SKS gas tube/hand guard fitment

nullshine

nullshine

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Hello Comrades!

I just received a pair of 1953 Tulas, and upon first visual inspection, they look great.

On one of them, however, the handguard/gas tube assy is able to rotate (around the axis of the barrel) rather freely on the rifle. It only rotates about 1/16th of an inch, which (I'm thinking) shouldn't be a problem function wise, it's just that it rattles a bit, and I am now looking to tighten it up. I can also move it forward and back (along the axis of the barrel) approx 0.005". If I lift up on the rear of the handguard, it can rise probably about 0.010-0.015"

Looking at the way it's constructed, I'm seeing several spots where I could shim that might tighten it up. Right now I'm thinking the best way is to shim underneath at the rear of the gas tube somewhere so that when I turn the lever on the side of the rear sight, it cams it down into place. Right now I don't think there is contact between that cam(pin?) and the top of the gas tube.

I searched using the Red Rifles forum search, didn't find anything on this subject.

I'd appreciate any tips and experiences you red-riflers might have, before I start bubba-ing around. :redface:
 
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Ok got it fixed, after a fair amount of pissing around.

Trying to shim between the barrel and the gas tube (at the rear of the gas tube) is not really a great idea like I thought it would be. The shim has to be pretty precise, so unless you have a real nice selection of shim stock, it probably isn't going to work well.

I had it tightened up nicely with a .22LR casing that I smashed down to approx 0.017" thick, but using it to shim the gas tube for height made the lever on the side of the rear sight (which locks down the gas tube) pretty #####y to operate.

After a while of trying various thicknesses of shims, and not getting good tightness without making that lever a ##### to move, I decided to shim the gas tube for length instead of height.

I wrapped some 0.035" diameter aluminum tie wire (0.030" or maybe even less would have worked fine too) around the spigot of the gas block, and then levered the gas tube down into place. Makes things nice and tight, and since there's no extra force being put on that sight block lever, it works fine. The aluminum tie wire was fairly soft, so it squished down nicely to make a custom fit. It also kind of looks cool having the bright coloured wire there, near the bright bayonet, while the rest of the rifle is fairly dark.

Done deal. Hopefully it won't get blown out by the gas pressure.
 
Ok, so I finally range tested this.

Fail.

nullshine said:
Hopefully it won't get blown out by the gas pressure.
Click to expand...

The wire blew out on the first shot. I was stuck holding the hand guard for the remainder of my time there. No biggie.

I drove the pin out of the gas block, and bumped it backwards with a brass drift.
This leaves it very slightly misaligned with the slot in the barrel, just enough that the pin won't go back in. I just left the pin out.

If the gas block does start loosening off, I'll bump it back with the drift again, and put some JB weld in the pin hole to keep it there. Based on the amount of force needed to budge the block, I doubt it's going anywhere.

Just thought I'd post this update as a reference for people who encounter the same thing with their SKS.
 
wow, thanks for the offer. I'm easily 9 hours north of you, however.

I do have a MIG in my garage, if I need to go that way. If it budges, I suppose I could just tack it to the barrel. It's pressed on pretty tight, I doubt it'll move.

Thanks again for the offer, though!
 
Satain said:
Use it for parts and get another one.
Click to expand...

Naaahhhhh...

I know these rifles are cheap, but this one is going to be my bubba hunter.
I've already got another one, and it's staying in its factory/refurb'd form.

The one with the (previously) loose gas tube also has a stock in worse condition than the other, a trigger that needs some work, and a safety without a spring (comes off quietly for hunting). It'll be perfect to fix/modify, and smash around in the woods with.

Besides, the only part an SKS ever needs to keep running is ammo. :eek:
 
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