Loose awning bracket

[reserves]

My awning is loose at the rear, where circled in the photo.

I can’t figure out what these bolts are, are the rivets or should they do up?

I’ve tried with a small allen key but they just spin.

The two at the bottom which you can’t see in the photo are loose too.

 

[WelshGas]

View attachment 141795

My awning is loose at the rear, where circled in the photo.

I can’t figure out what these bolts are, are the rivets or should they do up?

I’ve tried with a small allen key but they just spin.

The two at the bottom which you can’t see in the photo are loose too.

I think they are rivets.

 

[reserves]

I think they are rivets.

That’s my thinking too.

Odd they’ve come loose.

 

[WelshGas]

That’s my thinking too.

Odd they’ve come loose.

The only way to tighten them up is to remove bracket and squash them tight in a vice or using some form of compression tool/clamp.

 

[reserves]

The only way to tighten them up is to remove bracket and squash them tight in a vice or using some form of compression tool/clamp.

Thanks.

Was thinking I’d drill them out and re-rivet

 

[WelshGas]

Thanks.

Was thinking I’d drill them out and re-rivet

Yes, that's another way. I would still remove the bracket to work on though.

 

[reserves]

Yes, that's another way. I would still remove the bracket to work on though.

100% agree. Give it all a good clean too

 

[secret lemonade drinker]

You could drill the rivets out and replace with button flange screws with washers and locknuts underneath.
Then you could tighten or loosen them at anytime. Stainless steel fixings are best.

 

[sidepod]

I think the rivet thing is anti theft so bolting defeats this?

 

[secret lemonade drinker]

I think the rivet thing is anti theft so bolting defeats this?

Except you can just open it and unscrew it from the bracket, I think its rivetted because its cheap and quick (and crap)

 

[Louis II]

Except you can just open it and unscrew it from the bracket, I think its rivetted because its cheap and quick (and crap)

I think a rivet is the right fixing for the job there. A bolt would be more likely to fail.

 

[tobyprivett]

Mine snapped and the bracket was replaced under warranty

 

[secret lemonade drinker]

I think a rivet is the right fixing for the job there. A bolt would be more likely to fail.

A thin wall aluminium tube held in place by the thin wall deformation is not stronger than a solid steel bar especially when joining bracketry supporting the weight of an awning.
Now if we were talking proper rivets put in hot and hammered they are but pop rivets are for thin sheet, convenience and speed.

 

[Louis II]

A thin wall aluminium tube held in place by the thin wall deformation is not stronger than a solid steel bar especially when joining bracketry supporting the weight of an awning.
Now if we were talking proper rivets put in hot and hammered they are but pop rivets are for thin sheet, convenience and speed.

Not about the strength of the bolt, rivets cope with shear forces and vibration far better than bolts.