getaway Posted July 4, 2011 Share Posted July 4, 2011 The bit of the door retainer on the door has pulled out from it's pop rivets leaving two holes. I can't rerivet as the holes are now too big. This means that I need to resite the door retainer and repair the damaged area. Can anyone advise me of the appropriate filler to use, and will the paintwork be normal cellulose paint? The motorhome is an Autohomes Wayfinder and the door skin is very thin aluminium. Any advice would be much appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lennyhb Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 Any auto filler will do but my preference would be to use Plastic Padding's Gel Coat Filler you can get it from yacht chandlers, it will adhere better than filler won't need rubbing down if applied properly & if the van is white shouldn't need painting. There is a range of aerosols made for caravans but bear in mind the door will be made from pre-coated aluminium so you will never get a perfect finish. Another suggestion have a look around Caravan/Motorhome dealers for an alternative door retainer that will cover the damaged area. Something like this Barrel door retainer or Plastic Barrel door retainer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keithl Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 Hi Getaway, I replaced the pop rivets with riv-nuts and bolts when I replaced our door catch, that way if ever it gets broken again all I have to do is unscrew the bolts and fit a new one. The riv-nuts I used where possibly M4 and required a hole slightly larger than the pop rivets so replacement was easier than repair. If you google riv-nuts you should come up with the tool (a bit like a pop-rivet tool) but if not post a reply and I'll try and find a link for you. Keith. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BGD Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 My suggestion would be: don't relocate it, you'll just be drilling more holes in the bodywork. Just look for some better/bigger diameter fasteners in any DIY store, or google for specialist suppliers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keithl Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 Hi again, Following on from my earlier post, and re-iterated by Bruce's comment, have a look at something like this rivnut setting tool. All you would need to do is drill the existing holes out to suit the rivnuts and then fix the new retainer with suitable bolts (preferably M4) and a blob of sealer to prevent water ingress through the threads. Just be very careful drilling the holes out so as not to tear the aluminium, you may actually be better filing them out.. HTH, Keith. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 Not come across rivnuts before, but they look just the job. Agree about not making more holes. Have a look here http://tinyurl.com/5vophcv for tools, c/w selection of rivnuts, or threaded rivets. Don't get steel: they will almost certainly be sheradized, or bright zinc plated, and will soon begin to rust. Favourite would be stainless steel, which should allow the nuts to be tightened more fully than the aly ones. Aly a bit soft, and danger of stripping thread when tightening. Use nuts of similar material to rivnut. Small boat chandler for s/s nuts and bolts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
getaway Posted July 5, 2011 Author Share Posted July 5, 2011 Many thanks for all responses. Not familiar with rivnuts but sounds a far better idea than filling and painting.Thanks again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lookback Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 Just found this on U-tube and explains rivnuts very well: Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alf Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 Hi Dick Threaded rivets have been around a long while I have had a set for 20 years. The best way in my opinion would be to make a template out of 3mm steel plate following the exact shape of the door mounting bracket drill holes and tap for fixing bolts paint and then fit to old position with new fixing holes into the van body the door retainer can then be fitted to its original position with bolts rather than pop rivets Screwfix do a good range of stainless steel set screws and bolts. Alf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pepe63xnotuse Posted July 8, 2011 Share Posted July 8, 2011 I would either look at Lenny's idea of sourcing a different retainer which would cover the damaged area.. or Alf's method,of securing an additional "base plate",prior to re-fixing. ..because just trying to fix it back where it came from,no matter how hi-tech any filler or fastener may be..it's only ever going to be as strong as the damaged/weak parent material to which it is fixing to... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keithl Posted July 8, 2011 Share Posted July 8, 2011 Sorry but I still think the best idea is using Rivnuts. For an M4 Rivnut you need approx a 6mm dia hole so in opening out the existing hole form something like 3.2mm (1/8") to 6mm you should remove all evidence of damage. It certainly has on the three half catches (6 holes) that I have replaced on our MH. Hold a washer or similar with a 6mm hole over the damge and see if it will all be removed by changing to a Rivnut before making a decision. Also I wouldn't want to be rivetting or even bolting a steel spacer onto my Ally body and risking the corrosion that is then inevitable :'( Keith. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pepe63xnotuse Posted July 8, 2011 Share Posted July 8, 2011 Oh! I see..I've only just realised that the OP's vehicle is ali' skinned... :$ (..I was picturing a small chunk of grp being ripped out.. *-) ) ..we used to use rivet nuts where I used to work but my only doubts now would be,just how stretched/weak the original panel is,seeing as the original fixing have been pulled out.. (..although you would've expected there to be a timber frame/backing behind where they intended to fix something,wouldn't you... :-S ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lennyhb Posted July 8, 2011 Share Posted July 8, 2011 The ones I suggested mount through the door so they can't pull out I've not used the plastic one. The metal one is die cast alloy and very strong. They are designed to fit caravan doors so you would need to check your door thickness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 Door retainers have different designs and it would be helpful to know which sort getaway's Wayfinder has. If it's the simpler type shown in the list on http://www.leisureshopdirect.com/Caravan/caravan_accessories/Door_retainers.aspx then I'd opt for a version of alf's repair method, gluing & screwing a plate of thickish aluminium over the original fixing area and gluing & screwing the door-retainer to the plate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 What a coincidence! Only a few minutes ago I used the search engine to find "rivets" as I remember Keith's post last year re renewing the side catches on his m/home. I have had the catches for some time now but still not fitted. However, reading all these posts I realise that the job is way out of my competence and now wonder whether a local garage might do the job for me? Being Saturday of course nowhere is open to find out! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keithl Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 Hi Patricia, I'd imagine you'd probably be better off giving someone like Dave Newell a ring as I'm sure he'll be far more used to using things like Rivnuts than a lot of small garages (and certainly main dealers!). But then again I may be wrong and your local garage may know exactly what you wanted. Give them a call and see what they say... Keith. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 Keithl - 2011-07-09 12:12 PM Hi Patricia, I'd imagine you'd probably be better off giving someone like Dave Newell a ring as I'm sure he'll be far more used to using things like Rivnuts than a lot of small garages (and certainly main dealers!). But then again I may be wrong and your local garage may know exactly what you wanted. Give them a call and see what they say... Keith. Thanks Keith. Unfortunately I am not going near Dave's but I have copied your advice and instructions (hope that is ok with you?) to show or tell them what I need. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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