Brass fairing rivets. How are you flaring them?

[Rob Farmer]

Just bought some new rivets ready to fit a new dash to my freshly painted S fairing. Whats the best way to flare the rivets in place?

[Bigrider]

A simple solution I have used is getting a bolt with a countersunk head (v base under head) of the appropriate size. Attach nut on other side and tighten until rivet is flaired, replace with what ever you are using to attach to fairing.
Dave H
San Antonio, TX

[Rob Farmer]

Thanks Dave. I'll give it a go.

[ericrat]

I grind the threads down on a drywall screw until it fit into my pop rivet gun. A fine thread screw works better. I think the bugle head of the drywall screw flares the rivet better. The rivets are soft, it doesn't take muck force and of course you don't want to crack the plastic.

Eric

[H96669]

The proper tool from 1905,you can change the rivetting heads and there are some with more reach. But I still use that old one. Old time cobbler/harnessmaker ???





Leathercraft stores may just have a tool, all you need is a hammer and an anvil on the other side.Looks like this at the tip.





Anvil will work better if shaped like that, for that slightly rounded PRO look.

[boxerboy81]

They need to be flared insitu. I use #1 to hold the screen to the dash. Push fit, cheap, quick, last forever.
# 2 has a propensity to cause cracking, #3 are a pita to use.

[batoutoflahonda]

Using the bolt to flair them is a good idea.

But since we are on the subject, and should any one else pull this up, here is some advise. When it comes to riveting; if the rivet material is harder than than the material it is fastening, it is best to squeeze or pull the rivet (rivet squeezer or puller) rather than "buck" the rivet with a hammer or gun. Use the softest rivet material you can feasibly use. This will help keep the hole from cracking. Also, if installing into soft fiberglass, soft plastic, fabrics, or if the hole is a little too big, try using a washer with same hole diameter of the rivet shank. This will keep the rivet from recessing into the hole. Too keep water out, you can put a dab of sealant into the hole.

Google drill sizes for what ever type rivet you use. Getting the correct hole size is key to a tight install and helps pull everything together. You can make them flush by countersinking the holes and shaving the rivets.

[Kai Ju]

I used to use the BMW supplied tool to set the copper rivets and never bothered looking for a different way...........

But if you choose to go with the stock plastic rivets to hold the windscreen in place here is a tool I made years ago that makes the job relatively easy.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showt...0#post17826450

[H96669]

In plastics....or soft materials compression rivets are the best.They do not need much banging to set, just some light Tap Tapping with the right die tool not to flatten the head too much from its original dome shape.And even with metals they can sure hold up pretty good. I keep lots of then on hand in all sizes/lenghts altough if you are careful they can be cut down a little on a grinder. Solid brass ones are hard to find but they are out there, sure are in my friend's "cobbler supply" catalogues.

[boxerboy81]

The brass bits in question aren't really rivets. They are just hollow copper bushes that come flared at one end. They hold the RS dash to the fairing, and rivets are used to hold the screen to the fairing.

To stay in place, the copper bushes are placed in situ and the unflared end is flared there so that the bits stay put together.