The 'E' Type Forum

Hi gents,
I’ve removed my bonnet balance links for cad plating (now painted body colour). Will I need to fully disassemble them by removing the rivets? If so, how can I re-rivet them. I’ve never done it before

Cheers,
Pete

Pete:

While there are dedicated tools to set rivets, the process can easily be achieved with the simplest of hand-tools (a hammer).

The toughest bit is to find the proper-sized solid steel rivets themselves...spend some time on the internet and you’ll find the proper size eventually (you may have to buy a dozen or two).

Once you have the proper size rivets get a propane torch and heat a rivet until it is orange-hot. Slip it into the hinge, put the hinge on an anvil with the rivet head facing down and give it a few almighty whacks with a ball-peen hammer to mushroom the rivet. Apply a touch of paint and job done.

Good luck,
Alan
N.J.

The difficult bit is not making it too tight !

Barrie

Barrie is correct...do not mushroom the tip of the rivet too much. An over-tight rivet will prevent the hinge from operating. You’re not building a bridge...no need to totally flatten the rivet.

Alan
N.J.

Another thread on this site specifies that the rivets should be 5/16” in diameter and should have a brass rivet on either side of the hinge.

Alan
N.J.

I think you mean a brass washer either side.

Shop for brass shim washers, as you will want them thin, like about .010"

Ok, thanks all for your input.

I usually don't bother when we zinc plate them.

If you do decide to disassemble them be careful not to lose the brass washers.

Thanks Andrew. If it’s an option to have them plated without removing the rivets then I’ll do that.

Look on balance I think it's easier.

If you sandblast them well first and make sure they they are straight so that no large bits get missed they should look ok.

You may get a little rust leaking out from the rivet heads but pulling them apart and putting them back together is a pita. Just my 50c worth.