Cos Posted December 11, 2017 Report Share Posted December 11, 2017 Hi, Not sure of you have the same frustration like I do when I see some panels (bottom ones especially) which are fixed with permanent rivets that must be drilled in to be able to remove the bottom panel. I have a sidewinder and a Tundra and both have the same way to fix the bottom panels. Of course to work properly on the machine (oil change, chain case, muffler etc…) I would like to remove the bottom panels so there is more room for inspection as well.. For that I must drill the existing rivets and buy new ones to replace every time. Next year, will have to repeat the same procedure… My question is this: are there any rivets of some sort that can replace the original ones which can be easily unscrewed or taken off without drilling? Then to be put back just the same so next time removing and putting back panels will not require drilling nor spending money on new rivets. Please send link where to buy and pictures if you have found a solution to this, thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cnc Posted December 11, 2017 Report Share Posted December 11, 2017 You could maybe use clip nuts and bolts. https://www.dormanproducts.com/c-642-speed-nuts.aspx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hparaptor Posted December 11, 2017 Report Share Posted December 11, 2017 I'm unfamiliar with these machines but wonder if a simple hole in the skid would suffice to gain access to the drain plug bolt? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrGutz Posted December 11, 2017 Report Share Posted December 11, 2017 I use this for similar issues like skid plates and add-on lights, etc.... https://www.amazon.com/HOMEBUILDERS-RIVET-NUT-TOOL/dp/B01GVSX8O4 You can find it on the web, I use the 6mm one. Later GutZ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBlavl Posted December 11, 2017 Report Share Posted December 11, 2017 Polaris uses these in a lot of applications. They are easy to get on and off and work very well. However on the bottom panels they still use regular rivets. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MBEE8BA/ref=asc_df_B00MBEE8BA5298710/?tag=hyprod-20&creative=395033&creativeASIN=B00MBEE8BA&linkCode=df0&hvadid=198059945180&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8279484664997314109&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9007168&hvtargid=pla-349370846139 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cos Posted December 11, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 11, 2017 1 hour ago, JBlavl said: Polaris uses these in a lot of applications. They are easy to get on and off and work very well. However on the bottom panels they still use regular rivets. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MBEE8BA/ref=asc_df_B00MBEE8BA5298710/?tag=hyprod-20&creative=395033&creativeASIN=B00MBEE8BA&linkCode=df0&hvadid=198059945180&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8279484664997314109&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9007168&hvtargid=pla-349370846139 Yes I was thinking of those.... Thanks for the link. Do you think would be strong enough for underneath? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dooright Posted December 12, 2017 Report Share Posted December 12, 2017 5 hours ago, Cos said: Yes I was thinking of those.... Thanks for the link. Do you think would be strong enough for underneath? For the lower panels , I'd say no The other options above are much better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T3R3 Posted December 12, 2017 Report Share Posted December 12, 2017 Lile Gutz said use a riv nut. Harbor Freight has a kit. They are used all the time in aircraft. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markusvt Posted December 12, 2017 Report Share Posted December 12, 2017 Check this out: Blind Nuts and Insertion tool dooright 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnomoGary Posted December 13, 2017 Report Share Posted December 13, 2017 They are a brilliant bit of kit we used them all the time when I was working. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBlavl Posted December 13, 2017 Report Share Posted December 13, 2017 On 12/11/2017 at 4:19 PM, Cos said: Yes I was thinking of those.... Thanks for the link. Do you think would be strong enough for underneath? I don't think I would use them on the bottom plastics. They are subject to too much punishment to rely on plastic rivets IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shore1066 Posted December 13, 2017 Report Share Posted December 13, 2017 My only concern would be the engineer that designed the sled put rivets in that area for a reason. If other fasterns would work they would have installed them there. Besides if removing and replacing rivets each year may be a great reason to get yourself a air rivrting tool. A present for you from you. Lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cos Posted December 13, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 13, 2017 8 minutes ago, Shore1066 said: My only concern would be the engineer that designed the sled put rivets in that area for a reason. If other fasterns would work they would have installed them there. Besides if removing and replacing rivets each year may be a great reason to get yourself a air rivrting tool. A present for you from you. Lol Well the only reason I think is that they want people to bring their machines to dealers instead of doing maintenance by themselves,.. They could've put bolts easy to unscrew as well... but not the case... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackstraw Posted December 13, 2017 Report Share Posted December 13, 2017 Seems like a tremendous amount of work every season regardless. I like my method of putting fuel in and riding. End of season put in trailer and repeat next winter! Trailblazer, eddieskidoo, Phil 1 and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnomoGary Posted December 14, 2017 Report Share Posted December 14, 2017 The one and only reason they use pop rivet's is cost . A few cent's per rivet as opposed to several dollar's. As for keeping the bolts in use heavy grade lock tight , or the old fashioned way , tying wire , or even better both methods... JBlavl and MrGutz 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cnc Posted December 14, 2017 Report Share Posted December 14, 2017 Those plastic fasteners Are used on my two Polaris windshields. They get loose and rattle with time and when I rolled one of the sleds they all broke or popped out saving the windshield from breakage. Maybe they are meant to give like that so using them IMO any impact and those bottom panels may part company with the sled. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBlavl Posted December 14, 2017 Report Share Posted December 14, 2017 21 hours ago, Shore1066 said: My only concern would be the engineer that designed the sled put rivets in that area for a reason. If other fasterns would work they would have installed them there. Besides if removing and replacing rivets each year may be a great reason to get yourself a air rivrting tool. A present for you from you. Lol Engineers are tasked with using the cheapest solution that is practical for the application. Pop rivets on a manufacturing line are installed in seconds and they do the job and cost almost nothing compared to a lot of the other fasteners mentioned here. Serviceability is low on the priority list for the manufacturers. dooright and SnomoGary 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shore1066 Posted December 14, 2017 Report Share Posted December 14, 2017 I agree about using the quickest installation and cost. Also the engineers are not thinking ever about removing panels. They only build they don't fix the product. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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