[Premium-Rx] 590 Dzus Fastener

[ToddRoberts2001 at aol.com]

In a message dated 8/17/2007 11:01:42 AM Eastern Standard Time, 
had at to-way.com writes:
Hi Gang,

Looking for two dzus fasteners for the bottom cover on my RF-590.

Hadley, K7MLR
 
Hi Hadley,
That's an interesting dilemma. From what I have been able to find out about 
Dzus fasteners they are mostly used nowadays in aircraft and auto racing or 
custom autos to fasten flat panels that can be removed quickly, like access 
panels. The ones used in autos usually have large 1/2inch diameter bodies.
 
They use an odd numbering system for the Dzus fasteners. The ones used in the 
RF-590 are Flat-Head with a diameter of 7/16 inch across the top, have a body 
diameter of 1/4 inch, an undercut under the head for a retaining ring and a 
body length that looks to be about 3/8 inch.
 
The only place I could find that has anything similar is skybolt.com . They 
have two part numbers that could be a very close match :
 
Either SKFJ4-35SS  or SKFJ4-40SS.  The letters FJ stand for Flat Head with 
undercut. How long an undercut I am not sure. The first number 4 stands for the 
diameter of the body in 1/16ths of an inch, so 4 means 4/16ths or 1/4 inch. 
The second number 35 or 40 stands for the length of the body in hundredths of an 
inch. Perhaps the slightly longer 40 would be the best bet to work in the 
RF-590. The SS stands for stainless steel.
 
The Dzus fasteners in the RF-590 should have never gone missing as they use a 
pretty robust retaining ring to hold them in place. Maybe if someone hammered 
on them or else someone had to really force them out. The new ones won't have 
the retaining rings so they could fall out when loosened but should hold the 
dust cover in place just like the originals when tightened. 
 
The price of the new fasteners is about $2.73 each in small quantities from 
skybolt. Or maybe someone out there has a couple of extras in their junkbox.
 
73 Todd WD4NGG



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