R80RT Dashboard rivets - advice on special tool?

[MikeO]

Me again

I am expecting the bodywork back from the paint shop in about another week, so I've been refurbing various parts ready for fitting.

One of the parts I bought was a new dashboard, which I've fitted my refurbed instruments into, along with two auxiliary switches...

The dashboard fits to the fairing by use of eight copper rivets whcih fit through these holes...

They also holds the screen gasket in place and are set with a special tool. Here are the rivets (AA battery in shot for scale)...

Unfortunately my local BMW independent (Kevin at KRF) can't find the tool to do this. Has anyone got a suggestion as to what I might use (or have you done this before)? The problem is that access is quite tight where you need to get the rivet set. Kevin described the tool as being a threaded rod device, rather than a scissor type tool.

I am currently minded to replace the rivets with some short button headed stainless bolts with large washers and nyloc nuts - there seems to be enough room to be able to fit these (which poses the question 'why did they use rivets'?). What do you think?

Any help or advice gratefully received...

Mike

 

[fayeslane]

I think you are on the right track with the stainless bolts. You could make up a simple threaded tool to fit the rivets but why piss about? The bolts will look better than the rivets IMO.

 

[(RIP) Arkwright]

If you know someone with a rivinut or similar tool that is the answer with the stainless dome heads.

 

[dr nosh]

If you know someone with a rivinut or similar tool that is the answer with the stainless dome heads.

MikeO.

Is your location Scarning, near Dereham?

I'm in Kings Lynn and have a rivnut gun.

pm me if you wish.

 

[MikeO]

MikeO.

Is your location Scarning, near Dereham?

I'm in Kings Lynn and have a rivnut gun.

pm me if you wish.

 

[Voyager]

MikeO.

Is your location Scarning, near Dereham?

I'm in Kings Lynn and have a rivnut gun.

pm me if you wish.

dr Nosh . .

Are you proposing to use the rivet gun to set the copper rivets - or to insert Rivnuts into the fairing ??

I use stainless Rivnuts on my ageing 4X4 - but I'd be very wary of using steel Rivnuts on a plastic fairing.

Do you have aluminium Rivnuts ?? I haven't tried them but they should be rather more gentle.

I deal with these guys . .

http://www.memfast.co.uk/shop/Vprod2.asp?cat=7218004912

I'll be interested to see how this works out - pics please

Bob.

 

[Steptoe]

I had one of those tools. It's a joy to use and a work of art for such a mundane job. Small cylinder type unit with a small angled bar at one end and a threaded rod that goes through the rivet and a circular end with a groove in that you place on the blind side of the rivet and screw them together.

I'll have a look for it, as it's been way more than ten years since i've had to use it and i put it away somewhere safe.

 

[MikeO]

I had one of those tools. It's a joy to use and a work of art for such a mundane job. Small cylinder type unit with a small angled bar at one end and a threaded rod that goes through the rivet and a circular end with a groove in that you place on the blind side of the rivet and screw them together.

I'll have a look for it, as it's been way more than ten years since i've had to use it and i put it away somewhere safe.

 

[dr nosh]

dr Nosh . .

Are you proposing to use the rivet gun to set the copper rivets - or to insert Rivnuts into the fairing ??

I use stainless Rivnuts on my ageing 4X4 - but I'd be very wary of using steel Rivnuts on a plastic fairing.

Do you have aluminium Rivnuts ?? I haven't tried them but they should be rather more gentle.

I deal with these guys . .

http://www.memfast.co.uk/shop/Vprod2.asp?cat=7218004912

I'll be interested to see how this works out - pics please

Bob.

Bob.

The rivnut inserter that I was offering to use is one of these:

http://www.lasertools.co.uk/item.aspx?cat=153&item=336

It sets and compresses into place a threaded Aluminium bush.

I dont think that the tool would be 'man enough' to inset steel bushes.

Steptoes offering sounds more the tool for the copper rivet setting.

 

[Voyager]

Bob.

The rivnut inserter that I was offering to use is one of these:

http://www.lasertools.co.uk/item.aspx?cat=153&item=336

That looks OK (just like one of my Pop Rivet pliers). Alloy rivnuts probably won't crack the fairing but it might be worth putting a small washer under the side that deforms.

Bob.