MAK 90. Front Site and Gas tube removal problems.

Guys ... I gotta tell you ...THIS SUCKS!!!

This is a SIMPLE PROJECT ... and it's kicking my BUTT.

I just wanted to use the sawed off bayo lug on my MAK 90 ... to mount a site rail ... so I could put a flashlight and a red dot laser on without giving up the wood.

anyoldways ... It LOOKS simple enough.

First problem ... the pins holding the front site and gas tube on. After beating the crap out of them ...WITH THE PROPER TOOLS ... I got 2 of 3 out. The forward most pin in the front site assembly ... I couldn't get it to even MOVE. I finally had to chuck the thing in my drill press ... and, with an undersized bit (so I don't enlarge the freakin' hole), ... drill it half way through ... then BEAT the remainder out.

Second problem ... getting the front sight assembly off.

HOLY CRAP BATMAN!!!! I soaked it and tapped, and soaked it and tapped ... I ended up BEATING THE SNOT out of it ... and FINALLY got it to move.

This stuff DOES drive off TOWARDS THE FRONT (like where the bullets come out) DON'T IT???

anyoldways ... after beating the CRAP out of it with hammer and brass drift (I also use pieces of REAL hard Oak as a drift) FINALLY ... I got it off.

Third problem ... I figured I take off the upper hand guard and gas tube to make it easier to remove that front thingie.

I've taken these things apart before on other AK's (turn the lever and etc and etc...) ... NO MATTER WHAT I DO I CAN'T GET THE DAMN THING OFF!!!! I cannot even get it to MOVE!!! Well ... that's a hyperbole ... I can get it to wiggle around and rattle a bit.

BUT IT AIN'T COMING OFF!!!

Finally ...


FORTH PROBLEM ... so I figure ... screw it ... just drive the gas tube mount thingie forward (YES!!!! the freakin' pin is out!!!) and the tube and etc should come off.

I've been beating on it for about a half a freakin' hour now ... and I can NOT get the dang thing to move ... NOT EVEN A LITTLE BIT!!!! I've been soaking it with rust bust ... and beating it with a hammer and brass drift.

Nothing!!!! This thing DOES go FOWARD ... again like where the bullets come out ... DON'T IT????

What HELL am I doing wrong???

Do the freakin' Chinese use LOCKTITE on this stuff???

T



?????????

T

PROGRESS ....

After soaking and cussing and soaking and wiggling and soaking and beating and soaking and cussing some more ...

... I got the hand guards off the commie piece of crap!!!


But even with more places to hit ... and soaking and tapping and cussing and soaking and cussing ...

I STILL can't get that gas chamber thingie to move ...
NOT A BIT!!!

IDEAS????

T

CPO,
Here's what works for me. I use a 5/8 open ended wrench and my 12 ton HF hydralic press to take them off. Go to the front sight block first, slip the open end wrench under it and move the iron HF press plates together under the wrench. Then, I use the press to push the block off the barrel. Put copper pennies between the press ram and the muzzle of the barrel. It will take a lot of pressure and you are sure to get a couple of loud bangs when it starts to move.

Repeat with gas block.

If I had a press ... that would have been a GREAT idea ... with the front site.

But the gas block on the MAK 90 is a little different than other AK's because it also houses the the wire loop that serves as a front sling swivel.

The accommodations made for that of piece of wire reduce the surfaces to place that wrench as you describe.

Also you'd have to destroy the sling swivel. I kinda would like to avoid that if I could (I'm cheap)

T

Scratch one front sling swivel.

I tried to straighten it out ... and pry it out ... No damn good ... It broke in three pieces.

The other AK gas chambers (block) even mount different than the MAK 90 ... the MAK only has ONE pin holding it on ... My Romy's have two.

Therefore I don't think making a relief cut in the gas block and slipping the carcass off is a good Idea ... I just don't think I could find a correct replacement ...

Hell I can't even be sure that the hole for the pin in the replacement would line up correctly with the grove in the barrel.

This ain't looking good!

Damn.

I'm gonna stop screwing with it before I REALLY hurt something ... I'll let it soak over night.

I might just have to say screw it and just BANG the damn thing back together.

This was a "like new" MAK 90 ... not a mark on it ... not even a dent in the freakin' wood.

"Just a simple little job"...

*sigh*

T

If I got to cut the damn gas block off ... does anybody know where I can find a new one ... that will fit a MAK 90?

T

Maybe one of these:

http://stores.polytechparts.com/-strse-427/Upper-Handguard%2C-AK-dsh-47%2C-Dark/Detail.bok



You also might need one of these before it's over with:

http://stores.polytechparts.com/-strse-408/Spring%2C-AKS-Barrel-Bushing/Detail.bok

You really need to locate a press you can use. The barrel components are not meant to be beaten off or on. They are press fit components.
I'm surprised you have not bent the FSB already by beating on it etc. A press is the answer. Dress the areas with some 220 emery paper when you go to reassemble the barrel components. Good Luck. ;)

You really need to locate a press you can use. The barrel components are not meant to be beaten off or on. They are press fit components.

I'm surprised you have not bent the FSB already by beating on it etc. A press is the answer.

