Trim Panel Push Pins

[bkahler]

This morning I installed the cardboard trim panel behind the seat.  Locating the holes is no problem, getting the push pins installed is a real pain.  After two pins my thumb said "no more".  Anyone have a trick for installing these things that won't require a trip to the doctor?

 

 

[Young Ed]

Small dead blow hammer? Nut driver you can push with your whole hand? Wooden dowel to push to tap?

[Plymouthy Adams]

get a younger person, why, my reasoning is simple, they sit around all day using their thumbs on their binky phones......got to be mega strength there...!!

[Robert Harrison]

Well I know what I would try.  take a pair of needle nose pliers and squeeze the legs of the pin together some below the head.  This way you dont have to use your fingers and the collapsed pins will fit better.   Then you could also give it a wrap with a rubber hammer to seat it.  

 

I have a set of needle nose pliers that is actually bent about a 1/3 of the way back from the tip.  Its really nice for such things as it allows me to hold what ever I am working on more ergonomically as you hand does not have to be right up to the surface to make this work.  Also if you are not careful the point end of the pliers is more likely to dig into what you are doing if not careful.  This way the tip end is more parallel to the surface.

 

There are a couple of types of interior kits the cardboard and the fiberglass type.  The cardboard is a lot cheaper and more like the original in that it is cardboard.  It is not patterned as I understand it and the trucks came with eighter blue or brown originally.

 

How do you like your kit and where did you get it?  

 

I do have two NOS RH blue Kick panels I wont be needing.  Those fit the 39-40's

 

[bkahler]

3 hours ago, Plymouthy Adams said:

get a younger person, why, my reasoning is simple, they sit around all day using their thumbs on their binky phones......got to be mega strength there...!!

 

[bkahler]

2 hours ago, Robert Harrison said:

Well I know what I would try.  take a pair of needle nose pliers and squeeze the legs of the pin together some below the head.  This way you dont have to use your fingers and the collapsed pins will fit better.   Then you could also give it a wrap with a rubber hammer to seat it.  

 

I have a set of needle nose pliers that is actually bent about a 1/3 of the way back from the tip.  Its really nice for such things as it allows me to hold what ever I am working on more ergonomically as you hand does not have to be right up to the surface to make this work.  Also if you are not careful the point end of the pliers is more likely to dig into what you are doing if not careful.  This way the tip end is more parallel to the surface.

 

There are a couple of types of interior kits the cardboard and the fiberglass type.  The cardboard is a lot cheaper and more like the original in that it is cardboard.  It is not patterned as I understand it and the trucks came with eighter blue or brown originally.

 

How do you like your kit and where did you get it?  

 

I do have two NOS RH blue Kick panels I wont be needing.  Those fit the 39-40's

 

 

I have the cheap brown cardboard from Robert's.  Back in the 90s when I bought the kit it was the only thing available.   I figure I'll see how it looks and if I don't like it or it doesn't last I'll buy a kit from DCM.

 

What you suggested is exactly what I tried, with no success.  I have the same pliers that you described.   The problem was the push pin wire is so stiff, the rubber mallet couldn't break the pliers grip on the pin.  

 

I had zero luck with the pliers and managed two with my thumb.  I think tomorrow I'll get a small chunk of wood and dimple it with a ball pen hammer.  Maybe the dimple will support the pin better than my thumb.

 

It just occurred to me as I was typing the above, maybe instead of squeezing the pin I should rotate it 90 degrees in the pliers,  basically just support the pin in the hole and then hit it with the rubber mallet.

 

I'll try this first and if that doesn't work I'll try the block of wood.

 

 

[bkahler]

4 hours ago, Young Ed said:

Small dead blow hammer? Nut driver you can push with your whole hand? Wooden dowel to push to tap?

 

My apologies, I didn't see your response when I responded to the other two replies.  The problem I found with just trying to use a hammer is the pins were to small to hold with my fingers without hitting them.   A 1/2" nut driver sounds like a possibility as does the wood dowel. 

[bkahler]

Push pins now installed.  The easiest was to use the angled needle nose pliers gripping the pin just enough to hold it in place and use the rubber mallet to hit it.  Each pin took about three wacks to properly seat it.