m14 gas system malfuntion?

fishfalcon

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Hey to all the experts!
I've got a bit of a problem. My m14 is not cycling at all. I've just installed an arms 18 mount and a scope. However before that I cleaned the gas system for the first time (naughty naughty - as I fired 150 or so rounds pre-cleaning gas system) Now the gas system seems really loose and its not even pulling the brass from the chamber. What do I do next. Gas plug is tight. The arms18 was used and had worked for somebody else's m14.
thanks in advance for any constructive feedback
 
You didn't turn off the gas valve did you?

It's that little screw near the ferrule on the right side. It should be vertical.
 
m14 gas system trouble

nope gas system screw tried both directions and mounting screw is not interfering. cycles by hand very smoothly in fact!
 
Examine the gas piston, is the entry hole blocked/dirty at all?
When the bolt is locked back, and you tilt the rifle at a 45 degree angle (muzzle up), does the piston slide downwards on it's own?
 
we used to check for piston action by turning the gun muzzle down and then swinging it back up again- there should be a satisfying "clunk"-
 
gas system is dry and piston is moving without difficulty (falls back when tilted up) but I still need to inspect it for blockages. Seems that it might be a likely culprit.
Thanks everyone for your input thus far and I'll keep ya posted.
 
Maybe I'm too lazy, but I think 150 rounds is a little too light to clean the gas system, but that's just me... hope you get her figured out
 
Did you move/knock the gas cylinder while fiddling around with the rifle ? I don't own one of those myself, but it seem that in the case of the M14, unlike something like the SKS, the gas cylinder itself can freely rotate around the barrel unless it's properly locked in place. That means it would be rather easy for the intake hole in the cylinder to become misaligned with the bleed hole in the barrel. Even 1mm off to onw side may be enough to prevent enough gas from going thru the system, causing this malfunction. Also while you're at it, check to see it there isn't burnt cosmo or some other crap stuck in the hole that goes thru the gas valve.
 
The barrel has splineways that prevent rotation. BUT a gas assembly with too much for and aft movement during the gas cycle, can impede proper function of the entire rifle
 
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