olympic rivets

[steverad]

Hello,

I replaced a couple of skin pieces and used Olympic rivets to put them back together. I noticed that a couple of the rivets didn't pull tight and the mandrel broke too soon. I replaced those rivets several times & had the same problem. I think the hole in the rib where the new skin is replaced is gotten a bit large. has anyone dealt with a problem like this, if so what was the solution?

[azflycaster]

Is it possible that something is blocking one of the three legs from expanding? You might not have enough clearance in one direction and the leg is hitting something. You can use a bent paperclip in the hole to check this out. If this is the problem, you can clip one of the legs off of that rivet and install it being careful of the orientation of the missing leg. The rivet will not be as strong as a three legged rivet, but it should install flush.

[steverad]

Thank you very much Richard,

you were right, it worked great.

[Over59]

Sometimes rotating the rivet so the leg doesn't push up against a rib will give you just enough room.

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by azflycaster

Is it possible that something is blocking one of the three legs from expanding? You might not have enough clearance in one direction and the leg is hitting something. You can use a bent paperclip in the hole to check this out. If this is the problem, you can clip one of the legs off of that rivet and install it being careful of the orientation of the missing leg. The rivet will not be as strong as a three legged rivet, but it should install flush.

Richard is correct.

Removing one of the three rivet legs, and then orienting that blank area to the stringer, or stiffner, or main bow, solves the pin breaking off short problem.

Andy

[nm1oqrz]

i replaced all the rivets on my 1988 25ft excella when ihad the curb side skin replaced the dealer did a terible job. bought 1000 olympic rivets and a
head shaper. I found that if the mandrel cant be pulled straight or the riveis cocked in the hole the mandrel will break before the rivet is set tight
the main reason is that as theriret is being set, one of the legs will hit a rib and the rib will restrict the rivet leg from setting properly, thus causing the rivet to cock in the hole and the mandrel breaking permaturely.
To correct this problem cut one of the rivet legs off with a pair of dikes and
orient the rivet in the hole so that the cut leg is facing the rib and them set the rivet normally. I learned this trick from an olr airstream restorer and
it does work Good luck

[utee94]

I call them single-use clecos. Be sure to use a TON of vulkem when you install them. They will still leak, but it's about all you can do, if you absolutely must use Olympics.

-Marcus