Replacing Rivnuts?

[Journaler]

So I tried to remove a steel plate that was bolted to my aluminum trailer.
They used rivnuts in the aluminum body. When I went to turn the bolt, the rivnut started spinning.
A few minutes of yanking later, I was able to get the bolt out, but the rivnut came with it!

The hole that was left is about 5/8" in diameter. Which is too large for any of the rivnuts I could find online. I don't have access to the backside, so whatever I use will have to be a "blind" solution. I think I could maybe use a plusnut, but am not sure.

The rivnut was placed into an 18 gauge piece of aluminum.

Does anybody know of a fastening system to allow me to permanently or semi-permanently mount the plate back on?

 

[jetmech09]

http://www.cardinalcomponents.com/fasteners.htm

or try to find a pop rivet that big...

 

[Journaler]

I found a rivnut that would fit the hole (might even be too big), but McMaster-Carr doesn't sell the necessary tool to install.

Product: 98560A593
http://www.mcmaster.com/#catalog/118/3297/=hahe2k

The largest mandrel they have is 3/8" whereas I'd need a 1/2" mandrel.

Worst case, I guess I could make one of my own, but that could get ugly pretty quickly.

I'll look around to see if there's a regular pop rivet that'd fit that hole.

 

[Journaler]

I take that back, they do have a mandrel that will work, but it's $550 for the tool+mandrel!!!

http://www.mcmaster.com/#rivet-nut-mandrels/=hahhfy

That's almost half the cost of the trailer!

 

[bd8134]

You might be best off welding a nut on metal tab and pop riveting it down in 2 places across the hole.
Something along these lines.. http://www.jhpfasteners.com/spot-weld-double-spot-weld-c-66_67_68_201-l-en.html

 

[CJKaz]

You can expand the rivnut with a not & bolt. Put nut on the bolt, thread bolt into rivnut then hold bolt with wrench while "loosening" the nut. As you run the nut down the bolt it will pull the rivnut and expand it.

 

[jetmech09]

You could also try a dzsus fastener.
http://www.rallydesign.co.uk/catalog/images/DZUS02.JPG

 

[Zeke]

What's the bolt size?

Maybe a nutsert will fit better:
http://www.clipsandfasteners.com/Nutserts_s/141.htm

 

[Journaler]

What's the bolt size?

Maybe a nutsert will fit better:
http://www.clipsandfasteners.com/Nutserts_s/141.htm

The original is a 3/8 16 bolt, but I don't have to use the same bolt.
I can't tell the difference between a nutsert and a rivnut?

 

[Journaler]

You can expand the rivnut with a not & bolt. Put nut on the bolt, thread bolt into rivnut then hold bolt with wrench while "loosening" the nut. As you run the nut down the bolt it will pull the rivnut and expand it.

This is genius in its simplicity! Kicking myself for not thinking of this myself.
This technique will come in handy.

 

[Zeke]

The original is a 3/8 16 bolt, but I don't have to use the same bolt.
I can't tell the difference between a nutsert and a rivnut?

Thought one would have a wider flange to capture the material around the 5/8 hole. Maybe not. If you could somehow use a backing washer like on a non blind op rivet, that would do it. But, to get it through the hole....

 

[CJKaz]

Was your original nutsert aluminum? Galvanic corrosion between a steel nutsert & your Aluminum sheet would be a concern. McMaster has Aluminum pieces on that same page.

If origina was steel, I have a complete AVK set with setting tool, only issue is it is metric. If you don't mind having an oddball, I can loan it to you.