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Re: 1966 Deluxe Heater Control - rivet remove or leave alone?
I have done it. It is tedious but the only way to get everything apart and cleaned of 50 years of dirt and rust. I ground all 6 rivets off to get apart the steel bracket and the aluminum housing for the light.
It was never designed to be serviceable and the faceplate is made of zinc so it is very soft. I used a die grinder to remove the minimum material to get the steel bracket off. You then need to drill/tap for a screw to replace the rivet since there is no material left to peen over and re-attach everything. Using a milling machine, clean up the ends. Then drill and tap for a 4-40 screw. That is the largest screw that will fit. You need as much as possible with the soft zinc. Drill too far and you have a hole poking through the face, essentially ruining the part. I said it was tedious.
With all the parts re-finished, re-assemble by tightening the screws with a little loctite. Careful not to strip the threads in the soft zinc. I said it was tedious.
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