Had good luck making my own side curtain retaining fasteners tonight. FYI -
The following assumes you've got a 5/16 - 24 bolt in there now - that's what
I had, but I'm not sure this is correct.
1. Buy some 5/16 rod from your hardware store - I bought 36" soft stuff for
ease of metal working. Cost - $2.99
2. Buy little black knobs with 8-32 x 3/8 threaded section protruding off the
end - cost: $1.19 per knob x 4.
3. Go home (or to friends house with really good drill press). Put Odds &
Sods by The Who on the shop stereo.
4. Pour beer into small glass on work bench (use a small glass so that you
think you're drinking more than you really are - getting a buzz is not a good
idea around power tools).
5. Drill and tap a small 8-32 hole in the center of the end of the rod, 1/2
inch deep.
6. Using die, cut threads on rod to desired length - I just used the length
of the old fasteners as a guide.
7. Saw off the rod and taper the ends on grinding wheel.
8. Screw in knob on the top of the rod, using loc-tite on the threads.
9. Put on Side 2 of Odds & Sods
10. Repeat as necessary with remaining length of rod. Meaty Beaty Big and
Bouncy by The Who may be substituted for Odds & Sods.
The resultant fastener does a hundred times better job of securing the side
curtains than the bolt that I was previously using, and it was fun. YMMV.
Ron
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