How do I set RivNuts?

712 Oman · Post by **712 Oman** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 1:38 am

Hello Forum,

I've had to drill out half a dozen of the Rivnuts that hold the wooden siderails in place.

I can get new Rivnuts, But how do I set them? Some kind of Pop Rivet type gun perhaps, or is there another way?

Thanks in advance.

Ian in Oman

Profpinz · Post by **Profpinz** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 2:06 am

G'Day Ian,

You set them with a special tool, which can be either hand or pneumatic..... BUT ...... I have set them with a plain bolt and basic tool.
BTW, I've always called them "nutserts" but they are the same thing as rivnuts.
I "think" nutserts are the English / European name

I have a pneumatic nutsert tool that does up to M5 and a hand tool that does M6, but from time to time I have needed to do M8 etc
Rather than buy a tool for the odd occasion I machined a bush that had a hole through the centre, appropriate in size for the setting bolt and that had an OD larger than the nutsert flange (SDP used large flange or "sheetmetal" nutserts), then I "roughened" the bottom of the bush (where it contacts the nutsert rim) but grinding a few small radial grooves with the aid of a Dremel.
These "grooves" stop the nutsert from rotating when you tighten the bolt to set the nutsert by gripping the roughened flange on the "serts".
After that, you just need to insert an appropriate size hex head of "unbrako" bolt, screw the nutsert on and load the assembly in the hole.
You can hold the bush with a pair of self gripping pliers while you turn the bolt with a socket and handle or an Allen key that has been suitably lengthened (for leverage) with a bit of tube / pipe.

David Dunn · Post by **David Dunn** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 3:08 am

Gee Peter, that's a lot of work

What I've done for a few odd nutsert I don't have the tooling for is take a bolt of the appropiate size ( at least 2") , thread a nut onto it (up about an 1"), then set 3 washers onto the bolt ( with oil on the surfaces against the nut and other washers). then thread the nutsert onto the bolt ,up to the washers, then place (load

) the assembly into the hole and hold the bolt from spinning and tighten the nut, thus expanding the nutsert as the nut pulls it back.

Dave Dunn

milesdzyn · Post by **milesdzyn** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 3:50 am

Ian....Here is a link to one of my favorite setting tools. It is compact simple and durable. $20.00

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/menus/to/rivnuttools.html

http://mdmetric.com/prod/rivetnuttool/rivetnuttool.htm

I hope they come out with a larger version to do M8 and M10 nutserts.

Heres a link for a do it yourself, like Dave describes.

http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepage ... ivnuts.htm

and another

http://www.micapeak.com/bike/FJR1300/ho ... -tool.html

Miles

Profpinz · Post by **Profpinz** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 5:30 am

Good point guys!
Oh well, I've never been one to always take the easy option

..... Still I guess we both arrived at the same point in the end

712 Oman · Post by **712 Oman** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 5:33 am

Thanks everybody for a great response.

There's always more than one way to skin a cat!

Cheers me dears with ice cold beers.

Ian

Scooter · Post by **Scooter** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 2:19 pm

Here is a little set up that I used to fix my truck. The large hex center part has a clearance hole in it. Use a wrench to hold it and a socket to turn the bolt to tighten the nut.

Scooter