move a blind rivet on rudder LE

[delusional]

The top rivet on the rudder leading edge is blind and is right up against the counterbalance. I can't pull it properly with my puller, as the puller head is a bit large. Seeking opinions on various solutions such as:

- get a tool with a narrower head
- make a new hole for the rivet 3/8" away
- try to borrow a fancier puller from local eaa chapter
- try to buck a solid rivet there
- super glue (just kidding)
- ???

 

[alpinelakespilot2000]

Hi Richard-
If possible, grind down part of the head of your rivet puller. If you're doing slow-build wings you'll need to make your puller low profile in order to rivet the tank attach brackets on anyway. If you've spent a lot of money on the puller and don't want to modify it, just go to Harbor Freight and pick up another one for $3.
Hope this helps.

 

[sf3543]

Look at tips for homebuilders to see how to do this

Look at the builder's tips on the EAA home site. You can make a small aluminum wedge out of scrap, drill a small hole in the middle for the rivet mandrel to stick through, then install the rivet in the hole, slide the wedge over the rivet head, bend the mandrel over a bit and then set the rivet by pulling against the wedge, allowing the head of the rivet puller to lean over and miss the counter balance weight.
A Sonex builder shows how to do this in one of the video tips. You may not need to grind on your blind rivet puller after all. See the following link:

http://eaavideo.org/video.aspx?v=1432781652

 

[delusional]

that worked

And really not much trouble. Thanks for the input.