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jk84



Member Since: 17 Feb 2015
Location: Wherever my Defender takes me...
Posts: 720

United Kingdom 2015 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Aintree Green
Rear door gas strut installation
Wondering if anyone tried to install the rear door gas strut with a hand riveter - or if a gun is a must? I don't have one and not economical to buy as I don't think I'll find a use for it apart from this. But if it's not really possible with a hand tool like the below (suitable for 4.8mm rivets) then I got to figure something else out.

http://www.screwfix.com/p/forge-steel-hand-riveter/6607c MY15 Aintree 110 SW - for sale - https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic82781.html
MY16 Santorini 90 HT - sold
Post #542210 21st Jun 2016 9:57pm
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Pilgrimmick



Member Since: 16 Nov 2015
Location: Highlands
Posts: 581

United Kingdom 
Not sure the fitting tool will be as important as the strengthening braces that protect the bodywork. 80" 1948
Lightweight V8
Bowler Tomcat
130 Station wagon
90 300tdi
(Santana PS10 pick up)
Range Rover L322 (Ful fat)
Post #542215 21st Jun 2016 10:05pm
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leeds



Member Since: 28 Dec 2009
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 8578

United Kingdom 
With a small hand riveter it is possible however you might struggle as handles are short and a reasonable amount of pressure is required.

So choices are apply strong hand pressure, beg, borrow a larger riveter or use some small size rivnuts.


Brendan
Post #542216 21st Jun 2016 10:09pm
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isacs



Member Since: 28 Aug 2015
Location: Leamington spa
Posts: 404

United Kingdom 
I did mine with a hand riveter. Takes a few squeezes
Post #542224 21st Jun 2016 10:22pm
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jk84



Member Since: 17 Feb 2015
Location: Wherever my Defender takes me...
Posts: 720

United Kingdom 2015 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Aintree Green
Great, thanks for the advice gents - most helpful as always Thumbs Up MY15 Aintree 110 SW - for sale - https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic82781.html
MY16 Santorini 90 HT - sold
Post #542230 21st Jun 2016 10:41pm
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Jonnie421



Member Since: 12 May 2015
Location: Wales
Posts: 116

Wales 2007 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 SW Tonga Green
Yep . Did mine with a hand riveter ..A good squeeze and a strong grip needed .
The finished job is fab . A great help with the door ! Thumbs Up Defender 90 Tonga green . My 2007 County .2.4Tdci puma .
Too many other Discos to mention, including a V8 petrol Disco3 and diesel Disco 3 !! ( All gone)
Post #542235 21st Jun 2016 10:44pm
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miker



Member Since: 13 Sep 2015
Location: Surrey
Posts: 1759

United Kingdom 1999 Defender 110 Td5 CSW Rioja Red
Whereabouts are you? I have a lazy tong riveter, much easier!
Post #542237 21st Jun 2016 10:50pm
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jk84



Member Since: 17 Feb 2015
Location: Wherever my Defender takes me...
Posts: 720

United Kingdom 2015 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Aintree Green
Thanks miker - North London but travel to Cornwall almost weekly so wouldn't be difficult to stop by anywhere in Surrey. I'll get the hand tool first, 15 quid so worth a try, and if need be I may bother you at some point. MY15 Aintree 110 SW - for sale - https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic82781.html
MY16 Santorini 90 HT - sold
Post #542241 21st Jun 2016 11:18pm
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miker



Member Since: 13 Sep 2015
Location: Surrey
Posts: 1759

United Kingdom 1999 Defender 110 Td5 CSW Rioja Red
No worries!

My other base is west london way anyhow!
Post #542242 21st Jun 2016 11:19pm
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Browny90



Member Since: 20 Jul 2015
Location: Derbyshire
Posts: 183

United Kingdom 2004 Defender 90 200 Tdi SW Stornoway Grey
prep it and pop into your nearest HGV/ bus Garage, chuck them a fiver and I'm sure they will use a compressed air riveter.. I think it holds the rivets much tighter and minimal effort! My 1986 90 is currently on a full rebuild, with new chassis, Paint etc.. Very much a hybrid, TD5 Chassis, tub & bulkhead with a 200TDI and LT77 GB Painted in Stornoway Grey Smile 2 years off the road, but getting close to completion now
Post #542265 22nd Jun 2016 7:51am
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Happyoldgit



Member Since: 14 Sep 2007
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 3471

United Kingdom 2015 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Corris Grey
Just buy a decent riveter and be done with it. You've already discovered one job that would be easier with the right tools who's to say there won't be others you will come across at some point in the future? Defenders have loads of rivets and jobs that require rivets but they are also a useful fastener in other applications too. Steve.
Owned numerous Land Rover vehicles of all shapes and sizes over the decades.
Current Defender: A non tarts hand-bagged Puma 110 XS USW.

