Seating Grommets

[flagg]

Hey guys,

I have to put in a heap of new grommets and seals in with my 110 rebuild... but I'm having an awful time trying to get them in.

Is there a trick? I've tried using a little grease etc.. but there are some (like the rubber bonnet stops that go into the firewall) that are seeming completely impossible to get in.

Any suggestions that stop me from setting the whole thing on fire in a fit of rage will be greatly appreciated.

[Blknight.aus]

I use rubber grease on the backside of the grommet only, bend it into a U shape and push one side of it into place, wiggle it down anchoring the first part you inserted with your thumb. once you dont think you can get any more through the hole grab a flat head screwdriver that you've filed to a rounded edge, insert that between the lips of the grommet and then force the bottom edge first inwards and then lift the handle up and push down to pop the rubber through.

If that didnt work....

grraba scribe, file the 90 degree point round. wipe the thing with rubber grease.

Start as before, fold the grommet into a U and get one side inserted. Push the scribe between the lip and then hook the point under the metal you're inserting it through. anchor the inserted edge with your thumb and then work the scrube around in the reverse action of demounting a tyre from a rim.

[ramblingboy42]

I thought we were going to see something about surfing......

[Defender Mike]

Have you tried the piece of string trick. Like on a windscreen rubber and a little rubber grease.:)
Mike

[JDNSW]

I went through this when I repainted the 2a. Can be difficult, but a few points that help.

1. Make sure there are no burrs on the hole.
2. Use good quality grommets - some of the cheap ones are too stiff to go in easily.
3. Make sure the ones you have are the right size, not metric/imperial mismatch or designed for a different thickness metal.
4. Use a lubricant. I found rubber grease the most useful, but alternatives include soapy water and talc powder or graphite powder (messy)
5. As a last resort a tool such as Dave suggests, but this should not be necessary.

John