[mike kennedy]

The method described by Vertrki works with a few additions. I used a similar method at work a few years back on an 8 carrier bike trailer and I used the same method 2 nights ago after finding out Harbor freight did not carry the tool and I didn't want to beg a dealer for some help.

I purchased everything from the home depot hardware isle but I would recommend going to a bolts and fasteners store or equivelent to buy the hardest nuts and bolts you could get to avoid breakage.
I purchased 2 sets of 8mm bolts(2" long) 2 8mm nuts, a few washers and a few washers with one side rubber coated.

Screw a nut onto the bolt and leave a space 1/4" from bolt head and then slide on a washer then the rubber sided washer(rubber side facing the rivet you screw on next until it touches the rubber side of the washer).
Slide the bolt with the knurled threaded insert(rivet) into the hole in the vehicle panel until it is snug against the panel. I didn't, but you might want to use a lockut or red prolock on the rivet before you insert it into the hole.
Use a 8mm wrench on the bolt head(to keep from spinning) and use the longest 8mm wrench on the nut and start tightening the nut toward the vehicle. On both sides of the truck I tightened the nut around 1 1/4" in and I was able to pull the whole assembly out so I had to loosen and start over a 2nd time then it caught, thats when you need the big wrench or a few bowls of wheaties.You should be able to tell when your finished by the lbs needed to spin the nut. Don't go too far and break the bolt and use a part of the vehicle to support the bolt head wrench while turning the nut wrench. When done back off on the nut and then loosen the head bolt from the rivet and everything should come off but the rivet.
The following pics should help you understand easier.

 

[mike kennedy]

Re: $1.87 continue rivet tool

continuing the installation process.

 

[meanmachine19]

Re: $1.87 Rivet nut tool for step/running boards.

Nice job Mike! The side steps look great on your silver RL. What else are you going to add?

 

[bellteck]

Re: $1.87 Rivet nut tool for step/running boards.

Standing Ovation !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[mike kennedy]

Re: $1.87 Rivet nut tool for step/running boards.

Maybe just an air deflector and a new front grill. I am pretty happy with the rest of the truck but who knows! I have other things to spend money that I don't have on.

 

[denvrfan]

Re: $1.87 Rivet nut tool for step/running boards.

Love the 2nd to last picture. Honda should use that one in their brochure. What part of the west is that? One thing is for sure, don't light a match anywhere near that dried out field/meadow!

 

[mike kennedy]

Re: $1.87 Rivet nut tool for step/running boards.

Thats at the base of the Pusch Ridge wilderness preserve in Catalina State park 25 minutes north of Tucson,AZ. It was 107 degrees when I took that pic and yes that weed/grass mixture could use some water but the monsoons are around the corner and that stuff is going to turn green.

 

[Mrhandy]

Re: $1.87 Rivet nut tool for step/running boards.

Mike:

Thanks for the idea. i just got done installing the Boards today. Used your $1.87 rivnut tool. Worked like a charm.

Thanks for the help.

 

[mcneon]

Re: $1.87 Rivet nut tool for step/running boards.

I just installed my new running boards, and I tried a slight variation on this theme. Instead of the rubber-faced washer I used a strip of 1/8" sheet metal about 18" x 3/4", with a 5/16" hole drilled in one end. Dimensions of this strip aren't important as long as one end rests on the ground when in use - that eliminates the need to hold onto it.

The hole needs to be a pretty close fit on the bolt diameter to keep the insert from pulling through it. With this technique, the insert never wants to turn, so there's no worry about trying to get the insert teeth to bite.

I also greased the bolt threads; it helps, too, to use a hardened washer. Once I'd gone about one turn of the nut, very little torque was needed. When the insert started to get tight, the wrenching force increased and it was time to stop.

Wouldn't it have been nice if Honda had just installed this darn nut on the assembly line?

Bob in Nashville

 

[woodco]

Re: $1.87 Rivet nut tool for step/running boards.

Even easier..Using a stainless nut, bolt, and lock washer, just pop out the plastic plug , and using your finger insert the lock washer and the nut on the end of the bolt.

 

[mtrotman]

Re: $1.87 Rivet nut tool for step/running boards.

This is a great solution. I wish I had thought of that when I installed my side steps. However, I just put the thing in there and cranked it down with a torque wrench and it seemed to work just fine with no tool. It spun around a few times but eventually it grabbed and I could feel the nut compress until I reached the torque limit and stopped.

Not to sound too paranoid, but I can't help but wonder if Honda intentionally left it off to encourage us to hire them to install the side steps. It seems like many of the accessories require some kind of obsure tool or the directions make installation sound more difficult than it really is.

 

[KoP]

Re: $1.87 Rivet nut tool for step/running boards.

This is a great solution. I wish I had thought of that when I installed my side steps. However, I just put the thing in there and cranked it down with a torque wrench and it seemed to work just fine with no tool. It spun around a few times but eventually it grabbed and I could feel the nut compress until I reached the torque limit and stopped.

Not to sound too paranoid, but I can't help but wonder if Honda intentionally left it off to encourage us to hire them to install the side steps. It seems like many of the accessories require some kind of obsure tool or the directions make installation sound more difficult than it really is.

i dont see why i cant just bang the motherf***er in with a hammer??? whats the big deal???