[Insert something impressive here such as extensive list of previous Land Rovers or examples of your prestigeous and expensive items, trinkets, houses, bikes, vehicles etc]

http://forums.lr4x4.com

I used to be Miserable ...but now I'm ecstatic.
Post #542358 22nd Jun 2016 12:22pm
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JOW240725



Member Since: 04 May 2015
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 7875

United Kingdom 2012 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Orkney Grey
If I may tag on to this thread... I assume we're possibly talking about the Overlander (Nakatanenga) Rear Door Stay v2? The door not staying open is a pain sometimes so like the look of this, however I have two concerns I'd appreciate some user comments on:-

1. Any issues with it bending door frame?
2. The other day I was parked in a tight spot and could only open the door just enough to get something in. Obviously the strut is trying to force it fully open, but is it easy to stop it part open?

Thank you. James
MY2012 110 2.2TDCi XS SW Orkney Grey - http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic43410.html
MY1990 110 200TDi SW beautifully faded Portofino Red - https://www.defender2.net/forum/post743641.html#743641
MY1984 90 V8 Slate Grey - https://www.defender2.net/forum/post744557.html#744557
Instagram @suffolk_rovers
Post #542364 22nd Jun 2016 12:38pm
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Cupboard



Member Since: 21 Mar 2014
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 2971

United Kingdom 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 HT Corris Grey
Yes I did, because I was being lazy I couldn't be bothered to go and get the lazy tongs.
In future I wouldn't be lazy, it was far more effort than doing it with the right tool. I got them as tight as I could by hand, then put a ratchet clamp round the handles of the riveter to get some more leverage. It was a really stupid way of doing it and I'm a bit ashamed of it but there. Once I'd started I thought I might as well finish Laughing
Post #542367 22nd Jun 2016 12:50pm
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Dave-H



Member Since: 08 Feb 2011
Location: Surrey
Posts: 1507

England 2007 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 HT Tonga Green
I've fitted 3 of these in the last few years. Never used rivets, I used self tapping screws.
So much easier, can easily be removed/re-sited if required, easily tightened if it should work loose over time [as opposed to having to drill out and replace rivets] and secures as well [if not better] than rivets ... never had one work loose yet Thumbs Up Guns and Landrovers .... anything else is irrelevant.
Post #542397 22nd Jun 2016 2:03pm
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jk84



Member Since: 17 Feb 2015
Location: Wherever my Defender takes me...
Posts: 720

United Kingdom 2015 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Aintree Green
Well, a lot of helpful advice as always. In the end ordered the lazy tong riveter that miker and Cupboard mentioned. Not the strongest of fellows so realised from the posts that better to get something more solid. Good points from Browny and Dave-H though. Surely the thread will help other newbies to the gas strut.

JOW - good questions - no experience yet obviously but my two pence worth from how I reasoned. Indeed it's the similar strut, mine is from mudstuff - I was getting the heat distributor for wife's 90, and searched through other bits - a dangerous practice. Don't know if it can cause any damage to the door frame, but there is a useful thread under Brandon's (leeds) section on here, and people haven't mentioned any mishaps. I imagine it will be an issue in tight spaces where you want to open the door only partially - probably of concern to people parking a lot around city - as it will push the door until fully opened. So you would need someone to hold the door for you or holding it with a spare hand - not ideal. I gave this some thought but then the number of times that the door hit me while parking outdoors meant it was of more importance to stop the Defender fighting with me Wink MY15 Aintree 110 SW - for sale - https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic82781.html
MY16 Santorini 90 HT - sold
Post #542418 22nd Jun 2016 3:01pm
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