Instrument panel corner plates

Instrument panel corner plates

Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2021 10:39 am

by Bryan Cotton

Hey all,
I can’t get the top corner rivets on my WIX-F04/05 corner plates.


tricky corner rivets.jpg (107.86 KiB) Viewed 3555 times

There should be a row of 4 on the vertical, but the top one seems impossible on both sides.

I may be able to get them if I remove the reinforcements under the longeron where the windshield bow goes through. Those parts are SNX-F14-04 longeron doubler. It would mean drilling out 8 rivets per side and then unbolted the bow.

Anybody have any wisdom here?


Re: Instrument panel corner plates

Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2021 2:50 pm

by XenosN42

Hey Bryan,

There are some great tips in this video: https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=rivet+gun+for+tight+spaces+eaa&docid=607995969930090073&mid=794E40FE9EEAD4390AC4794E40FE9EEAD4390AC4&view=detail&FORM=VIRE

Hope this helps.


Re: Instrument panel corner plates

Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2021 8:02 pm

by Bryan Cotton

Thanks Michael. Im pretty much up to speed on all those tricks. The clearance is so bad I can’t even get the rivet in. I’m not sure any of my wedges would allow me to pull it anyway, the longeron doubler is a killer.


Re: Instrument panel corner plates

Posted: Sun Apr 04, 2021 4:42 am

by peter anson

How about inserting the rivet from the front? It’ll still be tight but at least the longeron doubler won’t be in the way.

Peter


Re: Instrument panel corner plates

Posted: Sun Apr 04, 2021 8:10 am

by Bryan Cotton

I had considered that also Peter. I’m not sure I have room with all the panel stuff installed. I’ll look again. I take it everybody got that rivet in except me?


Re: Instrument panel corner plates

Posted: Mon Apr 05, 2021 4:25 pm

by Scott Todd

How about just stick a 4-40 bolt and nut in there. You can get the nuts in nylock style. Hardware store should have them.


Re: Instrument panel corner plates

Posted: Mon Apr 05, 2021 7:40 pm

by BRS

That’s basically how I did it.


Panel_new copy.jpg (209.92 KiB) Viewed 3358 times


Re: Instrument panel corner plates

Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2021 12:15 am

by Bryan Cotton

Thanks all for the ideas. I had considered a #6 screw but I’d have trouble getting it in the hole also. The back side is sort of blocked by rivet tails.


Re: Instrument panel corner plates

Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2021 12:52 pm

by Scott Todd

Drill out the interfering rivets and then add the bolt/nut. Then just replace the rivets.


Re: Instrument panel corner plates

Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2021 2:49 pm

by Bryan Cotton

Scott Todd wrote:Drill out the interfering rivets and then add the bolt/nut. Then just replace the rivets.

I could, but they are under the canopy and would be a challenge. I think I may try to drill out the closest flush rivet and see if I can get my rivet in, and my rivet gun with the ground down nosepiece.