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“Keeper Rivets”?
- Thread starter etocr
- Start date
They are used just to keep the parts in place while the rest of the structure is built and then the actual structural fasteners can be drilled and used. In the case of the RV-8 this is done during attachment of the vertical stabiliser.
Keeper rivets typically refers to rivets that are installed to keep stuff aligned when the structural fasteners are absent. In this case, the load on the aft end of that weldment is carried by the AN bolts going through the vertical stab spar.
Heads up- On the older models, if you are rolling the fuselage around on it's own wheels without the vertical stab installed, you can shear those rivets because they aren't nearly robust enough to see that kind of action. Especially if you side load them by hitting the tail wheel against a chock or lip in the floor or whatever. I'd guess the 14 might have the same opportunity.
Once you get the vertical spar fitted, even if you take it off again stick a couple of bolts in the bolt holes and snug them down to eliminate that possibility.
Heads up- On the older models, if you are rolling the fuselage around on it's own wheels without the vertical stab installed, you can shear those rivets because they aren't nearly robust enough to see that kind of action. Especially if you side load them by hitting the tail wheel against a chock or lip in the floor or whatever. I'd guess the 14 might have the same opportunity.
Once you get the vertical spar fitted, even if you take it off again stick a couple of bolts in the bolt holes and snug them down to eliminate that possibility.
