Bolts in Skid Plate

[Phazernut]

I noticed the other day that I have 3 of the fastners that hold my skid plate on my Apex coming out. I know I've read about replacing them on here. Did a search but didn't have a lot of luck. What are people using to fix the problem?

 

[KevinS]

I used rubber wellnuts.

 

[CaptCaper]

Lot's of posts on this. The correct RivNuts are bought at McMasters and they are cheap. $6 for pack of ten. Drill with a 25/64's drill bit.
There are two layers so a longer rivnut is needed. An engineer here at TY had a post and this is what he did and what I did a few years ago.

http://www.mcmaster.com/#94020a387/=bjjcb2

Same as OEM but just a tad longer so they hold good.

I made a tool to install them like this guy

http://www.fjr1300.info/howto/rivnut-tool.html

Matter of fact I had a rock wipe out one of the rivnuts. Lucky for engine I had the skid plate. The rivnut was bent real bad and oblonged the hole but held. I had to drill a new hole next to it and install a new one.

 

[Phazernut]

Is that those rubber nuts that expand when you tighten them. What size are they?

 

[CaptCaper]

I read that the rubber well nuts will turn when trying to get the skid off. The rivnuts are jammed tight in the install process.
I've had my skid off lot's of times. Here is what the engineer said.
Quote "
There are two layers of metal to go through for a total of what I roughly measure as 5mm.. The specs for the 14.73 long AVK A-L insert(rivnut) that they send with the kit, state that the material thickness range is up to 4.2mm. What that tells me is that they are simply not long enough. So, if you wish to stick to using rivnuts, or replace your falling out rivnuts, the answer is to get the next size longer, the 17.27 long rivnut which is good for up to 6.6mm material thickness. Fits in your original hole". End Quote

 

[Phazernut]

Cool thanks. Ill get some in the off season and get them all replaced

 

[Irv]

Cool thanks. Ill get some in the off season and get them all replaced

When I installed mine (factory kit) I used some Permatex Right Stuff around the base of them.

When tightening them the Permatex, squished out between them and the belly pan and formed a great bond.
No issues with them turning or coming loose this winter(the rivnut) but I did have one bolt/screw come loose but should be able to cure that with a lock washer instead of just a flat washer?

 

[CaptCaper]

Yamaha uses these for other parts of the sled. I've replaced 2 head light/gauge mount bracket bolts. The ones that are 10mm headed. I overtightened them and the bolt broke. I think they are a soft bolt. Anyway I just pryed/bent the rivnut out and replaced with new ones. There might be other spots as well. Pack of ten for $6 is a deal.

 

[KevinS]

No problems with the rubber wellnuts turning. I've taken my skidplate off lots of times. Used them for 5 years with no issue. I dont know the size. I just went to home depot and compared the size to the original rivnut and bought those.

I didnt want to bother ordering from mcmaster carr when these work just as well.

 

[Phazernut]

I like your thinking Kevin