Rivet question - no hole in second sheet

[pakman31]

Hi there,

I am trying to replace a popped rivet, but upon closer inspection, I noticed that there was no matching hole for the second sheet of Al behind the surface sheet of Al (see photos).



Should I drill a new hole? What happened, did the sheet metal shift? I noticed this after driving back from the dealer in January, so this happened diring one, short trip.

I wanted to get some feedback from the community, because this would be my first attempted rivet replacement, and I do not like the idea of recklessly drilling a hole.

Thank you!

Best,

Paul

[Wayne&Sam]

It's hard to see in the photo. How deep is the hole?

[Silvr_Bullet]

Is there any movement there with light hand pressure? That could be a clue if there is movement.

[pakman31]

Originally Posted by Silvr_Bullet

Is there any movement there with light hand pressure? That could be a clue if there is movement.

Not really. I tried light hand pressure & no movement. I tried to see if one of the sheets moved and if I could realign, but couldn’t easily line up the holes. Don’t know where the other hole went to!

[pakman31]

Originally Posted by Wayne&Sam

It's hard to see in the photo. How deep is the hole?

The depth of the top hole is the depth (or thickness) of the sheet metal. Can’t find or line up the top sheet with the hole on the second sheet (the inner sheet in this case).

[richard5933]

Where on the trailer is this?

[RJJ]

Have you sought advice from the Mothership?? I'd seek there next... 🤔

[Trons4u]

You should be able to pull that top piece out a little bit with a plastic spudger tool or small pointed object and then use a tooth pick to feel around through the hole and see if you can locate if there was one there to begin with.
If you can't locate a hole, then just drill it out and put a rivet in.

[Scott S]

Assumption #1. This is an interior panel. Neither panel should move, but sometimes there is a little slop when you push down on an interior panel...one will move and the other one will not. That is a clue that a rivet is needed. Assumption #2, this is a new, or at least a newish trailer. It looks to me like the hole was never drilled on the bottom sheet, so no rivet was ever there. I would hazzard a guess that there is no problem drilling one and putting a pop-rivet in that matches the other ones in the area. I have had to replace MANY interior pop rivets in the 40 years I have owned my '60...many many miles on that trailer, and it has a lighter weight frame that bends and flexes.

[Bill M.]

If you do decide to drill be sure to use a stop block on the drill to keep it from self feeding right through both skins.

[Bill M.]

Is that an interior rivet missing or an exterior? The hole looks "funny" like maybe it was a bucked rivet.

[geirws]

send a email with a picture to the dealer maybe they can help you

[SYC2Vette]

Originally Posted by Bill M.

If you do decide to drill be sure to use a stop block on the drill to keep it from self feeding right through both skins.

...and also tape over the hole to protect the aluminum from the drill stop.

FWIW I have found a couple of interior rivets that did not capture 2 layers, and three in a row near the return vent opening that missed the adjacent panel edge so only went through one layer. I added three rivets spaced evenly between the non functional rivets and it looks fine.

Based on the spacing of the interior "pop" rivets they are not really doing anything to enhance structural strength, they simply hold the interior panels in place, and it is the exterior shell that does all the work.

[pakman31]

Originally Posted by richard5933

Where on the trailer is this?

Inside bedroom. Here is another photo.

[pakman31]

Will do. I’m sure the dealer doesn’t want me showing up for such a minor job.

[pakman31]

Originally Posted by Bill M.

Is that an interior rivet missing or an exterior? The hole looks "funny" like maybe it was a bucked rivet.

Interior. Here’s the hole next to a rivet in place.

[pakman31]

Originally Posted by Scott S

Assumption #1. This is an interior panel. Neither panel should move, but sometimes there is a little slop when you push down on an interior panel...one will move and the other one will not. That is a clue that a rivet is needed. Assumption #2, this is a new, or at least a newish trailer. It looks to me like the hole was never drilled on the bottom sheet, so no rivet was ever there. I would hazzard a guess that there is no problem drilling one and putting a pop-rivet in that matches the other ones in the area. I have had to replace MANY interior pop rivets in the 40 years I have owned my '60...many many miles on that trailer, and it has a lighter weight frame that bends and flexes.

Correct on both assumptions. Inside panel and 2021 27FB. It really looks like a hole was never drilled, so I am going to double check with the dealer & then drill a hole, insert rivet and complete job. .

[jeffb831]

It looks like there was never a rivet there. Are you sure there was one there at some point?

It seems improbable but maybe the piece of aluminum with the hole was a "scrap" from something else, the hole was unnoticed by the assembler, and there was no intent to place a rivet there.

[majorairhead]

Originally Posted by jeffb831

It looks like there was never a rivet there. Are you sure there was one there at some point?

It seems improbable but maybe the piece of aluminum with the hole was a "scrap" from something else, the hole was unnoticed by the assembler, and there was no intent to place a rivet there.

This was along the lines of my thinking. There was never supposed to be a rivet there?, simply a hole that was drilled, not needed, overlooked, etc.

[pakman31]

Question resolved:

Per the dealer, I am going to drill a 1/8" hole into the second sheet & insert the rivet. I will use tape & a drill stop to avoid damage.

Thanks all for the responses and ideas.