Have been trying to drill and insert the anti-rotation screws in a set of BVM wheels this evening. Unless there is a trick, this looks like an extremely poor design. Undrilled thick rubber, ultra-thin screws, straight blade screw heads... So far I have gotten 3 screws in and managed to have the screwdriver slip off several times and mar the rims. One slip of the enclosed drill bit and the threads are gone from the rim. What a royal PITA! I am almost ready to package this kit up and send it back to Violett. I am starting to wonder about this "superb engineering" everyone talks about when they say Violett kits are worth the money.

Anyone have a trick for this?

Maybe I was lucky, I only own 1 BVM nose wheel. I used a drill press and set the tire flat on the table. Every hole was an easy pull straight though, they all lined up perfectly. The bolt threads grip the rubber all the way through the hole making the actual threads on the rim hardly necessary.

Without a drill press it'd be really tough to get the right alignment.

A couple of ways to make the job easier and not damage the fine threads: Use a drill press and come in from both sides, going only half way through the tire from each side. Or, use a long pin in a drill press, without the drill press running. Heat the pin with a torch and push it through the tire. You can also do this by holding the pin with needle nose pliers but the drill press is more accurate.

I use a large paper clip, held with a small pair of pliers, heated with a propane torch, inserted through the tapped side of the wheel. It takes some patience, but with a bit of practice the task becomes fairly easy. The wire will only be good for about two holes-as avery time you reheat it, it becomes softer. So have a good supply of paper clips on hand. You can also ca a small piece of brass tube on the end of your flat blade screwdriver to avoid the blade slipping . Hope this helps.
Ron Ballard

Romeo-Alpha,
I agree with you completely that the BVM screws in the tires are a royal PITA. I have developed my own technique for getting the screws through that works for me everytime. I do as others do and heat a pin and push it through from the threaded side of the rim. This is where it takes a little patience and a steady hand. I use the tip of the screw against the tip of the needle to push it back through the hole in the tire. The screw follows the needle back along the same path of the hole it made when pushing it through the tire. I can do a tire in approx 15 minutes, but like I said it takes a little patience and a steady hand. Others have tried my method and not liked it but hey I just thought I would throw it out there as a suggestion.


Patrick.

If you use a drill press you'll see is more easier, and trouble less.
Put the rims with the un-threared holes facing up.....and use low rpm with the drill.
Not big deal....
Good luck!
Miguel

R-A,

No need for a drill press. This is what I do all the time: Use a pin to open up a tiny hole going from one side of the rim through the other. Play with the pin a little bit so that it comes put the threadded hole. Then use that pin hole as a guide, and insert a small flat head precision screwdriver to open up the hole.

It took me about 30 minutes to do all 3 F-16 wheels.

Good luck!

.

Use a long "hat pin" or needle (2.5" or greater")
Insert the pin in one side and locate the hole in the other side
Push the pin in till it 'bottoms out" at the rim

THEN HEAT THE LONG END STICKING OUT AND PULL IT BACK THROUGH

I said it was easier....not that you must use one
The issue here is to be able to make the holes verticals....which bu hand is not always that accurate....and put you to waist time.
I also use the drill press without turning it ON....just pull the bit all the way....[8D]

-

"Anyone know if Scotchbrite on a lathe will polish out the screwdriver slips?"

The gray scotch brite may do it, if not get yourself a Brillo soap pad (make sure to wet first) The Brillo pad will take the scratches out and polish up the aluminium nicely !

Put them in backwards going in on tread side of wheel, does not look as good but alot less time , 50 plus flights with no problem of tire spinning on rims.

20 minutes, three KingCat wheels and that includes the time to chuck the bit. Tools used -- drill press and jewelers screwdriver.

Night all.

Antony

You better head to Vegas tonight with that kind of luck! 3 hours here and gave up!

Not luck, skill! LOL! Actually just the right equipment.

I think I will leave Vegas to the guys who can afford to drop 20 grand at a pop on entertainment. That's out of my league at this point.

Kenny, if you want to send them to me I will do them for you and send them back. It's no big deal for me. PM me if you want to take me up on it.

Antony

I use a drill bit one size bigger than the one BV supplies on a cordless drill. Be carefull not to goober the threads. Takes a little finess but easy after doing a few.
V..

I just did a set for my hot spot and did it in 18 min. I used my craftsman 12 in bench drill press with the drill bit that BVM sent with the wheels. It was my first time and first jet.

Romeo-Alpha,
I can do a set of KingCat wheels in less than 15 minutes....I use my drill press and a jewler's screwdriver. Here's a good offer: Mail them to me, and I will install the screws and mail them right back to you....you pay the postage both ways.....no charge for the labor.

That's what I call service..


Lasse P

Well, I have drilled hundreds of those holes and what I did was used a drill press and started the drilling from the side of the rim that has the threads.

Use a #0 drill bit and a drill press and you can knock out a wheel in no time. I've seen tires come off other jets, but never a BVM jet!

I have a set without the screws... works like a charm... now don't jinx me

Ditto to what Jeff said, I have seen many others come off but never one from BVM and 20-30 minutes for 2 new sets using a drill press.

Do the drill press thing... But then, if a screw is stubborn, just sharpen the tip of the screw a little bit with a dremel