[Premium-Rx] Re: [Premium] 590 Dzus Fastener

[Had]

Todd,

Thanks for all the info on Dzus fasteners. Your info gave me enough 
information to do some on line searching. I found that the original 
RF-590 bottom cover fasteners used by Harris are F4-25, NSN 
5325-00-449-3059. Using on line surplus parts locators I have found 
many available around the world and I'm attempting to find a company 
who will sell a small quantity, like 20.

Again thanks for the info, I'll post this to the premium group just 
in case others might be interested.

Hadley, K7MLR


At 02:21 PM 8/17/2007, you wrote:
>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