gas tube cover question

[Black_Valkyrie]

How important is perfect fitment for the metal bracket cover on the front of the gas tube. Replaced the old cracked wood piece on one of the units I bought with a polymer one. Was next to impossible to drive the pin out for the cover. Managed to get the new cover in but cannot get the pin all the way through to the other side so it grabs all of one side and just a bite of the other. The pin is all ####ered up and going nowhere. I really can't do any more without drilling that pin out or else I will damage the actual gas tube.

 

[Black_Valkyrie]

For reference it's the pin which is not fully seated in this generic photo

 

[evanphi]

The pin is very soft metal. I buggered it up when I took my handguard off to refinish. I just used some High-temp epoxy to keep the cap in place.

Mix up some epoxy, make a putty-snake, jam it through the hole, and pack it in the gaps at the end. Clean it up with a razor blade, then leave it alone for 24 hours. Lightly sand it to make sure it'll fit.

 

[Black_Valkyrie]

Drilled the old pin out. Back in business. Need to locate or make a new pin.

 

[evanphi]

Drilled the old pin out. Back in business. Need to locate or make a new pin.

Like I said. Use some JB Weld High Temp epoxy. It won't budge.

 

[Black_Valkyrie]

Replaced the pin with a new 3/32 spring clip. Spread the ends and filed down the excess til smooth. It's as good as new now. 42 cents from Home Depot.

 

[evanphi]

A roll pin?

 

[tinviper]

I took a brass nail and cut the ends off and pounded it back in place, looks original.