45"Flathead 57-58 tank emblem removal.

[dmelvill]

Can anyone give me some advice on how to remove the tank emblems on my 57 fuel-oil tanks?
I would like to remove them without any damage, so I can paint the tanks then replace them as original as possible.
Any suggestions?

Thanks:
Dave

[RUBONE]

Dave,
The emblems are held on by a push fit rivet. To remove them the best way is to drill the center of the rivet out. The head will fall off once the stem is reached. The parts to replace them are available so you can put them back on later. There are two parts, the rivet retainer that goes into a hole in the emblem mount, and then the blind rivet that holds the plastic badge. Be gentle as the badges are somewhat fragile if they are the originals.
Robbie

[dmelvill]

Thanks for the info Robbie, where would I track down the speciality replacement rivets?
Dave

[panhead]

Old Dude (http://www.olddude.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;)

[Cotten]

If you would like a hundred lot, Folks,

My MSC Industrial Supply catalog shows them as "drive screws".
But something must be wrong, because 18-8 stainless lists for less than "zinc"!

.....Cotten

[UPSROD]

Original rivets are aluminum.

[dmelvill]

Ok, so either stainless or aluminum seem to be the options. Once I have found the rivets do I press them on with a punch, or is there another method I should use? Sorry to sound so ignorant but I have never had to do this before, so all new to me and my badges are oem, so I don't want to mess them up. Cotten what method have you used?
Thanks for your help.
Dave

[RUBONE]

Stock there is a gasket behind the emblem which cushions it. the rivets can be pushed in by hand or very gently with a dowel or the like, nothing hard. Only press them in until the badge is seated on the gasket, any more and they will crack the badge.

[Cotten]

... Cotten what method have you used?

I've never had to deal with any, Dave!

My choice would be for zinc, as the appearance would be more authentic, and stainless may prove hard to remove in the future.

What are the chances that the same size is used for generator tags?

....Cotten

[RUBONE]

What are the chances that the same size is used for generator tags?

Cotten,
They are not even the same kind of critter. Generator tags are drive rivets (drive screws), tank badges are push rivets. They are also much larger head diameter and a smooth post that is grabbed by a toothed retainer as opposed to a spiral cut shank that is retained by pressure in a bored hole as the generator ones. Completely different in both construction and use.
Robbie

[Cotten]

.... Completely different in both construction and use...

Other than both are just shoved in, right Robbie?

It sounds like the hard part is finding one to copy.

....Cotten