Non Firing SKS

Several issues could be it.

-The light dent would probably be from the free floating pin.
-The recoil spring doesn't seem to be the issue.

Check the following:
-Remove the trigger assembly and confirm that the hammer strikes with enough force.
-Push the firing pin back and forth to ensure that nothing is preventing it from moving forward/backward completely.
-Check chamber for burrs/cosmoline/grease/stuff.

If the action is open, the hammer cannot reach the pin, therefore it will FTF.
If the action is close, but the hammer is too weak, then it will still FTF.
If the action tries to close, but it is ever-so-slightly off, the back of the tilting bolt may still block the hammer, but that's unlikely.

My best guess is that it needs a good cleaning to make sure the action closes completely.
 
X2 on checking for cosmoline - had the same problem with a Mauser: still had cosmo inside the bolt, slowed the pin enough so that it dented but not ignited the primer.
 
Thanks all. Satain, does it matter if I hear and feel the hammer strike when I dry fire? Good point on the indentation caused by the pin as the bolt rams in the round rather than from the hammer striking the pin. I will try the steps your suggested and get back to you. I will have to look at nomenclature once more to know the parts you are referring to LOL.

DeadEyedShooter, no I have not touched the trigger group. Thanks for confirming the bolt cover does hold the spring back. I wasn't sure. Will let you know how this turns out.

EDIT: No cosmoline. It is clean. Firing pin is free floating and rattles when shaken.

SH
 
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That's why I ask you to try that first. Some times you will think you hear it drop but it stop's part way this would show you that it's the trigger group issue. Now if you see the hammer drop all the way then you know that it's the firing pin\bolt issue.
 
If I were to assume that there is indeed nothing wrong with the pin nor is there any cosmoline and stuff left, then I am going to guess there is either something wrong with the hammer/trigger assembly, or the action isn't closing completely due to some other malfunction.

Not sure how to check if the action closes completely, though. Someone else will have to shed some light on that.
 
Satain said:
Exam the trigger group. Pay close attention to the spring's & make sure that none are broken. Then make sure that the dissconect bar is funtioning.

To do this;
Remove the bolt, bolt carrier & rear cover assembely but have the rest of the rifle assembled. Then place a nicheal on the dissconnect bar, then using a screw driver to apply the preasure. Now pull the trigger. If the hammer drops then you know that it has something to do with your bolt or bolt carrier. Try this test first and post back.
Click to expand...

So far, everything checks out. No cosmoline, free floating non-spring firing pin is moving, hammer pops up 90 degrees when fired with no obstruction, bolt carrier closes completely when let go.

The last and first time it fired, I had just installed new Tapco stock. After firing, I took off the bolt carrier, bolt, recoil spring, bolt cover, gas tube and hand guard for complete cleaning. Only the receiver and the trigger group remained untouched.

The mystery continues...:confused:
 
just to make sure you consider some of the basics before getting too much farther in depth...


My friend has an SKS, every once in a while his first round down range does exactly as you describe. Watching him it was obvious he was riding the bolt. When he lets the bolt slam forward properly, He gets a nice SOLID primer strike and a round downrange. When he rides the bolt, all he gets is a click, and a very weak primer strike.
 
mustang979 said:
just to make sure you consider some of the basics before getting too much farther in depth...


My friend has an SKS, every once in a while his first round down range does exactly as you describe. Watching him it was obvious he was riding the bolt. When he lets the bolt slam forward properly, He gets a nice SOLID primer strike and a round downrange. When he rides the bolt, all he gets is a click, and a very weak primer strike.
Click to expand...


Yes I do let the bolt go and let the recoil spring do its job of slamming a round in :) I check once before firing it the first time just to see how much contact the firing pin has on the primer and I remember it gets an indentation. This was BEFORE I pulled the trigger the first time.

So, something is stopping the pin from to do its work. I'll try taking it apart tonight. I might as well take the trigger group off just for a look-see.
 
In my personal opinion it's what I thought all along.
From the sounds of it the firing pin most likely needs to be replaced.
When dis-assembling the bolt inspect the firing pin channel & bolt face and be on the look out for little metal circles or a beveled bolt face. I think your firing pin pierced a primer as like what happened to me and is now blocking it but just by a small amount so that it will not set off the round. Again with out me visually seeing said rifle this is just my opinion.
 
I took a close look at the protruding firing pin. The tip was smooth and not jagged so I don't think it broke but I thought it was too short...just my uneducated guess. I took photos and will post them here in the morning for your comments.
 
Spearhunter said:
I took a close look at the protruding firing pin. The tip was smooth and not jagged so I don't think it broke but I thought it was too short...just my uneducated guess. I took photos and will post them here in the morning for your comments.
Click to expand...

Here are the photos.

Bolt face with pin out:
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_7Z-2bxymqdI/S_6L1SXDxPI/AAAAAAAAGOE/rsABcjXGp38/s800/IMG_0480.JPG

Bolt face, another angle:
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_7Z-2bxymqdI/S_6L2UPbzWI/AAAAAAAAGOI/JNPAeydXZXc/s400/IMG_0482.JPG

Close up:
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_7Z-2bxymqdI/S_6L46umIlI/AAAAAAAAGOM/q8AuSU1vwZE/s400/IMG_0484.JPG

Side view:
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_7Z-2bxymqdI/S_6L58YJT1I/AAAAAAAAGOU/jAT5Wqg-P0E/s400/IMG_0486.JPG

Bolt & carrier rear:
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_7Z-2bxymqdI/S_6L8Jv09SI/AAAAAAAAGOc/kRBu0Lu0jVU/s400/IMG_0488.JPG

Bolt & carrier front:
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_7Z-2bxymqdI/S_6L9fclYTI/AAAAAAAAGOg/SkICdNUdmws/s400/IMG_0489.JPG

Thanks.
 
