M14 Gas Plug Coming Loose

dsynk

dsynk

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Hello,

Just discovered that the gas plug on my M14 comes loose after a few mags.

It ends up causing intermittent short strokes and not chambering another round.

The gas plug comes loose even after tightening it as much as possible the evening before going to the range.

Is this a known problem?

Recommended fixes?

Thanks for your time, it is appreciated.

D.
 
I had the same problem. Mine had a plastic gasket on the plug. I removed that And it hasn't come loose since.

Blue loctite shouldn't hurt, but might not work when the gun heats up, as it will melt.
 
How tight are we talking? one hand on the gun, one hand on the wrench tight? Or gun in the ground, knee on top, torquing with both hands tight?
 
In my experience, if you have the proper tools to tighten it, and tighten it properly, it doesn't come loose. I wouldn't use any washers, threadlocker or teflon tape. I use the GI tool and the gas system wrench, tighten the plug, then index the wrench so the two are only one flat away from being parallel to each other, and then take a firm grip on the two wrenches with one hand squeezing them further together. It never comes loose. I think you are not tightening it enough. If you put an object in that changes the depth to which the plug screws, don't you then allow the gas piston to move further forward? I believe its resting position is part of the design and part of blueprinting the gas system.
 
They come loose sometimes. Carry a 3/8" box end wrench with you. Give er a snug before you shoot. One hand, hand tight only.

How is your gas cylinder lock? Does it turn past the 6 o'clock position? You want it to catch up around 4 and then turn to 6 to lock things up. If it turns past 6, then you need to shim up the gas system. I noticed that mine came loose much more frequently before I shimmed the system.
 
I use a large wrench in one hand to hold the gas assembly on the rifle, then torque the gas nut using the provided tool in the other. I don't do it gorilla tight, maybe more like chimp tight. You need the second wrench on the gas unit though. That, or grab it in a vise. You shouldn't be able to loosen it without needing the added leverage from the wrench or the vise. YMMV.
 
dslink has this problem come about after you switch over to the Troy stock? Or was this even happening when you were using your old stock?
 
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cablemonkey said:
I use a large wrench in one hand to hold the gas assembly on the rifle, then torque the gas nut using the provided tool in the other. I don't do it gorilla tight, maybe more like chimp tight. You need the second wrench on the gas unit though. That, or grab it in a vise. You shouldn't be able to loosen it without needing the added leverage from the wrench or the vise. YMMV.
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I have been told in some cases it's okay to go up to orangutan tight, although apparently the original design called for howler monkey tight MAXIMUM.

Part of the error has been induced IMO by guys shooting commercial .308 which due to its shorter headspace created a need for more torque on the gas plug...in some cases a difference of 3 full bonobo chimps.

At any rate I have had this happen but it has always been resolved by applying a larger primate. It is easy to overestimate the size of the primate you are applying because without a gas system wrench the rifle tends to twist a bit in your hands, even when it feels like you have a good grip.

In your case, the fact that you are using the Troy makes me wonder, though...you ought to be able to get a pretty good grip on that thing with your knees so maybe insufficient primate application is not the issue here.
 
Satain said:
DASQ has this problem come about after you switch over to the Troy stock? Or was this even happening when you were using your old stock?
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Problem?? What problem? My gas plug is as tight as a ducks arse! The Troy chassis has given me no issues, I don't see how the chassis would affect the gas plug in itself, since no contact is made.
 
like i said torque wrench 14 ibs per sq ". after that paint a wee line on the under side. every time you disassemble or clean, match up the lines.
 
Before bending the gas lock tightening down the plug, shim the system. Attend a Hungry M14 clinic and you can pound out all the shims you could ever want. Marstar sells them too. Hardly ever comes loose on a properly fitted gas system.
 
is he talking about the gas plug or the gas lock? if it is the gas plug 14 ibs " is more then enough. hand wrenching might not be as tight as you think. put it to 14 ibs paint a wee line on the underside every time you disassemble match the lines up.
 
DASQ said:
Problem?? What problem? My gas plug is as tight as a ducks arse! The Troy chassis has given me no issues, I don't see how the chassis would affect the gas plug in itself, since no contact is made.
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Sorry wrong peep DASQ I ment dslink.
 
misanthropist said:
Part of the error has been induced IMO by guys shooting commercial .308 which due to its shorter headspace created a need for more torque on the gas plug...in some cases a difference of 3 full bonobo chimps.
Click to expand...

Only SA Surp has been ran through it, but it seems I need a bigger monkey.

maritimer said:
Before bending the gas lock tightening down the plug, shim the system. Attend a Hungry M14 clinic and you can pound out all the shims you could ever want. Marstar sells them too. Hardly ever comes loose on a properly fitted gas system.
Click to expand...

I'll have to ask M14Docter, since I'm on the west coast, to give it a look. Thanks.

DASQ said:
Problem?? What problem? My gas plug is as tight as a ducks arse! The Troy chassis has given me no issues, I don't see how the chassis would affect the gas plug in itself, since no contact is made.
Click to expand...

My rig is also in a Troy. Think he was referring to if I had problems before the org M14 made it into the Troy. To be honest, it was never fired before it was fitted into the Troy, so I have no frame of reference for the issue.

king66 said:
like i said torque wrench 14 ibs per sq ". after that paint a wee line on the under side. every time you disassemble or clean, match up the lines.
Click to expand...

I don't have a torque wrench available to me, but I will go get one and give this a go. Where does the 14lbs sq" ref come from?

Thanks for the input everyone. Will post here after the next range trip in a few weeks.

D.
 
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