Really Tight Top Hat

[doncolga]

I just drilled the holes for the top hats on my OT12's. The top hats are 1 3/4" so I used a 1 3/4" hole saw, went through the bottom just fine, then went *mostly* through the bottom throat reflector. I was able to finish it by drilling into the bottom throat reflector to get the rest cut. It went very smooth but the top hat is a really tight fit...I'd have to hammer it in place. I'm sort of OK with it on the bottom, but I don't want to possibly bust out the throat reflector hammering it in. I figured I'd better check before proceeding...should it be that tight?

Thanks!

Donny

[Lastcat]

The Tophats I have used were all tappered (outside dimension 1.75" to 1.80"). I just got out the drum sander for my small die grinder, and reshaped the hole. Could yours be tappered too?

[gdougherty]

Iirc, I routed a little roundover on the exterior of the cab so it could sit flush and I didn't have to drill a larger hole.

[Bruce Weldy]

Don't force it in. I did that on one of my OT12s and it splintered some....plus - it will never come out. I decided about halfway in to pull it and make the hole bigger....no way it was coming out. Like you, I bought a hole saw exactly the size of the hat. Then I went out and bought a hole saw 1/8" bigger - worked much better.

Open up the hole some and buy a bigger hole saw for the next one.

[doncolga]

Don't force it in. I did that on one of my OT12s and it splintered some....plus - it will never come out. I decided about halfway in to pull it and make the hole bigger....no way it was coming out. Like you, I bought a hole saw exactly the size of the hat. Then I went out and bought a hole saw 1/8" bigger - worked much better.

Open up the hole some and buy a bigger hole saw for the next one.

Agreed...I've got a little grinder bit I think I can use to bore out more width in the bottom and throat panel. By the way Bruce, that's an awesome signature...I need to remind myself of that everyday.

[Bruce Weldy]

By the way Bruce, that's an awesome signature...I need to remind myself of that everyday.

Yeah, me too. We always learn more from failure than success. I just don't want to learn too dang much!