AR barrel nut is too tight to remove

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imbane

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I got problem to remove the barrel nut on one of my AR's, I have the right tools(DPMS multi tool, vise, action block, etc.), and I've done couple of uppers before. But this time I found the barrel nut was extremely tight. I applied 100 ft.lb. on it, but still failed. The barrel nut would be damaged for sure if I did it harder. please help. Thanks.
 
imbane said:
what should I use to heat it up? thanks.
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You can put the whole upper into the freezer overnight which will shrink everything and then you can try removing the barrel nut again. If not cool it down again for 20-30 minutes then heat up the barrel nut a bit and see if it goes. That should make it a little easier but what make is the upper and who built it? If its properly done you should not need to apply heat...

edit - are you pushing in to the receiver while you are trying to loosen it?
"6. Take your armorer’s wrench out, push it onto the barrel nut, and unscrew the nut. There is spring pressure here, so you must push in towards the receiver whille you turn. It uses standard threads. Righty-tighty, Lefty-loosey. Once it breaks free, it should unscrew fairly easily. "
 
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If you can get the wrench on, give the end of the wrench a sharp tap with a non maring hammer. DO NOT APPLY HEAT!!! If the upper was put together properly you should never have to apply heat to remove the barrel nut!

Scott
 
yes, I was pushing in to the receiver while trying to loosen it. I don't know who built the upper. But I think it's not normal, I've never found a barrel nut so tight like this....
 
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m39a2 said:
If you can get the wrench on, give the end of the wrench a sharp tap with a non maring hammer. DO NOT APPLY HEAT!!! If the upper was put together properly you should never have to apply heat to remove the barrel nut!

Scott
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as m39a2 said heat isn't a great idea, as loctite starts to break down at 325f (163C) and the starting temperature for tempering steel is 300F (149C)

the best way to go about it is putting it in the deep freeze over night, then wrap a hot damp wash cloth only the barrel nut for a minute, then give the wrench a sharp tap with a hammer and trying to loosen it
 
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iconfig said:
as m39a2 said heat isn't a great idea, as loctite starts to break down at 325f (163C) and the starting temperature for tempering steel is 300F (149C)

the best way to go about it is putting it in the deep freeze over night, then wrap a hot damp wash cloth only the barrel nut for a minute, then give the wrench a sharp tap with a hammer and trying to loosen it
Click to expand...

Bringing back a REALLY old thread here, but in case it helps any other AR disassembly newbs like me, this technique is what finally worked for me. Freeze for several hours, then apply heat to the barrel nut with a wash cloth dipped in water that was boiling a few seconds before (use gloves). Left it for a minute, then hit the end of a Magpul armourer's wrench with a rubber mallet. A torch would probably do as well or better, but I don't have one. I'm using the MRA Renegade torque bar.

The threads on the upper and inside the barrel nut look fine, and it doesn't look like it was thread locked. Factory Ruger AR-556. They just torqued the snot out of it.
 
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