F-7101 Edge Distance?

RV7Factory · Post by **RV7Factory** » Sat May 03, 2008 11:24 pm

The rivets along the top edge of my F-7101s are a little close to the edge. They are maybe 1.5D, not 2D. I am not going to worry about it, did anyone encounter the same thing on theirs?

Bottom row of holes in this picture...

weezbad · Post by **weezbad** » Sat May 03, 2008 11:58 pm

yes i did, and i replaced them...2nd set came out a little bit better but still closer than i liked. i did radius them more carefully the second time to nest in the angle perfectly and they were marginally better.

weezbad · Post by **weezbad** » Sun May 04, 2008 7:33 am

also due to the thickness of the sheet i feel certain it wont matter.
but you know YMMV, and call vans and all that.

Brantel · Post by **Brantel** » Sun May 04, 2008 8:08 pm

Yep,

This was an area that made me stew for awhile. Back in my thread somewhere I went on a rant stating that you should use this part to position the angle instead of following the directions and drilling the angle first. This also causes problems when you get to the little reinforcing angle that goes behind the tank attach bracket.

I made it all work out but with many many trips to the sander.

RV7Factory · Post by **RV7Factory** » Sun May 04, 2008 8:25 pm

Thanks guys. Misery loves company.

You are both right on here, and this is why I am not going to worry about it. In the worst case, even if I did replace the parts, it wouldn't make much if any difference as the limiting factor is the flange of the angle (aux longeron) it mounts to. At 1.5D, I can live with it because I can't see any way, other than also replacing the auxillary longerons, to improve the edge distance here.

After posting this last night I looked at several of my go-to web sites and it seems that mine are nothing out of the ordinary.

Brantel · Post by **Brantel** » Sun May 04, 2008 8:32 pm

I would not replace them, just work around it like I did but like weez say's do what you feel good about. I really doubt it will be a problem for Van's on this part. With the way that part becomes a web for the two angles, as long as it is in there tight, there is not much shear on the rivets in that direction.

It is almost guaranteed to be like this if you follow the directions....