Tender Tow Straps

My tow straps appear to of been bent incorrectly as they are approx. 3-4 mm too long so that the holes into the tender and tow bars do not match up. Also, tow bars would be proud of the tender if I were to re-drill.

Is this common and if so, how do I fix it as I feel it is unlikely that I could push into alignment and hold with the bolts. Presumably, I will need to provide heat, straighten the straps, and re-bend at the correct length?

The tow bar goes on the inside of the straps so is between the strap and tender.

lynnr wrote:The tow bar goes on the inside of the straps so is between the strap and tender.

Thanks. I understand that but even when I do that there is still a 4 mm gap left and the holes are out by 5mm

Best contact Will at STW. Your straps may need replaced

I got creative with a hammer and redrilled the towbar holes on one side and enlarged some of the others.

Will use a little JB Weld were required, prior to using the POR15 Tank Sealer

The next issue I have is that the captive nuts (clinch nuts?) that hold the access hatch in place on the water tank are all very loose and drop out.

Is the right thing to do, to epoxy them in, or maybe use JB weld?

Where I've used jb weld to attach BU20733. it has already come adrift once, so I am thinking I will use some countersunk slotted screws in from the outside to hold. Does that seem a reasonable idea?

Synergyn9 wrote:The next issue I have is that the captive nuts (clinch nuts?) that hold the access hatch in place on the water tank are all very loose and drop out.

Is the right thing to do, to epoxy them in, or maybe use JB weld?

Where I've used jb weld to attach BU20733. it has already come adrift once, so I am thinking I will use some countersunk slotted screws in from the outside to hold. Does that seem a reasonable idea?

The clinch nuts are put in by a press here, so if they haven't been pressed in properly you can try tapping them back, but you do need to give them a solid hit for them to grip to the surface again.

Many thanks

Will@STW

Will@STW wrote:
The clinch nuts are put in by a press here, so if they haven't been pressed in properly you can try tapping them back, but you do need to give them a solid hit for them to grip to the surface again.

Many thanks

Will@STW

Thanks, Will, I have tried that but they do not hold

Decided I did not trust the  clinch nuts and as I don't intend re-opening the tank once all sealed up, I went with plan B

Possibly a little over-engineered but I milled myself a brass ring out of 3" x 1/8" brass strip and then fixed to the tank lid with some small M2 x 6 csk screws and then drilled and tapped the 8 x 8BA holes for the hatch fastenings





Also did a similar thing with the as described 'special nuts' in the instructions,  as I was not happy to just epoxy in place and hope they never fell off at a later date during maintenance