Trailcraft Question
Submitted by Simo_ on Sun, 2014-04-13 21:07
I pulled up the carpet the other day and noticed a number of rivets have broken off around the panel in the middle.
Is this a problem? Any ideas on what I should do?
Cheers
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Bring on April
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holth
Posts: 812
Date Joined: 09/10/06
its just the access cover for
its just the access cover for your fuel tank. just fill with sikaflex where rivetts were or rerivit it.
Rob H
Posts: 5801
Date Joined: 18/01/12
na dont just re rivet it.Had
na dont just re rivet it.
Had exactly the same thing with mine and rain water (and deck water) will run in to the hull.
Drill the rivets out and pull the panel up, as said its the "soft patch" over the fuel tank.
Clean up the surfaces, fit new fuel lines if its a few years old, and in my case I decided to use the extra space to put a 70 litre below deck icebox.
The rivets are quite big ones so I had to get them from a bolt shop (Bunnings had none)
You'll need a good rivetter, concertina type or better as the hand jobbie cheapy one wont do it.
Sikaflex and rivet it down and your done-not a hard job but be methodical.
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
Simo_
Posts: 1843
Date Joined: 13/11/06
Is there anywhere that would
Is there anywhere that would fix it up around Rockingham? I'm thinking I might stuff it up if I did it myself.
Bring on April
petermac
Posts: 2946
Date Joined: 03/03/10
try willie
try willie at bullet boats in rocky
iana
Posts: 652
Date Joined: 21/09/09
Use this oppertunity to inspect the fuel tank.
I'd use this oppertunity to inspect the fuel tank. If it has an inspection cover or a fuel sender that can be removed to see into the tank. Drain off all the fuel and check it out for water and other crap.
As said check the fuel lines, electrics and breather line.
Careful with what rivets you use, if they aren't aluminium then drilling out the rivets could be a nightmare the next time you want to get to the tank.
holth
Posts: 812
Date Joined: 09/10/06
just put some sika in the
just put some sika in the old rivet hole simo, for a quick fix. yes it would be ideal to do as suggested by others but if you haven't got the time or knowhow it would be a costly exercise for someone else to do.
Simo_
Posts: 1843
Date Joined: 13/11/06
Yeah I think I might just
Yeah I think I might just sikaflex it up and sort it out later. I'm off to Exmouth on the 24th April and have other stuff to sort out
Bring on April
Rob H
Posts: 5801
Date Joined: 18/01/12
Before putting sika on the
Before putting sika on the outside for a temporary fix, close the scuppers, open the bungs and flood the deck an inch deep and see if water is getting thru the deck yet
Theres nothing too technical about it other than getting the correct rivets and rivetter
Drill out the old ones, gently lift it at a corner a little (5-10mm) and prop it with a screwdriver, move along a little and the panel will slowly peel away.
Sikaflex sticks like s++t to a blanket.
Mark which is the front, clean both faces with a scraper and meths and/or a wire wheel/brush.
Test fit it, put an unbroken bead of sika all the way round plus around each rivet hole.
Two people to gently lift cover in place, line up with ALL the rivets then stand on it to squeeze the sika down and start rivetting.
Use a cloth/meths to clean up excess then a wet finger to smooth and complete the seal on the outside and its done for the next however many years.
Can complete it in half a day other than whatever other work needs doing such as fuel lines, if opening the tank itself take EXTREME care of sparks.
One litre of vapourized petrol=1 stick powergel
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
81macca
Posts: 270
Date Joined: 02/07/09
I have also done mine and
I have also done mine and found that the fuel tank was not as secure as it should be and made ali straps to hold it down a lot better.
I actually fish.
Shortylook
Posts: 221
Date Joined: 07/05/11
Simo, I had to remove my
Simo, I had to remove my hatch to get a hole welded up and I kind of free ked put when I reLised I had to drill it he rivets out then redo it all after it was finished. Long story short, it's easy as to do it mate. Drill out old ones, clean up both sealing faces really well. Put a bead of Sikaflex on the recessed edge and a small amount on the hatch cover, just enought to hold the big rivets in place, so when you place the cover down the rivets don't wiggle/move free. Press it down and it will drop into place nice and snug. Rivet the corners and then work your way around opposite sides to the last rivet. Mine hasn't moved and I'm quite confident it won't until I need to remove it again for what ever reason.
Hope that helps mate.
btw I have a 5.6 trailcraft
happy boating mate