Thanks, Mike. Removing 400 rivets is exactly what I was hoping to
avoid! With luck I'll be able to follow up this weekend on Tom's hint
of removing the handle and snaking out the innards. If it works, I'll
let the group know. If it doesn't...well...I'll cut a window before I
tackle 400 rivets!

-John

Mike Lindsay wrote:
We had exactly the same problem about 5 years ago. I took the trailer to
a firm which is currently restoring an Me262 for a wealthy software
person in the USA. The CEO's dad borrowed what he called a windy drill
with which removed about 400 rivets.

That enabled us to get at the square tube and to reattach the rod. And
then replace the 400 rivets! The whole process took all day.

But I know now there aren't any bits inside the tube which would be
damaged by cutting a window in it. So it will be a quicker job next
time.

Hope that helps. Oh, our trailer was built in 1984.
--
Mike Lindsay