Trapdoor2
Senior Member
I haven't riveted a brake lining in about a hundred years. We'll, since A&P school, at least...1977. So here I am, installing bonded brake linings. I bought the hammer-style tool from one of the obvious Model A vendors.
After using it on two linings, I went looking for "better". I found one from RAPCO, their RA825. It uses a screw to seat the rivets. Otherwise, it is almost identical.
The hammer version is functional. It has been ground to fit an A brake as the web is too tall to fit in the tool's throat. I had to file another 0.06" off for better clearance.
It also comes with a counterbore to cleanup rough holes in the linings. Nice.
Hammering out the old rivets is pretty easy. Hammering in new rivets isn't difficult but the results are inconsistent. See attached pix. The rivet with a gap is the hammer type, the other is after I "fixed" it with the RAPCO tool.
The RAPCO requires a good bit of hand strength to get the job done. After 2 linings, I'm gonna need some Tylenol. A cheater bar will help...but I gotta be careful not to over-stress it. I had to file clearance into the RACO, just like the Hammer version.
The RAPCO produces cleaner, more consistent results. Easier to control, quieter. The hammer type pops out old rivets faster and is less tiring to use overall.
In the end, I like the RAPCO...but I'll keep the hammer type for knocking out rivets and use the RAPCO to install them.
After using it on two linings, I went looking for "better". I found one from RAPCO, their RA825. It uses a screw to seat the rivets. Otherwise, it is almost identical.
The hammer version is functional. It has been ground to fit an A brake as the web is too tall to fit in the tool's throat. I had to file another 0.06" off for better clearance.
It also comes with a counterbore to cleanup rough holes in the linings. Nice.
Hammering out the old rivets is pretty easy. Hammering in new rivets isn't difficult but the results are inconsistent. See attached pix. The rivet with a gap is the hammer type, the other is after I "fixed" it with the RAPCO tool.
The RAPCO requires a good bit of hand strength to get the job done. After 2 linings, I'm gonna need some Tylenol. A cheater bar will help...but I gotta be careful not to over-stress it. I had to file clearance into the RACO, just like the Hammer version.
The RAPCO produces cleaner, more consistent results. Easier to control, quieter. The hammer type pops out old rivets faster and is less tiring to use overall.
In the end, I like the RAPCO...but I'll keep the hammer type for knocking out rivets and use the RAPCO to install them.
