Sorry about the late reply to this, but I'm sure you can get new
captive nuts (provided the holes aren't rusted away). I'm not
exactly sure what they're called, but if you go into a specialist
bolt/screw/etc supply place and describe them they'll know what you
need. The bolts are regular, everyday bolts, but the nuts have a
cylindrical extension on one side which is countersunk. You'll
need to buy a tool to attach them, but as I recall it's pretty
cheap - what you do is slip the cylindrical extension through
the sheet metal hole, put the tool on the bolt, and do the bolt
up tightly. you then undo the bolt, & remove the tool et voila
a new captive nut. The tool just bends the metal in the countersunk
area of the bolt over so the sheet metal is squeezed between it and
the nut.
To make it clearer (hopefully), here's some ASCII art (requires
fixed pitch font):
_ _
_| \_/ |_ <- countersunk cylindrical extension
| |
|_________| <- regular looking nut part
_____===_===_____ <- countersunk cylindrical extension
| | squashed down on sheet metal
^ |_________| <- regular looking nut part now firmly
| affixed to sheet metal.
sheet metal
There, clear as mud? With any luck, they'll be available in the
size you need. All the above assumes that you can stop the nut
from spinning around while you're tightening the bolt....
Hope this isn't too late,
Frank Biedermann
69 TR6 PI
Adelaide
AUSTRALIA
On Mon, 23 Aug 1999 BILL_ANDERSON@HP-USA-om12.om.hp.com wrote:
> While removing the rear fenders (wings) on my TR4A, I broke off several of
the
> bolts holding the fenders to the "B" post. I tried drilling, EZ-out and
heat,
> to no avail. I finally succeeded in heating the post hot enough (cherry
red)
> that I was able to remove the captive nut. My question
> for the list is what do you use as replacements for these nuts? I am sure
that
> I am not the first to experience this and what is the best solution for
> re-hanging the fenders (wings)
|