Tightening Rivnuts

[hrosenthal]

I am installing a driveshaft loop which came with it's own rivnuts.
As expected, I do not have a matching bolt size on my rivnut tool.
After looking around, it seems that I can make my own rivnut tool with an oversized nut.
I'm curious why I can't simply tighten the correct sized bolt into the rivnut to compress the internal section - as I would when using a wall anchor on sheetrock.

[michael everson]

Because there is no way to keep it from spinning in the hole. if it was me, I would just drill and tap the frame 5/16-18 and skip the Rivnuts.
Mike

[rich grsc]

Because there is no way to keep it from spinning in the hole. if it was me, I would just drill and tap the frame 5/16-18 and skip the Rivnuts.
Mike

??? I have done so many times. Use the correct size bolt with a nut, then a washer next to the flange on the rivnut. Use a drop of oil between the nut and washer, using one wrench to hold the bolt, turn the nut with a second wrench. One thing I always do with rivnuts, I put a small drop of RED loctite on the shank of the rivnut, that way you dont have to worry about it turning in the future. Be careful not to get any loctite in the threads!

[CraigS]

Rich, that nut and washer trick is brilliant!

[Cobradavid]

Here's a thread regarding a home-made rivnut tool.

http://www.ffcars.com/forums/17-factory-five-roadsters/284927-rivnut-puller.html

I made one similar to this and it works great on 10-32 rivnuts. I have not tried it on larger rivnuts like those needed for the drive shaft hoop.

David

[Rich_S]

Wow, an apple falls out of the tree, hits someone on the head and bam you have gravity!

But the home made rivnut installation tool is pure genius, now I know what to do with the bag of rivnuts that don't fit the tool I paid too much for.

Thanks for the info Rich and David:)

Rich

[rich grsc]

You're welcome. Sometimes I think outside the box, some times it just hits me over the head.

[BS]

I've used Rich's trick many times and it works great. If you are putting riv nuts into the body or other relatively soft material, I usually put a fender washer of appropriate size on the back side and slide the riv nut through it before tightening it. helps spread the pressure and gets a really tight fit.

Bob