How to replace these latches?

[Electrophonic]

Hi guys!


I want to replace the latch in this picture. My original Fender p bass case has two of these latches that needs to be replaced.

How do I do it without ruining the case?

 

[Bruce Johnson]

Those latches are held on with small rivets. Basically, you need to drill them out partway to get them to release. Then, you attach the new hardware with new rivets. Ideally, you find new latches that match, so the holes line up. If not, you drill new holes.

The best way to drill out the rivets is from the back side. You have to peel back the plush fabric to get access. You'll see that the back side of the rivet is hollow and peened over. You need to drill with a size bit that's just a little larger than the hollow hole. That will cause the peened head on the inside to pop off (onto the drill bit), and the rivet comes free. Sometimes the rivet will spin when you try to drill it. Use some small flat jaw pliers or even flush cutting diagonal cutters to hold the head on the outside.

You can drill out the rivets from the outside, but it's a little trickier. You have to first get a good center-punch in the middle of the head, to drill in the center.

The rivets are peened at the factory with a pneumatic squeeze press. You can peen the replacements with a big pair of ChannelLock pliers, a C-clamp, or a hammer and a chunk of metal as a buck. It's old fashioned technology.

You can also put in the new latches with small machine screws and nuts and washers on the back. But that's cheating! Be manly and squeeze the rivets.

 

[Electrophonic]

Thank you VERY much!

I'll try to follow your tips.

 

[Mike 257]

Thanks for the info Bruce, I have the same issue and need to do this repair .