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Well shoot..

The pin looks fine to me, and the hammer apparently works.

My only guess now is that the hammer somehow isn't contacting the back of the pin.


Two possibilities now.

Either the disconnector is messed up, and locking the hammer halfway up. In which case you dry fire it without the cover and spring to see if it's definitely hitting the back of the bolt.

Alternatively, the bolt isn't dropping into the recess properly, and either not pushing the disconnector correctly, or blocking the hammer.
 
Make sure your firing pin is in correctly, top to bottom wise, so that it can fully protrude. ( Can't quite remember if its shape is uni-directional)

Make sure that your pin's retaining pin is correctly installed, and doesnt bind the firign pin.

Let us know what you find, love me a good mystery, and a beer.
 
kultz said:
Either the disconnector is messed up, and locking the hammer halfway up. In which case you dry fire it without the cover and spring to see if it's definitely hitting the back of the bolt.

Alternatively, the bolt isn't dropping into the recess properly, and either not pushing the disconnector correctly, or blocking the hammer.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I will try this tonight and see what happens.
 
Turns out the hammer isn't making contact with the firing pin. I removed the bolt cover, recoil spring, bolt carrier and left the bolt. Here's a series of photos that show the results:

Hammer cocked, bolt in position:
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_7Z-2bxymqdI/TACRM8HIPYI/AAAAAAAAGPg/u1GTY6ngbuo/s800/IMG_0049.JPG

Hammer released:
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_7Z-2bxymqdI/TACRM9DGclI/AAAAAAAAGPc/6VwE8tXfgVw/s800/IMG_0052.JPG

Close up showing gap betwen firing pin and hammer:
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_7Z-2bxymqdI/TACRNfBYDmI/AAAAAAAAGPk/GEQiMnmksdo/s800/IMG_0055.JPG

So....what is missing here to make this baby go bang?

Thanks.
 
try disassembling the trigger group and inspect to see any broken, maybe the hammer spring .

for how to disassemble the trigger group , go to the bottom of the russian sticky .
 
From my experience, the trigger group is ungodly to take apart.

On the bright side, we've at least narrowed the problems down.

Either there is something wrong with the spring, which I doubt, or there is something wrong with the sear and that funny second sear/catch thing.

Take the bolt off, and play with the disconnector to see if you can find a magic spot that actually lets the hammer fall properly.

If there is a magic spot at all, then modify the disconnector stick until the bolt pushes it to that spot properly.


Now, if there is no magic spot at all that lets the hammer fall properly, then there is probably something broken in the sears.
 
Spearhunter said:
Turns out the hammer isn't making contact with the firing pin. I removed the bolt cover, recoil spring, bolt carrier and left the bolt. Here's a series of photos that show the results:

Hammer cocked, bolt in position:
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_7Z-2bxymqdI/TACRM8HIPYI/AAAAAAAAGPg/u1GTY6ngbuo/s800/IMG_0049.JPG

Hammer released:
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_7Z-2bxymqdI/TACRM9DGclI/AAAAAAAAGPc/6VwE8tXfgVw/s800/IMG_0052.JPG

Close up showing gap betwen firing pin and hammer:
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_7Z-2bxymqdI/TACRNfBYDmI/AAAAAAAAGPk/GEQiMnmksdo/s800/IMG_0055.JPG

So....what is missing here to make this baby go bang?

Thanks.
Click to expand...
So much for tring my step's on testing trigger group first...
hehehe ;)
As the two before me have said. Completly strip the trigger group and re-assembely. When re-assembeling pay close attention to the dissconnet bar and look for excesive wear or some tinny little metal circles. A.K.A. primer pockets that can get wedge up in there preventing it from fully dropping the hammer.
 
Satain said:
So much for tring my step's on testing trigger group first...
hehehe ;)
As the two before me have said. Completly strip the trigger group and re-assembely. When re-assembeling pay close attention to the dissconnet bar and look for excesive wear or some tinny little metal circles. A.K.A. primer pockets that can get wedge up in there preventing it from fully dropping the hammer.
Click to expand...

He he he...saving the hardest for last.

Here's a view of the trigger group with the hammer cocked.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_7Z-2bxymqdI/TAKhMq7nzXI/AAAAAAAAGQA/cfiuYkpWiJ4/s800/IMG_0061.JPG

Trigger group with hammer dropped.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_7Z-2bxymqdI/TAKhMW6p6qI/AAAAAAAAGP8/mxMYksxw5I0/s800/IMG_0060.JPG

I will check it carefully in case something is loose but stop short of taking it apart. That will probably be my last recourse. From the last picture, it tells me the hammer goes more than 90 degrees provided nothing is blocking it. The spring is fairly strong as well. Pictures from my previous post shows the hammer being stopped at 90 degrees so I will look into that as well.

I will also take the firing pin off for a look.

Getting there....a bit slow but at least am eliminating other issues.
 
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