Cabinet connections

[tim jones]

I was trying to remove the upper cabinets behind the driver seat. All =
of the bolts came out except for 2. They would just turn and turn. I =
thought they were stripped but they would not come out even with outward =
pressure on them. I finally had to cut the cabinet to get it out. =
Discovered that the bolts went into threaded kneerled insets that had =
come loose in the aluminum rail so they would have turned for ever. I =
broke two of the inserts while trying to remove them. What I need to =
know is if there is a replacement for these inserts and where to find =
them. Has anyone discovered a way to grip these inserts while the =
cabinet is in place. =20
Thank You
Tim Jones
timjones

 

[patrick flowers]

>
> I was trying to remove the upper cabinets behind the driver seat.
> All of the bolts came out except for 2. They would just turn and
> turn. I thought they were stripped but they would not come out even
> with outward pressure on them. I finally had to cut the cabinet to
> get it out. Discovered that the bolts went into threaded kneerled
> insets that had come loose in the aluminum rail so they would have
> turned for ever. I broke two of the inserts while trying to remove
> them. What I need to know is if there is a replacement for these
> inserts and where to find them. Has anyone discovered a way to grip
> these inserts while the cabinet is in place.

Tim,

Sounds like GM borrowed some aircraft technology to solve the problem of
using threaded fasteners in aluminum. I don't remember the specific
terminology, but most mechanics call these "nutserts". They're inserted
with a threaded mandrel which is pulled, expanding the back of the
insert(similar to a "pop" rivet).

Justin's JBWeld suggestion is a good one if you didn't mess up the
nutserts too bad to reuse them. If the nutserts are beyond reuse, get
"nut plates" of the correct size from an aircraft parts house. These
have a nut mounted to a steel plate with two ears that are used to mount
the plate to the aluminum structure with rivets.

Aircraft Spruce and Specialty is one possible mail order source. They
have a neat catalog, which is available free upon request at their web
site:

http://www.aircraft-spruce.com/main.html

Hope this helps!
Patrick
- --
Patrick Flowers
Mailtoatri63

The GMC Motorhome Page
http://www.gmcmotorhome.com