Vapor Trail
Well-known member
- 204
- 265
- 63
- Location
- Kentucky
Does anyone know where to get the rivets used on the rear fenders that are domed with no holes in them? What kind of tool does that require? Thank you
-
Steel Soldiers now has a few new forums, read more about it at: New Munitions Forums!
Rivet Information
- Thread starter Vapor Trail
- Start date
papakb
Well-known member
- 2,285
- 1,188
- 113
- Location
- San Jose, Ca
A little history:
The rivets are called Cherry-Max and when installed the mandrel (the "nail" in the middle) snaps off and seals the hole. Cherry-Max rivets are extremely length specific and you need the right one based on the thickness of the material your rivetting. I've bought hundreds of them from Ebay usually sold as surplus because the military purges them when they hit their date code. Sounds funny, what goes wrong with a rivet? It's not the rivet, it's the lubricant on it that date codes it out of the system. As the lubricant dries up the pull, or grip strength changes so they purge them. In the Air Force if a rivet leaves stock and they lose trackability on them they get tossed.
There are other companies that make them along with installation tools but they can get expensive. I personally have a Cherry-Max tool but prefer ones made by a company called FSI. Stay away from the Chinese tools, they break at the wrong time. Pop-rivets will work in a pinch but don't look quite right.
If you look into them you can find tools that will also install riv-nuts (threaded inserts) that'll come in handy in the HMMWV. One of the optimum places to use them is to install the shifter. Getting up under the tunnel to install nuts and washers is a PITA and thread serts make this a one person job.
The rivets are called Cherry-Max and when installed the mandrel (the "nail" in the middle) snaps off and seals the hole. Cherry-Max rivets are extremely length specific and you need the right one based on the thickness of the material your rivetting. I've bought hundreds of them from Ebay usually sold as surplus because the military purges them when they hit their date code. Sounds funny, what goes wrong with a rivet? It's not the rivet, it's the lubricant on it that date codes it out of the system. As the lubricant dries up the pull, or grip strength changes so they purge them. In the Air Force if a rivet leaves stock and they lose trackability on them they get tossed.
There are other companies that make them along with installation tools but they can get expensive. I personally have a Cherry-Max tool but prefer ones made by a company called FSI. Stay away from the Chinese tools, they break at the wrong time. Pop-rivets will work in a pinch but don't look quite right.
If you look into them you can find tools that will also install riv-nuts (threaded inserts) that'll come in handy in the HMMWV. One of the optimum places to use them is to install the shifter. Getting up under the tunnel to install nuts and washers is a PITA and thread serts make this a one person job.
Last edited:
Vapor Trail
Well-known member
- 204
- 265
- 63
- Location
- Kentucky
Thank you! I'll look into that.
Vapor Trail
Well-known member
- 204
- 265
- 63
- Location
- Kentucky
I have the FSI D-100-MIL-1 Blind Rivet gun. Will that install those Cherry Max rivets?
papakb
Well-known member
- 2,285
- 1,188
- 113
- Location
- San Jose, Ca
Yes, it will.
M1165A1
Well-known member
- 423
- 873
- 93
- Location
- The High Country, CO
I've had two of the FSI D-100-MIL-1 tools and both have broken when the seals failed and the oil leaked. I have switched to an Astro.
Vapor Trail
Well-known member
- 204
- 265
- 63
- Location
- Kentucky
Good to know. I'v e seen the solid rivets and those were the ones I was wondering about. I think I'll use the cherrys everywhere
- 7,016
- 9,689
- 113
- Location
- Papalote, TX
I wonder if anyone repairs these?
I have several manual rivet guns including a very large one that pulls 1/4" steel rivets with ease but occasionally I need a more compact one.
- 4,414
- 4,207
- 113
- Location
- Brentwood, Calif
The mfg still repairs them, Per the technician I spoke too at FSI, all the surplused units leak because the seals dried out and all the fluid leaked out, he says thats why the unit were surplused out of the system, he said if you buy one and when you open the box, if it’s all wet? The unit is inop, or will be after a few pulls.
papakb
Well-known member
- 2,285
- 1,188
- 113
- Location
- San Jose, Ca
I had mine service a few years back at FSI in Sonoma and it still leaks a little bit but works perfectly but Steve is right, most were surplussed out because of leaks. The manual units will do rivets and rivnuts while the pneumatic ones will only do rivets. Both great products though.
M1165A1
Well-known member
- 423
- 873
- 93
- Location
- The High Country, CO
What did they charge for service?
papakb
Well-known member
- 2,285
- 1,188
- 113
- Location
- San Jose, Ca
About Fastening Systems International Inc.
Contact them for current information and pricing.
M1165A1
Well-known member
- 423
- 873
- 93
- Location
- The High Country, CO
About Fastening Systems International Inc.
www.fsirivet.com
Contact them for current information and pricing.
I did, they haven't gotten back yet and I am dying to know!
- 4,414
- 4,207
- 113
- Location
- Brentwood, Calif
The FSI unit isn’t worth it….there are better units, I’ve been real happy with this one
www.milwaukeetool.com
M12™ Rivet Tool (Tool Only)
www.milwaukeetool.com
- 7,016
- 9,689
- 113
- Location
- Papalote, TX
Will it accept the FSI "tools"The FSI unit isn’t worth it….there are better units, I’ve been real happy with this one
M12™ Rivet Tool (Tool Only)
Unlike you though I do not need one on a daily basis, the battery would be dead or just no good when I needed it.
papakb
Well-known member
- 2,285
- 1,188
- 113
- Location
- San Jose, Ca
My experience with rivet tools is that most of the various available adapters are made by the same company and will fit almopst any tool whether it's CherryMax, Huck, FSI or one of the others. The offset adapters, right angle or nose extensions all seem to be the same.
- 503
- 716
- 93
- Location
- Fort Lauderdale, Florida USA
I have one of these and it is really good. It uses the same battery as my screw drill uses.The FSI unit isn’t worth it….there are better units, I’ve been real happy with this one
M12™ Rivet Tool (Tool Only)
- 713
- 987
- 93
- Location
- Southern Minnesota
I contacted FSI for service a while back and the reply was they wouldn't quote a price until I sent it to them, and I had to pay shipping to get it back even if I didn't want them to service due to cost. Needless to say I decided to wait.
I really would like to get a hydraulic or electric rivet gun that can handle the cherry-max, as well as the riv-nuts. Or is servicing the D-100 worth it?
I really would like to get a hydraulic or electric rivet gun that can handle the cherry-max, as well as the riv-nuts. Or is servicing the D-100 worth it?