[Hayseed]

I have been struggling to find a good tool for removing the plastic fender rivets. I took a rivet shopping with me today and found this tool.

View attachment 1067

These are Blue Hawk Hog Ring Crimping Pliers from Lowe's for $10. They are narrow enough to fit it tight spots and grip under the rivet easily. The set screw lets you adjust how much they close so you will not damage the rivets. I grew up on a hog farm and helped my father crimp a lot of rings into hog noses to stop them from rooting. I never in my wildest imagination thought I would be using hog ring pliers to maintain an off road vehicle.

 

[fvannorden]

Very cool, I wonder if Tractor Supply carries them?

 

[Kevin92xj]

I've got a couple different pliers specifically designed for those fasteners from when I worked at a Chevy dealer. I picked them up from either Snap On or Matco.

 

[Mickey164]

Hello All. Just wanted to mention this before more people go buy a tool they already have. Take a look at your included Polaris tool kit. The pliers included are designed for taking the plastic rivets out. I found this out last week while doing some mud removal and I wanted to remove a side panel.

 

[Hayseed]

Mickey164, you are right about the pliers in the tool kit. They have a grove that is supposed to fit underneath the rivets. They will fit some of the rivets. I was unable to remove the rivets that secure the inspection plate in the bottom of the front storage box. Maybe it is my old arthritic hands but I had a lot of trouble using them. I was looking for a tool that had a bit more precision and would get the rivets out with minimal damage to the plastic.

 

[Scoundrel]

I've munched a few rivets with that special pliers set.
I also bought a special screwdriver thingy for removing those rivets and have munched a few with that too.

Bottom line is that it helps a lot to spray them with WD-40, but it's a better idea to do that, AND buy a crapload of replacement rivets for cheap.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/100pcs-ATV-...ash=item2ed22985b5&vxp=mtr&afsrc=1&rmvSB=true


This tool works pretty well for removing the rivets, if they're lubed up with WD-40. If not, they chew up the heads trying to get under them.
Amazon.com: Lisle 35260 Plastic Fastener Remover: Automotive

 

[Steve Bone]

What I have found that works is two Metal 1 Gallon paint can lid removal tools. You need to position the flat 90 degree screw driver type blades under the right spots in the head of the rivet. then clamp them together and pull them straight out. Yes this take a little finesse and style but I have ruined the least amount of rivet heads this way. These metal opener are often times free when you buy paint by the gallon.

 

[Scoundrel]

Interesting idea.

And welcome to the forum!

 

[luvdamud]

Guys, go to harbor freight and buy this tool:
Push Pin Pliers

$8 and it is the right tool to remove the push pin rivets. I've been using it for years. BTW, the SnapOn version was $40 so I stuck with the Harbor Freight version!!

 

[Hayseed]

Luvdamud, thanks for the Harbor Freight tip. I was at Harbor Freight last weekend and the local store either did not have these or did not know about them. They look very similar to the hog ring crimping pliers and are cheaper.

 

[Hayseed]

Luvdamud, I picked up two sets of the push pin pliers at Harbor Freight today. They were on sale for $5.99 and they really work great. The tip is narrow to get into tight spots and angled a bit to one side. I had no trouble at all getting out fender rivets in tight places. I am travelling on Sunday for three days of Ace riding and mudding with One-Shot and I bought a set as a gift to him. In my local Harbor Freight, they were not with the other pliers. I gave the clerk the part number and he looked up the location.

 

[Scoundrel]

Dammit, now I'm going to have to go over to HF.
I hate going in there, I always end up buying way more junk than I need.
Thanks a lot, guys. :grumpy:

 

[cumminsdieselgt]

Thanks luvdamud! Great tip! I called the local HF and they have them. Will be there right after work! I will have to shop today the "normal" guy way. Go in, blinders on, pick up only the thing I came for, pay and leave! My wife hates when I do that....she gets no time to look around. I just hope I get waited on before I have to breathe. The smell of that Chinese rubber tends to hypnotize me, makes me forget what I came for, and then I have to spend 30 minutes looking around in there before I can remember....

 

[Hayseed]

I do understand what you guys are saying about Harbor Freight. I have not had access to one since I retired and moved from Houston in 1999. About a month ago they opened a store in Tyler about 20 miles from me. I cannot stay out of it. This morning I went there with the sole intention of getting only the push pin pliers. I left with two of these and a 12 volt air compressor to add to my Ace travelling tool kit.

View attachment 1080

These nozzles are terrific for washing a mud encased Ace. The deliver full volume of water under pressure to efficiently remove lots of mud. A couple of weeks ago I was in the doghouse and bought my wife a 10x12 greenhouse at Harbor Freight. Since they opened that store my pension is shrinking.

 

[Scoundrel]

Aaaand I just got back from my own trip to HF.
I found the pliers for $7.99. Last one on the rack.
And I'd been wanting to get a better set of wheel chocks, really.
And you can't have too many multi-meters floating around in your toolkits.
And the pocketknife shaped like a key? Well, it was only $2, and my knife-freak buddy will get a kick out of it.

Went in for $8 tool. Came out with $30 or so worth of stuff.

 

[luvdamud]

My closest HF is about 90 minutes away and two years ago I took the wife with me to buy these plyers and browse around a bit... An hour and almost $300 later I left with my $8 plyers and a pickup load of other stuff! I'm amazed at the amount of junk I never knew existed but as soon as I see it I just can't live another day without it.

 

[Hayseed]

Luvdamud, that is a good story. Financially, you would have been better off to buy the $40 SnapOn tool. However, you would not have had nearly as much fun.

 

[Kevin92xj]

Was just at HF today! Picked up a set of ramps and tiedowns to get the Ace in my pickup bed.

 

[Scoundrel]

Ramps? From HF?
Are you having your welder buddy check them over first?
I tell people "Never buy anything at HF that your life will depend on."

 

[Kevin92xj]

They are a bit cheesy. They looked good on the wall, then I opened them up at home and was like, wtf. Oh well, they are cheap and I may weld on some more supports if they start bending. I fabed up some safety chains to keep them from kicking out already.