Author Topic: Help with SKS (Read 893 times)

rk3006 · « **on:** March 30, 2010, 06:54:45 AM »

I have a Norinco SKS that I'm having a problem with and I need help. After a range session last fall I was taking my SKS apart to clean it and not paying attention to what I was doing, when I went to take the gas piston off I raised the take down lever too high and released the small piston under the sight and now the whole gas tube is locked up because the small piston went forward and there is no way to raise the gas tube. I tried to punch the pin out holding the front gas housing to move it forward but the pin is frozen. Anyone have any ideas?

Curtis · « **Reply #1 on:** March 30, 2010, 11:01:53 AM »

I think I did that the first time I took my SKS down. I can't remember the fix but it turned out easy. Scared myself, I did. I'll look at mine when I get home from work this evening if someone hasn't already come to your rescue. Maybe I can remember how I got myself out of that jam.

Curtis

cbxboy · « **Reply #2 on:** March 30, 2010, 07:16:42 PM »

Hmmmmm....I don't have an SKS handy.....I didn't think that wa possible. The gas piston hole on the receiver side is too small to have the op rod enter into that area......isn't it??

Wish I had an SKS on hand

cbxboy · « **Reply #3 on:** March 30, 2010, 07:31:01 PM »

Rk,

Perhaps i am misunderstanding. When you raise the take down lever, yourasie a little bit and lift the top handguard and gas piston. The gas piston has a very small hole on the receiver end and a large opening on the front site end. If you raise TOO far the OP rod will eject out towards the handguard. I can think of only one issue when going through this in my mind. The lever block is interupting you from raising the handguard. The op rod is now FLUSH with the handguard and will not allow you to rotate back as the op rod is in the way. Thats a dang tight situation bud!!!

I know it can't possibly enter into the gas piston area. The only possible I can think of is its resting position of not allowing the op rod to reverse. HMMMMMMM....can you get ANYTHING to fit in between??? Dental pick? (probably bend anyway)
I assume I would be intersted in forcing the Top handguard up to releive pressure. It may feel awfuly strange but if the rotating block does not get in the way ofliftingthe handguard I would say that would be idea #1 (wait that would be Idea'r #1 - joke, get it?)

Lost at the moment. Was happy to recall the '69 Albanaian in the safe

so I took a peek !

If you need furhter help shoot me a PM and maybe I could look at my 59/66's and hack em to see if I can replicate the issue and solve. Your cost? 3 hand wipes as 1911Crazy had me moly most of my SKS's

Curtis · « **Reply #4 on:** March 31, 2010, 11:24:49 AM »

rk3006, I worked late last night and was completely hosed by the time I got home (forgot). I'll try again tonight to look at my SKS, although it will probably be 8:00 or so CDT. Sorry.

Curtis

Mikey · « **Reply #5 on:** March 31, 2010, 01:24:57 PM »

You said you tried punching out the pin holding the front gas housing - by that do you mean the most forward housing on the barrel that the gas tube mounts to nearest the end of the barrel??? If so, and if it doesn't want to punch out you will probably have to drill it out and replace it when you have reassembled the rifle. I think that is probably what a gunsmith would do as I don't see any other alternative.

I'll bet the pin holding that gas block is pretty soft and I couldn't tell you if it drifts right to left or left to right but it needs to come out so you can drive your gas block forward to release the handguard and reset the gas piston. I'll also bet you are going to need a lot of penetrating oil and lubricant to work on that front gas tube housing to get it loose enough to be moved forward.

After you have reassembled the rifle you are going to have to shoot the snot out of it,just to be sure it works.......right that is............... Hope this helps and let us know how it goes....

Curtis · « **Reply #6 on:** March 31, 2010, 03:44:18 PM »

Well, I'm afraid I'm not going to be much help. I cannot duplicate the problem with my Chinese SKS. Even lifting the lever as far up as I can, the op rod only rests against the gas cylinder and doesn't tie it up in any way. cbxboy is correct in that the op rod (under the sight) will not extend inside the gas cylinder under the hand guard.

My only suggestion is to hold pressure on the hand guard pulling it back toward the buttstock direction and see if the lever will go back down to the mid position where it will hold back the op rod. Mine seems to be able to go back down without any pressure at all.

Look at the bright side, at least you're not under hostile fire while dealing with this!

Curtis

rk3006 · « **Reply #7 on:** April 01, 2010, 08:57:17 AM »

Thanks Guys for all your help. I feel so stupid, I finally fixed my SKS but the problem was not what I thought it was. When I striped my SKS last fall I inadvertently forgot to put back the small piston and spring that I accidently released, When I fired the rifle the main piston got stuck in the space the small piston should have occupied. I used the cleaning rod from my SKS to push it back into the tube and was able to raise the piston housing. The only thind is I can't find the small piston and spring. I have a stripped Yugo for parts and it had the small piston and spring, I don't know if there is any difference between the Yugo and Chinease but it fit so I hope it works? Thanks again for the help, rk3006

Curtis · « **Reply #8 on:** April 01, 2010, 09:47:09 AM »

I would think the Yugo op rod will work as long as it doesn't bind up or something. I'd put it in and lock it without the gas cylinder in place, then push it with something through full stroke to make sure. Then you should be good to go once everything is assembled.

Glad you got it.
Curtis

cbxboy · « **Reply #9 on:** April 01, 2010, 12:17:30 PM »

No sweat man, I've reassembled "sans parts" a few times myself......errrr.....I mean No I haven't

My follow up question will be the fun one though.............so how did it function last fall??? Those single shots aren't as much fun are they?? Good fix on using a cleaning rod to push the Piston back up and disassemble.

Parts "COULD" interchange to the best of my knowledge. Of all the SKS I have I don't have a Chinese....wait the Model M would be a Norinco. I could Mic the parts against the Alby if needed. I could also (long shot here) but this weekend I will see a few Yugos again and see if same/same.

Numrich should have parts - and or you should be able to get them relatively reasonable. I can't imagine the parts WALKED off?? Search that gunroom over and over and over again. All my Yugo u'fixmes have done been fixeded or I may have been able to help

Good job on problem shooting and fixing.....well identifyingt he problem anyway.

S.B. · « **Reply #10 on:** April 05, 2010, 05:45:01 PM »

One of my closest friends just passed away and owned a Tulla Russian SKS. Out of pure curiousity and I have no intention of hijacking this thread but, what's something like this worth?
Steve

cbxboy · « **Reply #11 on:** April 05, 2010, 07:16:31 PM »

Round about? I wouldn't sell mine for less than $350-$400.

Personally as a round guess hop on Gunbroker and search CLOSED auctions under Tula SKS. Match years as I assume a 1950 would fetch more than a 1953 or 1954.

I've been out of buying for awhile and my numbers may be off.

Larry Gibson · « **Reply #12 on:** April 05, 2010, 07:33:35 PM »

Put the rifle in a vise to hold tight or have some else hold it tightly because you need both hands; one to work the take down lever and the other to work the screw driver. Take a flat bladed screw driver (not to big) And by rotating the lever you can get the blade between the cam surface on the lever's pin and the face of the tappet. With the tip of the screw diver push the tappet back in (rearward) and rotate the lever back to the top indent.

Note; to keep this from happening note there are 2 indents in the sight housing, a top on and a lower one. To keep this from happening again only rotate the lever to the top indent. The front handguard/gas tube and gas piston can be then remove. Once they are removed hold your hand in front of the hole and rotate the lever forward and the tappet and spring will come out.

Larry Gibson