Technical Educate me on Clecos please.

While Clecos are temporary fasteners, what you suggest isn't a good use for them. If the mounting surfaces are hard to get to and "too tight to get a nut and bolt on either side", the length of a Cleco, about 2", would be more than a short bolt. You don't say whether or not the aluminum air channel could separate from the vehicle while it's being driven and cause a problem for another vehicle. Is this vehicle in competition? I can't imagine any sanctioning body allowing Clecos for that use.

 

Your hired !

 

This is a fantastic thread better than anything I couldn't comprehend on You Tube . I've always been wary of using them due to fact I was trained in hand fitting using many processes and have looked at the shop time it takes to set up a Clecos system compared with hand fitting . I am still studying this thread and start obtaining the tools and get more open-minded with Clecos . Man I've also never had the time to learn about them and yes I worked in Aircraft also in the FAA repair station at Robinson Helicopter . My metal repair was well I didn't need Clecos and the assembly guys were amazed . I got time now to play around and will do thank you Budget36 for starting this thread and thank you to Everyone for your informative posts . I will see about utilizing them in my current project . Have a great weekend !

 

Just to clarify my B-52 story, the sheet metal shop was installing the panel, the airplane was fueled, preflighted, and excepted by the crew. The crew was anxious to get home and the longer the sheet metal shop took, the antsier the crew got. Once the panel was held in place, using the draw clecos pictured in your pictures, the ones with the heavy body and the smooth tip that requires a donut to tighten and remove. Once that was done, the pilot (a/c) pulled the plug and advised everyone that they were ready to go and start the engines and clear the path. My friend that helped lauch the airplane related the situation to me once we were reunited back at March. To a man, we were all surprised that All the clecos held and the panel was perfect. Great commercial for Cleco!

 

I might be a musician. Does singing "Redneck Mother" along with Jerry Jeff Walker on Pandora count?

 

I use Clecos often enough, and it quantities large enough that I bought a pneumatic tool to release them.

Putting 60, or so, in by hand, and then taking them out is not good for my arthritis.

It's made by Nova, sold by Pan American Tool, and was something like $75. I consider it a good investment.

 

Looks like the price either went down, or my memory is failing: https://www.panamericantool.com/novar-pneumatic-instalation-tool.html

$72.

They have a stubby and and extend ones too, for a little less, and a little more, respectively.

 

B-52’s are beasts. I worked on G models but mainly H models.

 

While being aviation trained in thought and execution I must say that anywhere precision is an expectation and highly scrutinized through inspection the people at the pilots seat in those professions are many times likely to carry that into whatever they put their hands to...for example Machinists, Mechanics, Automotive Restoration to name a few...

That said there are exceptions in all of these and other professions as people are not all followers of what is expected of them......but when they do...you know it and appreciation is absolutely warranted...

 

Gimpy is that for the Wing nutted or the nutted Screw/Draw clecoes? They don't specify...I wouldn't be surprised to find out they make them...another market to capture and it saves further investment in another style...

They even make air powered cleco tools for the spring clecos but never used them...

Yes it sure keeps the ole wrists and fingers worked out that's for sure...

 

Ah, you worked on the Cadillacs! Cs, Ds, Es, and Fs for me C and D models were my favorites and hated E models.

 

Or David Allen Coe's "You Never Even called me by my name"


Gotta hear the last verse !

 

Draw-type.

I don't use the wing nut type.

I figure if I needed force to draw panels together, then I made them wrong.

 

There are allowances...but following form closely is prefered...

 

Perfectly said Stogy ! I was just an innocent early-aged '34 truck jalopy/resto owner when Junior Shaver offered me the Rolls Royce Apprenticeship at 17 and Junior told me ,
" Your life has not only just changed but you will never be the same person that put that truck together ". Even the bathroom set has to be straight and perfect with the toilet and I can't stand crooked toilet seats I'm a real wonderful mess for it all !

 

These are a companion to drilling clecoing and fastening...especially if your not taking apart and deburring...this will get some chips out of there...careful they can scratch and gouge...

They're call chip chasers...

 

I like using the clamps on the bottom of this pic. They have a heck of a grip.

 

I'd like to know if clecos were utilized in the Indy, Bigcar and Little car racing...lots of Aluminum was present on those racers that were elegant, belly panned, custom, riveted, full of louvers and the work of many a Metalsmith...

Frank Kurtis was but one...