installing gear rack for M-VII

[drdale]

I had an aluminum gear rack made to replace the old broken plastic one.
The old one was attached by rivets. It must have been a special rivet gun as the standard one has a broad head that does not go down far enough into the groove. It snaps the rivet off high in the groove which I am sure would interfere with the gear.

Any ideas of another way?

I have tried everything I can think of to attach pics and nothing works.
Oh well.

[JPG]

I had an aluminum gear rack made to replace the old broken plastic one.
The old one was attached by rivets. It must have been a special rivet gun as the standard one has a broad head that does not go down far enough into the groove. It snaps the rivet off high in the groove which I am sure would interfere with the gear.

Any ideas of another way?

I have tried everything I can think of to attach pics and nothing works.
Oh well.

It is indeed a non-typical rivit.

IIWM(and may be in my future), I would tap and screw.

Do tell us about the machined rack. (Pant Pant):D

[skou]

It is indeed a non-typical rivit.

IIWM(and may be in my future), I would tap and screw.

Do tell us about the machined rack. (Pant Pant):D

Yes, please do. I have a feeling my next Shopsmith will be an OLD MkVII.

(It'd be an update from my ER stuff. Maybe.):D

steve

[skou]

It is indeed a non-typical rivit.

IIWM(and may be in my future), I would tap and screw.

Do tell us about the machined rack. (Pant Pant):D

What?

I caught JPG making a mistake?

RIVET.

(Sorry bro, you make so few!)

steve

[drdale]

Send me an e-mail address and I will send you some pictures.

[redleg]

I replaced a gear rack on a Mark VII with pop rivets and it worked fine. Just make sure the pop rivet is long enough to go through both the rack and the tube with plenty of expansion inside the tube. My first ones were not long enough. I used a sleeve from an electrical wire kit but anything that will fit snugly over the rivet and inside the counter sunk hole in the rack would work. Maybe a piece of small copper pipe or old brake line. Post number 4 second picture in the following link.

https://forum.shopsmith.com/viewtopic.php?t=12768

[JPG]

What?

I caught JPG making a mistake?

RIVET.

(Sorry bro, you make so few!)

steve

I make far more than you can imagine!]https://www.google.com/search?q=rivit&c ... 20&dpr=0.8[/URL]

Might be an across the ocean thingey!:rolleyes:

[db5]

[quote="JPG40504"]I make far more than you can imagine!]

You misspelled invariable.

[JPG]

You misspelled invariable.

Yes some folks have well ingrained 'opinions'.

Makes 'honest' self evaluation unlikely.

No wonder so many need use of a shrink!:D

[drdale]

After much mucking around and swearing I got the gear rack installed. Could not fine a fine tube to make the rivet trick work. Electric crimp connectors were not strong enough and split part. Finally drilled a little hole in the rack to accommodate a size 8 screw which could be turned into the little hole in the tub. Then had to partially drill the rack holes to widen the hole to accept the screw head. Had to also file down the screw heads so they would counter-sink way down in the hole. Life is so much better now that the screw drive is working again.

Thanks to all of you for your advice.

My machinist is waiting to see if it all worked before payment. I can ask him if he would be willing to make others if you like. Final amount is not yet finalized. Will let you know.