FJ55 Tailgate Handle

[fj55-100]

Buy 2 M6 starting taps and grind the end of 1 of the M6 taps and you'll have a bottom tap.

that is what i did to mine .. just go slow with the tap .

 

[PabloCruise]

Tooo much $$$$$$. For $300.00 should bolt right in. Game over.

$300 vs. what other option?

Currently this is looking like the cat's pajamas...

 

[PabloCruise]

that is what i did to mine .. just go slow with the tap .

You got your piece tapped okay?

Did your Dad offer any wisdom?

 

[fj55-100]

i thought 300 was great i got 2 of them

 

[fj55-100]

went ok , the material is super hard , just go slow with the first tap then switch to the bottom tap .
dad just smiled and waited for me to loose patience and break off the tap

 

[scrapdaddy]

dad just smiled and waited for me to loose patience and break off the tap

Got to love Dads, mine would of smacked the back of my head and said slow down.

 

[Pighead]

Got mine tapped, M6x1.0, opened up the holes in the arms to accept the 1/4" shoulder bolts. Another reason to use the bolts instead of the rivets for pivots, there was some binding of the handle arms against the base slots. By loosening one bolt and tightening the other was able to eliminate that. I might get the next size longer shoulder bolt for the spring side pivot. Now just need to get a spring.

 

[WarDamnEagle]

I never appreciated how scarce used ones are. Did they all get lost along the way?

 

[scrapdaddy]

Did they all get lost along the way?

We're hoarding them, you never know when you need four of them.

 

[scrapdaddy]

Now just need to get a spring.

That spring is going to be a pain to come up with. Also, you might have to open up the slots in the tailgate to get the new handle bolts through or assemble it after inserting it in the gate. The new handle is looking good!

 

[WarDamnEagle]

We're hoarding them, you never know when you need four of them.

Well at least I know where to look if I need one.

 

[DoubleNickels]

Sorry guys, ducked out of existence for a couple weeks. That tap-job looks exceptional! I'll go back and check our file for symmetry today.

One thing did occur to me regarding the "topographic lines" issue. If you build the part oriented 90-degrees in the printer, the topology lines end up oriented differently as well. MEANING, you don't get those layers right in the middle of the most visual spot. Basically you go from this:

To this:

Shapeways is able to do this, you just have to ask. That would result in less post-processing (i.e. buffing/sanding/polishing) required to remove those lines. Interestingly, the part Pighead built may be 100% symmetric, but the technician might have brought the CAD file into the printer software at a crooked angle.

When Pablo and I build our handle we'll give that a shot, assuming our symmetry is sound.

Calvin

 

[PabloCruise]

When Pablo and I build our handle we'll give that a shot, assuming our symmetry is sound.

Calvin

People who know me usually say my symmetry (among other things) is NOT very sound...

 

[RUSH55]

Your calves make up for what you lack in quads.

 

[Pighead]

That spring is going to be a pain to come up with.

Yup, had to to 4 stores before I got something close...
Grainger 3HPD1, just hair thicker, one of the legs just a tad shorter, looks pretty good though. 6 springs for $9.42. Also got a length of music wire in case I might have to make my own.

 

[scrapdaddy]

Very good! Have you tried to bend the ends yet? Spring steel tends to break, if they bend alright this will be a great help.

 

[Pighead]

Nope, just got 'em an hour or so ago. good thing I got 6...

 

[RUSH55]

Might bend with some heat

 

[Pighead]

Also got a length of music wire in case I might have to make my own.

Nope. I suck at spring making, ended up using the spring off my trail-spare handle. Found that one of the holes in the handle had to be enlarged slightly to accept the rod from the door linkage. Yes, the slots on the tailgate are much too small for the formerly rivited, now bolted pivots to go through, I just assembled the pivots from the inside of the tailgate. So, it's finally mounted and it works.

 

[RUSH55]

Slick!