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Old 02-14-2012, 09:48 PM   #1
jonequest
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Default Can I install the front Cowl WITHOUT rivets

I HATE the EZGO system of riveting everything together. I have already ordered and used a set of rivets to reinstall my body after painting it the first time. Then my wife wrecked into my cart so I had to take the front off again to repaint it. Now that I am ready to reinstall again I really don't feel like getting more rivets to put it on. I have already replaced the bottom rivets with screws and nuts with big washers, the only rivets I used on the front cowl last time were the 6 that hold it to the dash. I would like to use something different since I would like to pull the front cowl occasionally to mess with stereo stuff, etc. Has anyone else used something other than rivets that held together good? I was thinking of those plastic snap in "rivets" that hold bumper skin and other plastic panels on cars. They can be popped open and reinstalled many times.


Any thoughts or suggestions?? I am hoping someone knows of just the right thing at Napa, Autozone, Home Depot etc. and can fill me in before I run all over town trying different things.
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Old 02-14-2012, 11:27 PM   #2
TerryH
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Default Re: Can I install the front Cowl WITHOUT rivets

I looked at many options. Bought a few to test and ended up riveting it back on and calling it good. I couldn't find anything that I felt like that was going to work correctly. Hopefully somebody else had a better idea.
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Old 02-14-2012, 11:39 PM   #3
jonequest
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Default Re: Can I install the front Cowl WITHOUT rivets

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I looked at many options. Bought a few to test and ended up riveting it back on and calling it good. I couldn't find anything that I felt like that was going to work correctly. Hopefully somebody else had a better idea.
Yeah that is what I am afraid of. I may try some plastic pop-in things I seen at the auto parts store once. beyond that I guess I will just go get the rivets again.

P.S. I remember us talking about gear noise in another thread. I had the loud whine from my new input shaft. I finally decided to do something impossible (supposedly) and welded new metal back onto my old shaft splines, then recut them with a dremel and spun the shaft with a drill in a vise to sand it down evenly to the right diameter again. I kept test fitting into a motor on a workbench to get it to fit right and it works! I have only driven it about 1-2 miles then my wife hit the cart with her van. I will get back on the road tomorrow to drive it some more. I figured if it was going to bust and strip it would have happened pretty quick. Input shaft noise is now gone since it is the old shaft again. I hope it holds.
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Old 02-15-2012, 02:38 AM   #4
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Default Re: Can I install the front Cowl WITHOUT rivets

The biggest single problem with that type if repair is that it usually ruins the temper of the repaired part. It can get the job done, but eventually you'll be replacing it. At least you know it will be a problem and can get a new one on its way.
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Old 02-15-2012, 06:50 AM   #5
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Default Re: Can I install the front Cowl WITHOUT rivets

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Originally Posted by jonequest View Post
P.S. I remember us talking about gear noise in another thread. I had the loud whine from my new input shaft. I finally decided to do something impossible (supposedly) and welded new metal back onto my old shaft splines, then recut them with a dremel and spun the shaft with a drill in a vise to sand it down evenly to the right diameter again. I kept test fitting into a motor on a workbench to get it to fit right and it works! I have only driven it about 1-2 miles then my wife hit the cart with her van. I will get back on the road tomorrow to drive it some more. I figured if it was going to bust and strip it would have happened pretty quick. Input shaft noise is now gone since it is the old shaft again. I hope it holds.
If I recall, you installed a new input shaft, but used the rest of the guts as they were. Is this the case? If I recall, the newer gear meshing with the slightly worn ones caused a whine. I believe the consensus was that it would eventually work itself out, as the new shaft wore. A thought I had, which will no doubt receive criticism, is to reassemble your rear end and use old bearings (if you still have them, then apply some fine valve lapping compound to the two gears where you have old meshing with new. As this is highly experimental, don't try it unless your rebuilt old shaft fails. If you were to spin it either by hand or with the motor, then flush, reassemble, replace bearings, fill with oil and reinstall. Drive, then repeat as necessary.

I just got through replacing all seals and bearings in my 2004 motor and 1998 differential. I was surprised that when I left a rare earth magnet in the old oil overnight, I saw nearly nothing in the way of metal. Quite the opposite of the condition of the steering rack, which had lost a significant amount of metal. Once I reassembled and began riding it, all the whining I was accustom to was gone. Apparently with mine, all the noise was just from worn out bearings. I did add 1 Oz. of STP oil treatment, which may have also helped. I hit 32 mph this weekend going downhill full throttle, and was amazed at how quiet this thing is now. So I can sympathize with you if you installed new parts and it got louder.
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Old 02-15-2012, 08:57 AM   #6
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Default Re: Can I install the front Cowl WITHOUT rivets

After painting I reinstalled my front cowl with 2 piece plastic push pins I found at Lowes. They are the ones you push into place and then the center pin is tapped in to snug it up. So far they are holding the front cowl firmly in place and were alot easier to install than the factory rivits.
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Old 02-15-2012, 09:17 AM   #7
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Default Re: Can I install the front Cowl WITHOUT rivets

In the shop, factory rivets are an inexpensive and fast way to secure the body. Removal is as close as a cordless drill and reinstall with an air driven rivet gun in minutes....... nothing I can think of would be better/easier?
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Old 02-15-2012, 11:31 AM   #8
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Default Re: Can I install the front Cowl WITHOUT rivets

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Originally Posted by kbrehbay View Post
After painting I reinstalled my front cowl with 2 piece plastic push pins I found at Lowes. They are the ones you push into place and then the center pin is tapped in to snug it up. So far they are holding the front cowl firmly in place and were alot easier to install than the factory rivits.
I will look for those. Are they in a bag or in the specialty drawers?
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Old 02-15-2012, 11:38 AM   #9
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Default Re: Can I install the front Cowl WITHOUT rivets

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Originally Posted by scottyb View Post
In the shop, factory rivets are an inexpensive and fast way to secure the body. Removal is as close as a cordless drill and reinstall with an air driven rivet gun in minutes....... nothing I can think of would be better/easier?
My situation is different. I would like to able to get to stereo equipment, wires, painting the cowl and other things a few times per year. Drilling, cleaning scrap metal fillings, then driving to a EZGO shop or ordering rivets online that I have to pop rivet back into place is kind of a pain compared to being able to pop off a temporary part and reinstall it as many times as I need to. Plus I have a feeling that the rivets will only come as a set at most dealers. I avoided using some of them at the points behind the side rails and used srews with nuts instead. They were easy to install and I can pull them off and on many times. The average person never removes the body or does it once to paint and reintall. I am painting the front for a second time already. I would just like somethinge easier. Club Car is a cinch to work on compared to EZGO in my opinion. My first cart was a CC and I pulled the body a few times during modifications and cleaning and it was a snap. Plus my CC frame never rusted. They both have quirks though.
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Old 02-15-2012, 01:01 PM   #10
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Default Re: Can I install the front Cowl WITHOUT rivets

I like the idea of the "pop-pins" (plastic automotive rivets), but think, in time, with the vibration and shake that might be present in a cart, they would wear and break. Not that that would be too big an issue. If they did, it would be individually and they could be replaced the same way
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