an assembly by the factory, and are therefore not perfectly aligned (in fact, on the Alon, they are not even the same size holes) . The rivets expand in the holes and take up all of the misalignment and size differences in the holes. I made up a test piece and squeezed the rivets, and then had a machine shop cut and polish a section through the rivets. The rivets expanded into the holes in the material even when the holes were drilled different sizes. Bolts won't do that. Also, drilling out and removing the original 5/16ths inch rivets without damaging the surrounding material is not a simple matter. If you want to know how I did it, let me know. Just out of curiosity, why are you replacing the rivets? Wayne DelRossi Alon N5618F GYH Greenville SC ==^================================================================ EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?aVxiLm.aVzvvT Or send an email To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] This email was sent to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
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