 

[KoP]

Re: $1.87 Rivet nut tool for step/running boards.

i dont see why i cant just bang the motherf***er in with a hammer??? whats the big deal???

ok.. nevermind.. i just went underneathe for the 1st time..and i see that my question was a foolish one.


in any case.. i just went ahead and ran a bolt from the inside out.. put a lock washer on each side..and left it at that. i dont know if it is all that secure, i am scared to put too much torque on it (hardly any at all actually).. but i dont see why that one bolt is all that important anyway.. it has 3 other brackets on each side and on that bracket itself there are two other bolts as well..

so i am just going to tighten it until it is snug.. and leave it at that.

is that a bad idea????

 

[NKyRidge]

Re: $1.87 Rivet nut tool for step/running boards.

Hello

What is the reason for the Rivet nut install anyway. The other areas to attach the boards seem to suffice?

Going to do a self install, if you couldn't tell.

 

[livefaith]

Re: $1.87 Rivet nut tool for step/running boards.

Mike Kennedy,
U R the man. That solution works perfectly. Actually mine worked fine without the rubber sided washer. It pretty straightforward really. Just use the ratchet to hold the bolt / rivnut in place and keep cranking the nut down until it's nice and tight.

One note. I stripped one nut using the proper wrench because it was just too soft. Either get 3 or 4 or get a good quality one from your supplier.

Sure beats the $80 tool.

 

[Nailing Malarkey]

Making your own RivNut tool for the Running Boards

Installing the Running boards and I guess other Nerf tubes requires an 8mm RivNut setter which retails for over $75. Below is a simple tool you can make with $3 in parts from Ace Hardware.

Chose quality grade 8 bolt and nuts

 

[cdepuydt]

Re: $1.87 Rivet nut tool for step/running boards.

It never ceases to amaze me the intelligent/innovative people on this forum. Mike...you're a friggin' genius! I used this method to get the Rivet Nuts installed today and it worked like a charm. Only thing, I damaged the top of one of the Rivet Nuts a little bit, because I couldn't find any washers that had the right size hole for the 8mm bolt, it shifted a little during the install, and left a groove on the top of the rivet nut. Other than that, it worked really well.

I was getting so frustrated trying to get ahold of the Rivet Nut Installation Tool. I thought I might just order it from College Hills Honda, since the do have them for loan, but you have to order your running boards/side steps from them in order to use it. So, since I got mine off ebay, that idea went out the window

I thought maybe my dealership service garage, since I have purchased approximately $65,000 worth of vehicles from them in the last year, would see their way to loaning me the tool for a day or so, so I could use it to install the Rivet Nuts, but they have a strict "no tool loan" policy. Plus, my service tech told me they only have one in the shop, otherwise he thought he might be able to loan one to me "under the table", but since they only have one, he couldn't do that.

I thought, well, if the install price wasn't too bad, since I got a great deal on my running boards off ebay, I thought I might have the dealership install them. I figured if they could do it for $50-$60, I'd still be ahead, and I would have them do it. Well, my service guy said it would take them 2 hours, and cost $115. First, I thought, how the hell could it take a service garage 2 hours to install a set of running boards, when most folks here said it took them less time than that...and $115 to install some running boards...the hell with that.

So, then I asked my service guy if, perchance, I could not get the Rivet Nuts installed, how much would they charge me to do just install the Rivet Nuts. He said, by the time they get it in the shop, up on the hoist, and install the Rivet Nuts it would take 4/10 of an hour and cost $40. I said, "$40 to do 5 minutes worth of work? You're kidding, right!??!" But, he wasn't kidding. Is it just me...or is it almost like Honda makes the install on some of their accessories difficult so you will ask the dealer to do it for you? So, not only do they make money on the accessories, they make money on the install?!?

Anyway...I was at my wits end and then I remembered seeing somebody post something here about installing those stupid Rivet Nuts themselves, without the use of that high and mighty Rivet Nut Installation Tool...I did a search...and it was like the sun appearing from the clouds and angelic voices eminating from above...I found this thread. OK, maybe it wasn't quite that dramatic...but what a great thead!

I printed the first couple posts out, ran down to my hardware store, grabbed the items listed, came back home, and about 45 minutes later, the Rivet Nuts were installed. I am one happy camper. Now all I gotta do this weekend is do the rest of the install...which should be a breeze compared to just trying to get ahold of one of those damn installation tools.

Thanks again Mike! If you're ever in the Madison WI area, look me up...you're first several beers are on me!!!

Oh, just one note to add to this Rivet Nut thread....if you happen to forget your Rivet Nut at home and you are standing there wondering what thread the Rivet Nut is...it's 1.25.

 

[nvasquez269]

Re: $1.87 Rivet nut tool for step/running boards.

Hi,
I have a question, is the knurled threaded insert the same for 2007, i bought the side steps and the knurled threaded insert goes right through the whole, no hesitations, should there be any hesitation??? other wise how are you suppose to thightened the knurled threaded inset???.

sorry for my ignorance, i am just having a hard time with this little tool.

please advice, thanks.

 

[Az RTL]

Re: $1.87 Rivet nut tool for step/running boards.

Thanks for the tip, I put my steps on today and this worked great. My only complaint is that my materials cost $2.89 at Home Depot...darn high cost of living!

 

[Lima_Ridge]

Re: $1.87 Rivet nut tool for step/running boards.

Thanks for the tips to install the running boards. Easy to do and it worked great!