Rivet Gun Problem

David Z · #1 02-25-2012, 08:12 AM

A few days ago, my rivet gun started acting up. I was back-riveting the stiffners onto an aileron skin and just suddenly started to make almost a buzzing noise. Really fast, but soft hits. I struggled to finish the rivet I was on. So I started playing with it a bit, changing the air pressure around etc. Nothing seems to fix it. With the wall regulator set at 80psi, I will slowly start to squeeze the trigger, it will act normal with really slow, soft hits. Then as I squeeze it a bit more it begins to hit very fast, almost a buzz, but still hitting really soft. As I get near the end of the trigger pull, it stops banging all together and just hisses air.

I pulled the throttle valve apart, and it looks brand new. I started pulling the barrel apart, and I can't actually get the barrel off. I assumed it was threaded into the handle, but with a 12" wrench, I can't make it turn. (Yes, I removed the lock-pin)

My gun is the USATCO 17-3xSP

Mike S · #2 02-25-2012, 08:25 AM

Do you oil the gun periodically?

RV Jerry · #3 02-25-2012, 08:37 AM

IF THE RIVET SET IS NOT SEATED ALL THE WAY INTO THE GUN IT WILL DO EXACTLY AS YOU DESCRIBED. SOMETIMES YOU WILL GET A BURR OR SCORING ON YOU SET ALSO I HAVE SOMTIMES CAME ACCROSS SETS THAT ARE TOO SHORT ( SHAFT SIDE ) HOPE THIS HELPS, JERRY

bcondrey · #4 02-25-2012, 01:28 PM

80 psi is FAR too high for a rivet gun!

Bob

larrynew · #5 02-25-2012, 01:52 PM

I accidently pulled the rivet gun trigger without it being against something and had similar symptoms like the buzzing. I left (or put) a rivet set in the gun and jammed it hard against my work bench like I was trying to push it into the rivet gun. Don't know how but that fixed it and 10,000 rivets later, the gun is still working fine.

#6 02-25-2012, 02:32 PM

"80 psi is FAR too high for a rivet gun!"

What? Shop air is generally about that.

David Z · #7 02-25-2012, 03:45 PM

It started doing it while I was driving a rivet, pressure on gun, against the back-rivet plate. I used that specific rivet set for the stiffners on the empennage and one aileron skin. I was working on the second aileron skin stiffners when it started acting up. I tried a different rivet set that I use frequently and got the same result.

Yes, I oil the gun. When I had the throttle valve apart, it had a nice coating of oil over everything.

The gun is designed for 90psi. I've never used it that high, but it shouldn't break at 40psi, 50psi or even 80psi.

Any ideas on how to get the barrel apart? I'm expecting to find a $1 seal broken.

penguin · #8 02-26-2012, 01:38 PM

You need to use a wrench with about a 24" handle to crack the thread on the barrel - wrap the handle in a thick cloth to stop it marking up in the vice. Its all quite straight forward once it comes apart - I think there are a couple of exploded part diagrams on the web.

Pete

wfinnell · #9 02-26-2012, 11:55 PM

Try giving it a smack on the back with a rubber hammer. Then run a bunch of oil through it.

sglynn · #10 02-27-2012, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paul mosher

"80 psi is FAR too high for a rivet gun!"

What? Shop air is generally about that.

Right, shops run at 90 but you have to put a presure value or reducer at the gun and reduce to about 30 psi for #40 rivets and a little higher like 40psi for #30 rivets. That's all you need. More than that and it smashes the rivet so fast you can't pull off in time.