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Veteran
Posts: 157
 
Location: Perkiomenville, PA | Greetings! Need help with rusting roof fastners on a 2002 Featherlite Stock Trailer. Anybody know what I should do about these as far as stopping/mitigating the rust? Coating? Thanks much. |
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New User
Posts: 3
Location: Pennsylvania | Those are S.P.R's, which is short for Self Piercing Rivets. They are used to speed up the manufacturing process, since no hole is drilled prior to the riveting step. The problem is, that unlike most roof rivets which are aluminum, they are only available in steel with various grades of rust-resistant coatings. I would say that the only way to stop the rust is to paint them, at this point. Unfortunately, that will be a temporary fix, and you'll need to do it again some day. If you really feel ambitious, you could sand them down prior to painting.Another more costly fix would be to take it somewhere to have the steel fasteners drilled out and replaced with aluminum solid rivets. Not sure that is worthwhile on a '02 model, but it's a consideration. Another possibility is to use a new product from 3M that is a tape "overlay" used as a substitute for caulk. that might actually be the easiest fix. Send me a private message if you need a source for the product.Hope this helps...BuddyBoy |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 447
Location: cedar rapids iowa | It sticks out that the rivet next to it is not rusted. Did you just replace it? If not call featherL and ask them. I am sure they can get you some like the one that didn't rust. |
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Expert
Posts: 5870
 
Location: western PA | Replacing the rivets would be time consuming and costly. Lightly sanding the heads, applying a rust converter and then painting them, would stop most of the rust. As BB mentioned, a tape could then be installed over the seam and rivets, further protecting the rivets from water damage. |
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Veteran
Posts: 157
Location: Perkiomenville, PA | Thanks for the input! Featherlite said to sand and then apply rubberized roofing like you use for an RV. Not doing that. Don't want the ugly look that would cause. Since I have Rust Converter, I'll go ahead and try that for now and see how it works. It should turn the rust sort of black, which would be fine with me. Am giving some thought to a dab of clear silicone over each one for coating/protection. Any thoughts on that, folks? Much appreciated. Oh, and the front rivets are aluminum - just along the aerodynamic portion of the roof at the nose - the majority of the rivets it looks like the manufacturer opted for less expensive coated steel and that's where the failure comes in. |
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Expert
Posts: 5870
Location: western PA | Originally written by evallone on 2010-07-01 1:30 PM I have Rust Converter, I'll go ahead and try that for now and see how it works. It should turn the rust sort of black, which would be fine with me. Am giving some thought to a dab of clear silicone over each one for coating/protection. Any thoughts on that, folks? QUOTE] Before you apply the converter, make sure any loose scale and rust is removed. The converter is not a paint, and will not offer any long term rust prevention. It will have to be covered, otherwise rust will reoccur. Silicone is a poor product when used on horse trailers. It is subject to UV and weather damage, and is relatively short lived. A better product is polyurethane caulking. If you don't want to use a tape or elastomeric product to seal the seam and rivet heads, it would be an easy process to dab the individual rivet heads with a good primer and paint. Dull gray would look similar to the roof. |
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Veteran
Posts: 157
Location: Perkiomenville, PA | I like the idea of dull gray primer and paint up there. I can't see it anyway, and it will be easy to recoat when needed. So, rust converter after a very light sanding, primer and dull gray paint. I can handle that. THANKS. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 304
| It's been my experience that silicone promotes rust, not sure why but it's happened on numerous outdoor applications. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 177
Location: East London South Africa | Most slicones have a certain amount of acid in them....----therefore rust. |
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Rusting Fastners on a Featherlite
