A warning to all those planning on buying a used SKS.

[skip1600]

I usually leave my pistons soaked.. Forgot to whipe them down a couple times before shooting.. Got home and broke the rifle down and I can not repeat what my words were then.. But it still beats rust

 

[TRaTSeRiF]

I usually leave my pistons soaked.. Forgot to whipe them down a couple times before shooting.. Got home and broke the rifle down and I can not repeat what my words were then.. But it still beats rust

I could probably repeat some of those words.. Happened to me last time around... Took quite a bit of scrubbing, but I'm approaching normal.. The rest will wipe away tomorrow as the gas tube been soaked in CLP since Friday.

 

[turbo_bird]

I had an SKS given to me that sat for several months without being cleaned after shooting corrosive ammo. Piston was seized so hard that I had to soak in wd40, and then use a hammer and punch to drive it out. Cleaned it up and it works fine now.

 

[skip1600]

I could probably repeat some of those words.. Happened to me last time around... Took quite a bit of scrubbing, but I'm approaching normal.. The rest will wipe away tomorrow as the gas tube been soaked in CLP since Friday.

I just leave it in solvent for a few hours, without the wood pour some boiling water through the tube and its usually okay.. Not very happy when you discover it that's for sure

 

[TRaTSeRiF]

I just leave it in solvent for a few hours, without the wood pour some boiling water through the tube and its usually okay.. Not very happy when you discover it that's for sure

Thanks for the tip. Not too worried about it now.. The CLP won't harm it and it will lift anything left over from the cleaning when I wipe it and the bore dry so the rifle's ready to shoot.

 

[Beermaker]

Just make sure you have the op rod in there too before you shoot it.
Once the piston is out, give the gas tube a good scrub with an large bronze brush and solvent. Then light oil.
You will need 2 sizes of brushes as the front on the gas tube is one size and the rest is smaller.
Clean the op rod the same way as well as it's tube/channel. It's not as exposed to the hot gases but it still need attention.