Vintage Hehr Window repair

[HiHoAgRV]

I've had pretty good luck fixing some old Hehr windows and associated parts so I thought I'd share.

It seems that every one of the metal drip lips on these old 'Streams has been dinged. Fixing the edges isn't too bad but that dang arched center section is always a pita. I built a 2 1/2" radius roller to fit in a el-cheapo bead roller and matched it with a skate board wheel. with just a slight amount of pressure, the dings roll right out.

[HiHoAgRV]

The second fix has been covered before but this time we have some photos.

Dang lock clasps and holes thru window frames. Well, use counter sunk rivets and then sand everything smooth. All that is left is some polish.

[Becky B.]

Nice, Vernon! If I ever have need for those repairs, I know where I can send them!

[RacerX]

Owning an vintage Airstream will make you spring for a lot of new tools. Looks like I need to pick up a bead roller.

"El Cheapo?" That's a brand they carry at Harbor Frieght, right? ;-)

[reinergirl]

I'm with Becky! I'll just send to you! I like the countersink hole fixing..... Seems like there's always an extra hole somewhere.

Seriously, we call that Yankee ingenuity!

[RacerX]

Wow Vernon, that is a sweet fix. If looks more like an aircraft riveting technique. Can you explain how countersink a rivet?

Thank you,
Mark

[mimiandrews]

Originally Posted by RacerX

Wow Vernon, that is a sweet fix. If looks more like an aircraft riveting technique. Can you explain how countersink a rivet?

Thank you,
Mark

It is an aircraft technique--basically just another kind of bucked rivet. One uses a special rivet with a countersunk head (AN426 with appropriate diameter and length codes). There is a tool that cuts the countersink around the rivet hole in the aluminum--micrometer adjustable so that the countersink can be exactly the right depth. The cutting head is changed to fit each size of rivet hole.

Aircraft Spruce and Specialty Co. has a free catalog, in fact they just issued their new one for this year. It has a lot of explanations of aircraft hardware and the tools used to install it. Great source of information. You can order one off their website.

[RacerX]

Thanks for the info. Reading my original post it's apparent that my typing on the mobile app could use some work!

[HiHoAgRV]

Celebrating success!
I've been dealing with the issue of these goofy formed hinges being banged up and generally unavailable, settling for the reality of being stuck with using piano hinges where I had too,..

I guess I'm also a bit OCD...

After probably 50 hours of trying, 4 sets of prototype roll form tools and even more attempts at custom jaws for a bender, close to 100 scrapped pieces of bent up aluminum, I FINALLY GOT IT TO WORK!

Happy dance!

[submariner]

Looking good Vernon,

Now that you got this one figured out, I need some windows for my liner :-)


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