NEA Lower Question/Problem... HELP!

Status
Not open for further replies.
jonathonh

jonathonh

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
73   0   0
Location
Alberta
I tried posting this in the "Plans for NEA lower" thread, but figured it may be more appropriate to start a new thread for my question/issue.

My Christmas special NEA literally just arrived, I happen to be home for lunch and it showed up.

I was satisfied with my first impressions of the lower itself, but am a little concerned after I tried to slide my stripped Spikes upper receiver into the lower to see how it would pair color wise... key word there being tried... There was no way that upper was going to slide into place on the NEA lower. It wasn't even a tight fit, it would take some serious sanding/filing to get enough clearance for the upper to go into place (which I am not really comfortable with).

Is it normal for an upper not to slide right into the lower? The stripped Spikes upper mounted right up to my Motiuk lower right from delivery with no issues, a perfect fit. Should I be concerned, has anyone else encountered a similar problem, or what are suggestions to resolve this issue?
 
Last edited:
NEA Lower Question

I will post pictures shortly, just got home from work. In the mean time, the two areas where the takedown pins would go through on the upper wont even begin to push into the lower receiver. It's as if the inside of the lower receiver is too narrow. I know it's not an issue with the machining of the Spikes upper, as it fits perfect with my Motiuk, as I'm sure it would with any other mil spec lower receiver.
 
Last edited:
Sorry for the crappy pictures, they are uploaded off my phone and for some reason ended up upside down. As you can see in the last picture, the front will almost go in, but would take a lot of force yet. The first picture is of the Spikes upper on my Motiuk lower.

photo 1.jpgphoto 2.jpgphoto 3.jpgphoto 4.jpg
 

Attachments

  • photo 1.jpg
    photo 1.jpg
    40.8 KB · Views: 170
  • photo 2.jpg
    photo 2.jpg
    45.7 KB · Views: 184
  • photo 3.jpg
    photo 3.jpg
    28.9 KB · Views: 199
  • photo 4.jpg
    photo 4.jpg
    38.5 KB · Views: 215
Not yet, just received the lower at lunch today, just in the process of filling out a Warranty & Service Submission on their website.
 
I had a CMMG upper that wouldn't close because the rear lug was machined funny. It was easier to fix it myself than bother sending it back. Fortunately that spot is hidden inside the gun.

I would contact NEA first.
 
I'd simply take a fine file and carefully give it a couple stokes on either side of the lower til the upper slides in with just a wee bit of force. I'm very certain that NEA will look after you if you decide to go that route, not worth the bother in my opinion.
 
First option --> return /replace

2nd ---> measure compare and it might be only one side or both sides and fix it your self / with careful work you could have a very tight fit

3rd ---> it could mean that the whole receiver could be out of spec.
 
Machine marks, or discolouring I would have been fine with, and could have tolerated... but having a useless lower receiver is a bit of a pain in the A**. Takes a few weeks to arrive, just to find out its faulty, and now will continue to be a waiting game. I was looking forward to installing a lower parts kit this evening :( Now I'm browsing for other lower receivers I could purchase while I wait and find out what the best thing to do with this NEA is haha.
 
For the price, I'd keep it and try to fit it. It'd be a good experience. Nail it and you'll theoretically have a nice tight fitting match.

That's just me tho, I have patients, a lot of tools, and a reasonable amount of skill for such things.
 
Actually they are. Since they are Jig'd and have to be in spec to fit. Especially hard to do if the tolerance is on the small side.

There are two parts to every fit. And there is also a range in the spec. If one is on the large end, and another on the small end there could be an issue. AR's are not legos contrary to popular opinion, and manufacturers primary concerns is that their components from their rifles are within the spec and compatible with other components of their rifles. The spec is in a range for a reason, and it is silly to assume that everything is 100% interchangeable. If you believe so, you haven't built very many AR's.

I've had Stag uppers that wouldn't fit on a Colt lower. Which one sh!t the bed on QC? Neither, they're both to spec. But in this case it MUST be NEA because the usual suspects say so.


OP, I'm sure if you contact the manufacturer they'll be more than happy to discuss your situation.
 
DMcFaul said:
Actually they are. Since they are Jig'd and have to be in spec to fit. Especially hard to do if the tolerance is on the small side.

There are two parts to every fit. And there is also a range in the spec. If one is on the large end, and another on the small end there could be an issue. AR's are not legos contrary to popular opinion, and manufacturers primary concerns is that their components from their rifles are within the spec and compatible with other components of their rifles. The spec is in a range for a reason, and it is silly to assume that everything is 100% interchangeable. If you believe so, you haven't built very many AR's.

I've had Stag uppers that wouldn't fit on a Colt lower. Which one sh!t the bed on QC? Neither, they're both to spec. But in this case it MUST be NEA because the usual suspects say so.


OP, I'm sure if you contact the manufacturer they'll be more than happy to discuss your situation.
Click to expand...

No I have not built many AR's, actually the two I'm currently working on are my first. This is why I am researching, learning, and asking a lot of questions. I never came out pointing fingers at NEA. I simply wanted to know if this was a common issue, or something I should be worried about. I have owned several other AR's with non matching uppers and lowers, and upper and lowers from different manufactures, and none of them have ever had any fitment issues, and showed no signs of being altered or fitted. Also, As previously mentioned, i had no issues with my other build, hence why I was puzzled when trying to pair up the NEA with another upper.

I don't expect them to go together like Lego, I've learned that's not the case from swapping out parts, or building 1911's.

I thought I would check here before hassling the manufacturer, or looking like an idiot when I do contact them, or worse yet, trying to force the upper/lower together and wrecking/damaging something. There were A LOT of NEA lowers sold as of late, and I thought there would be a good chance someone else may have experienced this, or would be familiar with the issue and how to approach it.

If I have nothing to worry about with this lower then I'm happier than a kid at Christmas :D haha it'll mean I have something to work on over the holidays.
 
mg4201 said:
Seriously send it it back don't fidlle with it. You are the customer, its not your job to fit the parts. Besides if you file it you will remove the anno, leaving the soft aluminum substrate exposed. Get a full refund and consider this the cost of an education in why you shouldn't deal with NEA.
Click to expand...

best advise here yet. As per usual NEA is out in full force blaming every other manufacturer for their :bigHug::bigHug::bigHug::bigHug::bigHug: -up. :rolleyes:
 
DMcFaul said:
Actually they are. Since they are Jig'd and have to be in spec to fit. Especially hard to do if the tolerance is on the small side.

There are two parts to every fit. And there is also a range in the spec. If one is on the large end, and another on the small end there could be an issue. AR's are not legos contrary to popular opinion, and manufacturers primary concerns is that their components from their rifles are within the spec and compatible with other components of their rifles. The spec is in a range for a reason, and it is silly to assume that everything is 100% interchangeable. If you believe so, you haven't built very many AR's.

I've had Stag uppers that wouldn't fit on a Colt lower. Which one sh!t the bed on QC? Neither, they're both to spec. But in this case it MUST be NEA because the usual suspects say so.


OP, I'm sure if you contact the manufacturer they'll be more than happy to discuss your situation.
Click to expand...

Actually, just for sh!ts, I decided to take a few measurements of my NEA lower I just got, and it is actually slightly out of spec for where the upper fits in to the lower. Spec being .500 +.000 -.004 (at least according to what I've found), mine measuring at .494.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top Bottom