Antonitis
Member
I started working on my -12 empennage last week. The 3rd LP4-3 test rivet I pulled jammed the M12 puller. Looks like the shafts/mandrels of the LP4 rivets are too small for the feed tube on the M12. Multiple mandrels can get jammed side-by-side in the tube. Here's my fix.
Note: This fix will make your M12 Rivet tool only capable of pulling LP4 madrel-size rivets.
I purchased some length of 3mm OD x 2mm ID stainless steel tubing from amazon.
I cut off a 5" length of tubing and countersunk the end ever so slightly with a jobber drill bit.
Approximately 1" from each end of the tubing, apply two wraps of blue painters tape to the tubing to increase the outside diameter of the tubing to match the inside diameter of the M12 feed tube.
Insert the stainless tubing into the feed tube until the countersunk end is flush with the business end of the feed tube.
On the collection side of the tube, use JB Weld to adhere the stainless tube to the M12 feed tube. Make sure you get about an 1/8th" of JB Weld between the stainless tubing and the feed tube.
I removed any JB Weld that got on the feed tube with the wire brush on my grinder.
I've pulled 50+ rivets now with no jams... and I don't need to flip the tool over to collect the LP4 shafts. Woo Hoo!
Here's some pictures for clarity.
Note: This fix will make your M12 Rivet tool only capable of pulling LP4 madrel-size rivets.
I purchased some length of 3mm OD x 2mm ID stainless steel tubing from amazon.
I cut off a 5" length of tubing and countersunk the end ever so slightly with a jobber drill bit.
Approximately 1" from each end of the tubing, apply two wraps of blue painters tape to the tubing to increase the outside diameter of the tubing to match the inside diameter of the M12 feed tube.
Insert the stainless tubing into the feed tube until the countersunk end is flush with the business end of the feed tube.
On the collection side of the tube, use JB Weld to adhere the stainless tube to the M12 feed tube. Make sure you get about an 1/8th" of JB Weld between the stainless tubing and the feed tube.
I removed any JB Weld that got on the feed tube with the wire brush on my grinder.
I've pulled 50+ rivets now with no jams... and I don't need to flip the tool over to collect the LP4 shafts. Woo Hoo!
Here's some pictures for clarity.