FN49 Recoil Spring Guide Disassembly/Fix?

JohnDiggle · Apr 23, 2019

Hey everyone, I have what I hope is an easy question for someone out there.

My Egyptian FN-49’s recoil spring guide is angled just enough that the guide (and springs on it) won’t cycle into the bolt carrier. As it stands, I would have to press the guide into the carrier to cycle. The guide itself appears to be straight and not damaged or bent, just at the wrong angle.

https://imgur.com/a/ffiIIl6

So what I figure is I remove the guide from the receiver cover and see if it was somehow placed wrong or if the guide needs replacing, etc. However, I can’t seem to find how to remove the guide from the receiver cover, and I’m assuming that I will also have an issue placing it (or a new guide) back in.

How is the recoil spring guide meant to be removed? Or is it? Anyone have experience with these or any input on what I should be doing?

Thanks in advance.

BlackPowderBurner · Apr 23, 2019

Looks bent to me. My Belgian is parallel to the rest of the carrier. Don’t have a pic right now but I can post one on Friday.

EDIT: Forgot to add that I believe they are not meant to be removed.

M1-Garand · Apr 23, 2019

Definitely bent,you will be able to see how much by turning the takedown lever a full revolution,the rod should stay more or less in the middle.
It is not removable,so maybe carefully bending it with a screwdriver may do the trick.

JohnDiggle · Apr 23, 2019

Sorry, meant that it seemed bent at the base or that the base was misaligned. The spring guide is definitely pointing in the wrong direction. My 30-06 receiver covers have a straight guide, I can tell the Egyptian’s receiver cover is messed up.

That’s too bad, but I’m not surprised it isn’t meant to come out. If I can’t get it bent into shape, do I have any options besides just replacing the receiver cover?

M1-Garand · Apr 24, 2019

It would be possible to remove the rod/guide but it would involve grinding off the riveted end where it goes through the lever.
After that the rod can be slid out and be straightened,but you would need a good welder to weld it back together after this is done.

JohnDiggle · Apr 24, 2019

Update for anyone who finds themselves in the same position: looked it over a little more closely and the guide does seem to be fine. However, I discovered that the guide’s angle appears to come from the rear of the receiver cover, right under the locking key.

The metal seems to be bowled slightly, at least enough to throw the guide out of alignment. Right side is the Egyptian 8mm in question, left is a good Belgian for reference.