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

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dan031

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Hey everyone, just writing this here today for those who are planning to buy a SKS and are new to how they function.

A while ago, I bought my Norinco SKS off someone who usually takes great care of their firearms. Of course, I checked the regular bit (bolt, barrel, trigger mech) for damage, rust, etc and of course everything was good. Sadly, not knowing much about SKS's, completely disregarded to check the gas tube and piston.

Well fast forward to last night, I decided to take apart the SKS completely so I can get a feel of how the rifle functioned -and so I knew how to clean it once I got around to fire it. Well I got the surprise of my life: the Gas piston was very firmly stuck inside the gas tube (I have the feeling the previous owner had fired corrosive ammo and forgot to clean it -as it was quite rusted), and try as I might the gas piston will not come loose.

So, unless I find a way to free my piston without damaging it or the tube, then it looks like i'm spending more money on some new parts:mad:

The moral of the story (and my warning to any new buyers looking for a SKS): ensure you thoroughly inspect the rifle, and make sure that inspection includes the gas tube.

P.S: If anyone has had this problem before and knows how to solve it, I would LOVE some tips :p
 
soak in some oil and put a dowel to the piston and give it a good tap. it will come loose and probably clean up pretty well, no need to spend $$$
 
Diesel should free it up. Like luke said a dowel and a little tap should knock it out. Clean it up and keep it oiled good when stored. Should be ok. It might have been cleaned with water method then not dried properly or not oiled afterwards.
 
For long storage, I have taken to removing the piston from the gas tube and just leaving them out of the gun. I have seen pistons rust up in the tube a couple of times even after good cleaning. Usually it is between the piston skirt and the wall of the gas cylinder....maybe moisture traps there or something.

It takes seconds to remove and reinstall, so not an overly cumbersome process for a little preventative maintenance.
 
I've freed up a seized snowmobile engine with boiling deisel fuel.
Just grab an old coffe can and some deisel, sit the parts inside and heat the can with a propane torch (out side) just until it starts to sizzle and lightly smoke. Have a piece of tin standing by to cover the can and snuff out the flames if you should over heat the fuel. The heat causes the metal pores to open up and it also thins out the fuel allowing it to penetrate deep inside the rusty parts.
in the case of the engine pour the hot fuel down the sparkplug holes.
 
I'll buy it for $80 shipped!

Or you can take your time and keep hitting it with stuff to eat that rust. I know a guy who got a seized engine going again by adding a few drops of brake fluid to each cylinder each day, then one day it just fired right up. Plenty of other good advice here.
 
ciphery said:
I've freed up a seized snowmobile engine with boiling deisel fuel.
Just grab an old coffe can and some deisel, sit the parts inside and heat the can with a propane torch (out side) just until it starts to sizzle and lightly smoke. Have a piece of tin standing by to cover the can and snuff out the flames if you should over heat the fuel. The heat causes the metal pores to open up and it also thins out the fuel allowing it to penetrate deep inside the rusty parts.
in the case of the engine pour the hot fuel down the sparkplug holes.
Click to expand...

Please don't do this with fuel...as it was "sizzling and lightly smoking" it was very near it's flash point I suspect. Diesel fuel or any fuel oil is hard to ignite, however once lit it can be a very stubborn and damaging situation.
 
Onagoth said:
an sks is a throwaway gun anyways. Shoot the #### out of it until it practically falls apart, then buy another one
Click to expand...

Yeah... First thing that came to mind when I read the thread title was...

"Why would anyone buy a used SKS...? They only cost a couple of hundred bucks new"
 
My piston is clean and I got it stuck in the tube once while cleaning. Apparently it is common for the piston to be able to get stuck in the tube and still operate normally. Are you sure it is rusted?
 
Hahaha, I'll be honest...wasn't expecting so many replies. Anyways, on my way to by some Liquid Wrench in the morning and letting the sucker soak. :)


kaskirov said:
My piston is clean and I got it stuck in the tube once while cleaning. Apparently it is common for the piston to be able to get stuck in the tube and still operate normally. Are you sure it is rusted?
Click to expand...

I'm just assuming the rest of the piston was rusted because the front of it was. Either way, going to try some of the advice above and hope for the best.

Just curious though, if the piston is stuck in the tube, how could the rifle function normally? Wouldn't that interfere with the rechambering another round?
 
If the piston is stuck then it becomes a bolt gun :)

Just checked my used $100 laminate stock sks, piston is not stuck after being left in the basement for over a year.
 
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