Need advice on how to remove PVC pipe in the propane tub.

Campwise · March 2019

I have a 2018 320S, and am hoping to fit dual 6V batteries in the tub.

Any tips on how to remove the PVC pipe attached to the inside front of plastic propane tubs? It's held in place by two tap-in brads. I'm worried about cracking the tub and will appreciate ideas on how to do it with no collateral damage.

I tried putting a small hammer inside to tap them out, but there's not enough room to swing with any effect. I tried multiple screwdriver bits, but none grabbed hold in the smooth round depression on the brads. I tried wiggling the tube to loosen the brads, but it didn't budge.

Thanks for any and all suggestions!

seajeeper · March 2019

Mine was riveted in, I drilled them out.

BrianZ · March 2019

Yep, a small drill bit will do it, @Campwise.

falcon1970 · March 2019

@Campwise
You want to drill JUST the head of the rivet. Once you have drilled far enough to separate the head of the rivet from the shank you can easily pull the shank and the expanded part of it out from the PVC tube side. Aluminum rivets are soft so drill slowly.

Campwise · March 2019

@falcon1970

Thanks for the guidance, which I tried to follow. I slowly drilled just the head of the rivet, but the shanks are firmly wedged into the holes and don't budge. Any other things to I could try?

falcon1970 · March 2019

@Campwise
Assuming the head of the rivet is actually completely detached from the shank, you could use a small (the diameter of the rivet shank or slightly smaller) punch and gently tap from the outside. The end of the shank is likely pulled into the PVC. Or, have you tried pulling the entire PVC tube away from the tub--rivets and all? Without the heads on the rivets it should pull away with little force.

kdawg · August 2020

@Campwise — did you ever come up with a solution? I am trying to do the exact same thing to accommodate an updated, larger battery box. The bottom of the box and the battery fit fine, but I cannot put the top on. If I remove that PVC pipe, I think it's doable, but couldn't find the right tools to do it.

MuttonChops · August 2020

kdawg said:

. . . If I remove that PVC pipe, I think it's doable, but couldn't find the right tools to do it.

Just Drill the pop-rivets out.
From outside of Tub, select a drill bit a little larger than rivet center, slight drilling will cause outer 'washer like' part to come off pop-rivet.

ScottG · August 2020

@kdawg, as per my response in the other discussion, try a 3/16" bit (assuming yours is fastened the same as mine was). Go slow and stop once the head pops off and you can push the rivet out the other side. Easy peasy!

kdawg · August 2020

Oh man I did it but the 3/16he didn’t work. It just kept spinning. But it must have loosened it bc I was able to wedge a screw driver between the tub and pipe. But it’s off!!!

Need advice on how to remove PVC pipe in the propane tub.

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