Rick6a
Well Known Member
I've set thousands of blind rivets in my life, but this was a first.
One of the last tasks in the fuel tank assembly process is attaching the back baffle to the "Z" brackets using AD42-H blind rivets. To my chagrin, the stems were breaking off prematurely on approximately 33% of the fasteners installed. In an e-mail to Van's I noted using THREE different pullers to set the fasteners and the results were always the same. Once the stem breaks off short, there is no way the puller can grab it again. I also asked what I should do now. I included this photo:
Van's response was that basically, they had no idea. I went out and brought a brand new blind rivet puller and (winced as I shaved the side off the nose to clear the side of the "Z" bracket) the results continued to be the same. After 2 rivets, I stopped.
I contacted Van's again and informed them that after using FOUR different rivet pullers, I have to strongly suspect that the fasteners are defective. It seems the stems on the AD42-H are too soft and tend to break off prematurely. I also informed them I installed the remaining "Z" brackets with Cherry rivets without further incident.
I have to ask if anyone else has experienced this phenomena and if so, please let them and us and the next builder know about it.
One of the last tasks in the fuel tank assembly process is attaching the back baffle to the "Z" brackets using AD42-H blind rivets. To my chagrin, the stems were breaking off prematurely on approximately 33% of the fasteners installed. In an e-mail to Van's I noted using THREE different pullers to set the fasteners and the results were always the same. Once the stem breaks off short, there is no way the puller can grab it again. I also asked what I should do now. I included this photo:
Van's response was that basically, they had no idea. I went out and brought a brand new blind rivet puller and (winced as I shaved the side off the nose to clear the side of the "Z" bracket) the results continued to be the same. After 2 rivets, I stopped.
I contacted Van's again and informed them that after using FOUR different rivet pullers, I have to strongly suspect that the fasteners are defective. It seems the stems on the AD42-H are too soft and tend to break off prematurely. I also informed them I installed the remaining "Z" brackets with Cherry rivets without further incident.
I have to ask if anyone else has experienced this phenomena and if so, please let them and us and the next builder know about it.