HOW TO ACCESS STANCHION BOLTS ON 19XL

[gcerrito]

I have a 1994 Compac 19 XL;   it has the fiberglass headliner that covers the ceiling, hence stanchion bolts.   What is the best way to access those bolts?   Looks like it would be a nightmare to remove that headliner.    There is a small gap along the perimeter, but impossible to see the bolts....please reply.

[Salty19]

The member here Skip1930 installed them on his XL as it came from the factory without stanchions. He mentioned glueing the nuts to his fingers to locate them on the bolt for tightening and that is was very tight and used some ingenuity to get them on. Maybe contact him for help-

I have an XL version as well.  Don't remember exactly, but thought the aft most were accessible but the fronts were blocked by the liner..I need to look to know for sure as I haven't rebedded them yet.

Worst case trim if you absolutely cannot get to them with special tools or creative means, you could trim little off the area of the liner, then re-trim or leave alone.  That "hole" could also be trimmed out with a flush LED, hooks, speakers, etc.

[gcerrito]

Salty:

I appreciate your reply.   I think you are correct....looks like cutting a small access hole is only way to do it.   

Thanks much!

[Salty19]

Well, I wouldn't say it's the only way as I think it can be done, and has been done, just needs some creativity to do it without the brute force cutting method.

Off the top of my head this is what I would at try first before cutting into the liner. Take an old wrench that fits the nuts, or buy a cheap one, heat up then hammer on it to bend it to make a custom tool to fit around the liner and hull (remove carpet first). Hold the nuts below with this while a helper turns bolts from above.  Then to reinstall, use something sticky to hold the nuts with your finger(s) while getting them started, then use the bent wrench again to tighten.

In general I try not to cut into the fiberglass unless I absolutely have to, and would try to not cut, but if you're OK with it it then go for it. It probably wouldn't be too noticeable if you did, and like I said you could add some trim.

Just thinking out loud, but that might be a nice spot for small hooks under the bolts. I repurposed tie down parts these from my old dirt bike as a "hook" for a clothesline, they work great for this-very small/light/strong.

http://www.motosport.com/canyon-dancer-tiedown-strap-rings