I'm replacing the gear on the slow speed drum and was going to heat the rivets. At our "T" meeting last night it was suggested I cold rivet them. What's the proper procedure?

David I have done several and always cold rivet. Works fine and never had a problem.

So.... what's the best way to do this? Use a punch to drive the rivet down into the gear or just smash them in with a ball pein hammer?

I clamp my buck into a vice, hold the drum with the rivet over the buck and peen the rivet with a ball peen hammer. After the rivets are set I chuck the drum into my lathe and smooth rivets so that they are flush with the drum surface. I don't remove any drum material in the lathe only rivet material.

I did not have a photo of the rivets but here is a shot of a new reverse drum installed on the gear and then the transmission put back together. This transmission has run over four thousand miles since this was done.

I have in the past just done em cold. But you have to have access to a lathe to face the rivets.
Just a side note; these rivets are not off the shelf. The head angle is different then most. If you haven't yet you need to get them from the suppliers of T parts.

Mike, that reverse drum sure is pretty. Is it new?

So, looks like cold it is. Yes I have a lathe to face the rivets, I just need to get them yet. I have to come up with some other stuff to order to make myself feel better about the shipping......It's twice the cost of the rivets!