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09-05-2013, 10:30 PM
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#1
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4 Rivet Member
2002 31' Classic
Houston
, Texas
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 442
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Rusty Rear Awning Retention Struts – SOLUTION
Several years after purchase of my 2002 ASCL 31’ I noticed that the raw 3/16” steel rod retention struts which hold the rear awning open were rusting, including their push-on retention caps (quality???). Over the years I’ve tried to source identical rods in stainless steel, but 3/16” stainless rod was never available when the matter was on my mind.
About a week ago I was in “Fastenal” on another matter; the rusted struts crossed my mind so I ask if they had any 3/16” stainless steel rod; they did, so I purchased one 3’ length (description = 3/16” X 3’ 304 SST Round 47722). I then sourced stainless steel “Cap Nuts” with #10-24 threads from Home Depot (PN32361).
Using the OEM struts as a template, I fabricated same (added ~1” to length) from the stainless steel rod, cut #10-24 threads and rounded the opposite end, sanded “shop rash” with 400 grit wet/dry and polished with “Mother’s Mag & Aluminum Polish” from an auto parts store (that stuff will polish ANYTHING). It took 2 to 3 hours.
So now I have stainless steel struts that will never require maintenance to go with my stainless steel vent, furnace and hot water heater covers; maybe I should source some stainless steel sheet to kill the aluminum filiform corrosion …………. naw, that would add too much weight.
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09-05-2013, 10:42 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
1999 34' Excella
Currently Looking...
Hillsboro
, Texas
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 6,406
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Nice ..... pics?
__________________
Peace and Blessings..
Channing
WBCCI# 30676
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09-05-2013, 10:48 PM
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#3
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4 Rivet Member
2002 31' Classic
Houston
, Texas
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 442
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cwf
Nice ..... pics?
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It's midnight, no light, I'll take some in the morning.
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09-06-2013, 09:45 AM
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#4
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4 Rivet Member
2011 30' Classic
Kingwood
, Texas
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 262
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I did something similar last week. My acorn push nuts were rusting, so I cut 10-24 threads on the end of the support rods and added the stainless steel acorn nuts from Home Depot. I put them on with some blue thread lock.
Thanks to withidl great solution, I may replace the support rods with stainless steel at some future date.
__________________
2011 30' Classic
2015 Ford F250 4X4 Platinum
ProPride Hitch
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09-06-2013, 01:18 PM
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#5
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4 Rivet Member
2002 31' Classic
Houston
, Texas
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 442
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Awning Strut Photos
Awning Strut Photos per request:
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09-08-2013, 08:48 PM
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#6
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Rivet Master
1999 34' Excella
Currently Looking...
Hillsboro
, Texas
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 6,406
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Quote:
Originally Posted by withidl
Awning Strut Photos per request:
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Nyce! Thanks!
__________________
Peace and Blessings..
Channing
WBCCI# 30676
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12-26-2013, 01:09 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master
2000 25' Safari
Davidson County
, NC Highlands County, FL
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 4,493
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Withidl,
How did you make the bend, just clamp it in a vice then bend it? I thought about making some of these, but thought the metal would be weakened and break if bent that sharply.
Thanks for sharing your info!
__________________
Alan
2014 Silverado LTZ 1500 Crew Cab 5.3L maximum trailering package
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01-03-2014, 04:40 PM
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#8
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4 Rivet Member
2002 31' Classic
Houston
, Texas
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 442
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Quote:
Originally Posted by A W Warn
Withidl,
How did you make the bend, just clamp it in a vice then bend it? I thought about making some of these, but thought the metal would be weakened and break if bent that sharply.
Thanks for sharingour info!
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Alan, it's just a cold bend in a vice and using a hammer to make it "tightly" 90 degrees. Stainless steel is tougher than regular steel, but still bends fairly easily. Make the piece a little too long on each end and then shorten after the bend.
The hardest part was finding the correct diameter rod as it's not carried in the normal hardware stores.
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