Disappointing spray hood experience

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Neil

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Once upon a time in the very recent past, I bought a new spray hood from a 'name' UK supplier. I also bought an additional grab handle to go with it. The grab handle ss tube came with end fittings, to be fitted by myself, once I was satisfied the rail was at the correct height (where some sawing off might be involved) However, I found that the end fittings wouldn't go into the end of the tube. I contacted the manufacturer, and, to give them their due, they sent me a new pair (as well as the bit of bolt rope that was missing from one side of the hood). Unfortunately, the new were exactly the same size as the old and still wouldn't fit. The supplier recommended the use of a hammer: "hammer them in hard to get them started”. They had to be hammered hard all the way in and now the end of the end fitting has been flattened considerably by the hammer, the end fitting is now stuck absolutely solidly and can not be rotated into the correct position, even using a large screwdriver through the hole as a lever. Furthermore, should it be necessary to cut the tube to fit, removal of the end fitting is not possible.

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I took a vernier dial gauge to the items: the internal diameter of the tube is 15.84mm. The outside diameter of the ss end fitting is 16.04 mm. The difference was obviously crucial. What amused me was the instruction to crimp the end of the tube to prevent the end fitting from falling out!

I'm looking for a refund of the rail at this stage..Justified or merely hopeful?
 
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Do you still have the originals? If so cut one of the jammed ones off by cutting the tube and then put the spare in a vice and lightly file round it to remove the 0.18 mm excess then use that. You can line that up with the one jammed at the other end. Slightly squashed end is cosmetic so long as the hole is still round. Did you not use a wood block between the fitting and hammer? A better method for holding a loose end would be to drill a hole through one side of the tube and fitting a use a grub screw.
 
I started using a rubber mallet, to no avail, hence the larger hammer in irritation. I just think that buying a new spray hood from a major supplier should not require me to employ crude metal working skills to assemble it.
 
Neil said:
I started using a rubber mallet, to no avail, hence the larger hammer in irritation. I just think that buying a new spray hood from a major supplier should not require me to employ crude metal working skills to assemble it.
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It's been my experience with boaty things that most things give way to a bit of crude behaviour. It's a fact that age and modernity reduce tolerance
 
sailorman said:
a hammer + a block of hardwood will result in no damage
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Actually, it's not the damage that concerns me, rather that with it solidly jammed in, I cannot rotate it to the correct orientation never mind remove it, should some cutting of the tube be necessary. As such, the fitting of this new grab rail is not possible.
 
It's a grab rail so the fitting needs to be strongly fixed for safety. But that means it's going to be tough to fit if it's relying on interference only. A bit of heat and holding the tube firmly in a vice (protected suitably) will probably release it. Emery paper to reduce its size a bit. Tap it back in and drill through and put a pin in to make it secure?
 
Yep, my universal spanner (MAPP gas torch) will probably get it out, or at least allow me to rotate it. Bit of a bother, though
 
15.84mm is (as close as shyt is to swearing) 5/8" diameter. So it would appear to me they have mixed imperial and metric. No amount of hammering will solve your dilemma. Imho your supplier should rectlfy the problem for you.
 
Awaiting a response! I did ask about the possibility of a metric/imperial mismatch, which prompted the "hit it hard with a hammer to get it started", comment. I followed up with the fact that the OD of the fitting was bigger than the ID of the tube, the fact that the fitting was now well and truly stuck and the request for a refund, but no response after a week......... :-(
 
I am from Tecsew and can hopefully help. We weld all our grab bars so I know it's not one of ours.
19 mm or 3/4" tube is available with different wall thickness, 16 or 18 gauge, alternatively 1.2 or 1.5 mm.
They manufacture end plugs for both wall thicknesses and maybe if you were to purchase end plugs for 16 gauge tube you would not have a problem. I reckon your end plugs are probably for 18 g tube and you have 16 g.

Just a suggestion, perhaps do a little research first on kayospruces website, there end plugs start with the code end.
Lastly they sell an adjustable end plug which the tube fits "into" which we use. We rivet these
 
Neil said:
Awaiting a response! I did ask about the possibility of a metric/imperial mismatch, which prompted the "hit it hard with a hammer to get it started", comment. I followed up with the fact that the OD of the fitting was bigger than the ID of the tube, the fact that the fitting was now well and truly stuck and the request for a refund, but no response after a week......... :-(
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what size & how much was this hood.
i have just bought a replacement hood ( less hoops as used existing ) from a well known East Coast supplier, including a new s/s welded hand rail to the existing hoop
 
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