Tunnel Extension Rattling on '03 Mountain Viper......

[Super Sled]

Hello everyone! I know it's summertime and not as many people are thinking sleds right now -- But I've been working up a storm on the sleds getting them ready for next year. I like being out in the garage this time of year with the armer weather and all, but I still haven't lost that itch to ride the sled!.

I'm having issues with 4 rivets on my 2003 Mountain Viper. They are the 4 rivets on the right (passenger side if was a car....) that are underneath the black plastic piece on the side. They are actually the 4 rivets on the left side that hold the tunnel extension onto the main tunnel. Those 4 are all so loose I can be turn them like a loose screw with my finger!!! All 4 on the other side are still tight.

I tried to hammer them tighter with 2 hammers, holding 1 to the back and then hitting the other onto 1 side of the rivet. None would tighten back up at all.


Is there any option to salvage these 4 rivets????? Or do I just need to have them removed??? I DO NOT have a rivet gun of any sort (I've heard it's best to use a pneumatic riveter on tunnels.......) so I can't really do the work replacing them --- unless I drilled them out and replaced with screws. But this is my tunnel we're talking about here...........

Does anybody have any ideas short of taking the sled into the dealer next fall and having them replace the 4 rivets???????????

It does need to be fixed as there is some free play when I try to lift the back of the sled -- not good. And it rattles pretty good (annoying as he!!) at idle. That, and I think it's getting worse.

Thanks in advance,

Mike B.

 

[Viper_Dave]

If they have been loose for a while, they won't tighten up. The holes will be worn oversize. Do you have an air compressor? If so, go to Harbor Freight and buy an air riveter. Cheap and good enough for the job. You'll have to drill the old ones out, or grind them. I did my Viper and my Attak and used an air chisel doing the Attak. MUCH easier and WAY faster. Next, drill the holes to the next bigger size rivet. I purchased my rivets from Fastenal. You can get them from Bethviper as well. I've removed and replaced over 800 rivets between the 2 sleds. Not a mechanically tough job, just time consuming. Hope this helped!!

 

[Cam/ Viper adict]

I have been using aircraft rivets. But you do need the proper bits that fit onto an airchisel. These rivets are light and hold like crazy... You might want to give them a try...