Help for my sick M-14 / Rub spot?

[Paul Morrison]

Please help. I've highlighted the spot in each picture where it is rubbing. I'd say 90% of the time there's no trouble, but every once in a while it hangs on the spot (picture shown without highlight is showing it hung at the spot).

What's interesting to me is that with no spring, the bolt and charging handle moves extremely smoothly.

Everything is now, very, very clean lightly oiled.

Links to images (so you can view it in a way that keeps it on the screen).

http://www.websonix.ca/~paul/shooting/IMG_0246.JPG
http://www.websonix.ca/~paul/shooting/IMG_0247.JPG
http://www.websonix.ca/~paul/shooting/IMG_0248.JPG
http://www.websonix.ca/~paul/shooting/IMG_0249.JPG
http://www.websonix.ca/~paul/shooting/IMG_0250.JPG

 

[Grizz Axxemann]

Photos are too blurry to see clearly. Did you run some grease into the track at all?

 

[Holleyman]

Must be the required camera given out to all UFO observers!

Very blurry

 

[Grizzlypeg]

Does it do it with the action out of the stock? If some of the machining was rough, and its not due to a bent part, it may need more wearing in, or some rubbing compound /lapping compound while you work the action back and forth.

 

[Grizz Axxemann]

I'm a fan of fire-lapping. My Nork was a little rough out of the box too, but a few hundred rounds made things smoother. A few hundred more since the Hungry treatment made it even smoother.

 

[Polar Man]

Could be as simple as the op rod spring guide, I polished mine and it slides a lot better.
Way cheaper then getting a usgi or marstar one. Other then that, I agree with Grizz, it will smooth out with use.

 

[Mr. Finicky Timbers]

And for crying out loud people. Use grease! Oil just won't cut.

 

[Fixit]

your legs are too hairy.....


how's the barrel indexing? is it over torgued a bit?

 

[Petrock]

First thought was the op rod guide. If you haven't done it yet, grab one, the Marstar ones are pretty nice and not going to break the bank.

 

[Hungry]

Start with the cheapest and most welfare fix FIRST: Grease!

Then we'll get a little more serious down the road, but frankly rub spots are a fact of life with mechanical systems.

 

[Paul Morrison]

The problem is not lubrication.

Its well lubricated, and it has seen probably 1000+ rounds.

This problem came into existence yesterday after seeing probably 250 rounds over two days at the EESA open house.

The wear spot is interesting because there's no corresponding wear spot on the bolt or charging handle.

I took it all apart last night, thoroughly cleaned it all, re-lubed it, and without the spring mere gravity will have it running no problem. Add the spring, and it will stop short of battery maybe 1 time out of 40.

If you look at the first picture you can see the problem: sometimes when I let the charging handle go, it stops short of battery.

The photos are big, which is why they are 'blurry'. If you click the links I provided IE and Mozilla will display them on the screen somewhat more minimized and sharper, but less magnified.


The

 

[gregb]

Is your op rod guide deadly straight? - Mine was out a tiny bit and there was some binding. I fixed it and now it cycles perfectly.

 

[Paul Morrison]

I'll check it for true tonight.

 

[Paul Morrison]

Bingo...

Op rod a tiny bit bowed in the middle.

 

[gregb]

Bingo...

Op rod a tiny bit bowed in the middle.

Sweet, I thought it may be that - get yourself a USGI Op-rod Spring or a Wolff from Brownells and Bobs your uncle!

 

[skoalbandit]

And by grease, they mean on the rifle next time. Not the camera lens!

 

[Paul Morrison]

Skoal, if you view it reduced, its crystal clear.

 

[Paul Morrison]

The rifle was always well lubed, that was not the problem.

With no oprod or spring the action will move very smoothly just by gravity alone.