Could someone post the correct type, size and length of aluminum rivets (with part numbers if possible) for a '98 Scamp 16 and the best place to get them either in the US or here in Canada?
I purchased some aluminum rivets here locally (Courtenay, BC) however they want to compress throughout the length of the rivet without locking into the nut on the inside and in the process of riveting they swell up and cause damage to the holes in the fiberglass. So it looks to me that the rivets should have softer, flexible end in order to expand and grip the interior nuts and a stiffer mid-length so as to not damage the rivet hole in the body.
Thanx,
Steve
Whenever you use pop rivets in any material other than metal you need to add a "backing" washer to it before you compress the rivet. These are usually available at the same place you purchased the rivets. By using the backing washer the rivet squeezes the materials sandwiched between the head and washer just like it would with two pieces of metal.
As Always,
Happy Scamping !!!
The original rivets do not use a washer under the locked on nut inside the trailer so that's why I thought it must be the type of rivets I was using.
Does anyone know if there is a post or tutorial somewhere showing the proper replacement of the rivets? It's really pretty basic but I must be missing something along the way. I did read the previous post on replacing the snap caps and looked up the rivets suggested however some of the reviews indicated that these rivets have a tendency to break off part way along their length and then need to be cut down. Sigh... such a simple thing....
Steve
I think I have finally fiquired it out. Some rivets have aluminum heads with steel mandrels and others have aluminum heads with aluminum mandrels. I experiemented with both to see how they collapsed when riveted and found that the steel ones are too hard and the shaft of the head collapses in the middle first and not at the head - ie, they don't allow the nut on the inside of the trailer to bite into the end of the rivet. Then using rivets with both aluminum head and mandrel I found that they swedge in and expand at the head of the rivet first allowing the nut firmly bite into the end of the rivet. Once that happens the rivet then compresses properly and firmly holds the trailer body together. I did a couple on the trailer and was quite pleased with the results.
Of course, I followed Greg's advise on putting a little buytl tape putty on the base of the rivet and snap cap retainer. Works well.
Steve