Dress the areas with some 220 emery paper when you go to reassemble the barrel components. Good Luck. ;)



Except for the sling swivel ... I haven't trashed anything ... yet.

However, even with the 5/8's wrench trick ... there REALLY is no decent place to "grab" (support) that MAK 90 gas block ... that will give you a really good support for a pressing operation. There really is nothing there.

If I had supported the block with a wrench without taking the damn swivel off ... the pressing operation would have crushed/cut it to pieces.

As I say, the gas block on the MAK 90 is very different than the other AK's I have ... due to the changes to accommodate the front swivel.





I'll figure it out ...

Even if I have to slit the damn thing to open it up a bit ... and slide it off the barrel.




and NO!

I'm NOT gonna need an entire barrel assembly. I'm a better damn mechanic/machinist than THAT. Thank you very much.

T






T

a bigger hammer :wink_smal

when i was 16 i took apart (every last bolt) a vw with vise grips, a cresent wrench and no manual :laugh_sma

If you dont have the right tools , figure how to make the best tools out of what ever you have and take your time. speed and precision is a funtion of $$$.

Skill and time are it's match.

cant wait to see how it comes out.

hang in there you'll git-r-done

hang in there you'll git-r-done

Yeah ... I know.

I didn't mean to sound like a pissy jerk at the Kernels suggestion ...that I'd need a barrel.

Sorry Kernel!


Really ... the worst part of this thing so far was them three 1/8" pins that held the front sight base and the gas block in place.

I've dealt with this kind of assembly technique all my life ... I know the right tools to use ... and i know how to support the piece your driving them out of.

I've NEVER seen pins in that tight.

Them Chinese did NOT want them coming out.

....well ... that's done.

I go hunting today ... and I guess I'm going to find a way to get that DAMN gas block off.

While its apart ... I figure I'm going to re-configure this MAK so it has the same front sling mount as a Romy.

We'll see what develops.

T

I am not sure exactly how a MAK90 GB is configured,. But on a pre ban Chinese there are surfaces just under the gas block and 180 degress opposite under the barrel that are flat. The left and right are occupied by the sling swivel as you note. A bit different on an underfolder vs bayo lug type but basically the same. I used a 3/16" or 1/4" (forgot) piece of metal bar stock to place under each of the flat areas and support those and then press from the muzzle to remove the GB. I had a couple of demilled kits with cut barrels that I disassembled for parts sale of the underfolder bayo or lugged GB.
I have a Chinese GB, for an underfolder, originally, I believe that should work along with the sling swivel in milled steel or wire if you need replacement parts.
Good Luck and happy hunting.

I am not sure exactly how a MAK90 GB is configured,. But on a pre ban Chinese there are surfaces just under the gas block and 180 degress opposite under the barrel that are flat. The left and right are occupied by the sling swivel as you note. A bit different on an underfolder vs bayo lug type but basically the same. I used a 3/16" or 1/4" (forgot) piece of metal bar stock to place under each of the flat areas and support those and then press from the muzzle to remove the GB. I had a couple of demilled kits with cut barrels that I disassembled for parts sale of the underfolder bayo or lugged GB.
I have a Chinese GB, for an underfolder, originally, I believe that should work along with the sling swivel in milled steel or wire if you need replacement parts.
Good Luck and happy hunting.


PM out.

T

Ted - check out my bbless amd post... a lot of fellows have tipped on invaluable info there! so far i constructed a pin buster, and my next steps are to remove the pins, also remove the gas block etc.. lot of good tips here though also!

i do agree with other's about getting a press, cause i do agree that these parts are press fit. buy the press at harbor freight, also try to find a coupon and you can get it for a deal. the press will come in handy for any other ak build needs in the future as well. also, you should be able to sell the press later on if you choose and get back most of ur coin. buy you'll probably keep it - like most of us-great tool to have btw.

ps:i'm amazed you got some of the pins out! damn, i called it quits after i realized that i would be possibly mushrooming my pins if i kept hammering. lol. good luck on it.

Ted - check out my bbless amd post... a lot of fellows have tipped on invaluable info there! so far i constructed a pin buster, and my next steps are to remove the pins, also remove the gas block etc.. lot of good tips here though also!



fORGIVE ME BEING DENSE ...BUT


YOUR WHAT???? POST????

Could ya' post a link??? You know my hearin' ain't what it once was ...





Them pins were a Hillary Clinton alright!!!!

I got to out with the hammer and drifts ...

The third ... I clamped it in the drill press ... drilled a hole right down the center of it ... just about half way through ... didn't touch the sides!!!

Once I had a hole in it ... the rest came out pretty easy.

T

http://www.akfiles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=51525&page=1

here's the link... it's along the lines of what ur doing though.

yeah those pins are a bitch! i mean bfh'ing them. i;m amazed you got 3 of them out with bfh, cause mine felt looked like they where mushrooming slightly so i stopped. now i plan to press them out.

PM out.

T


Here is the only pic I have of the gas block.., on the left in the pic. A wire and a milled sling swivel just below the GB.

http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/2245/p5302068.jpg

Well...

I hitched up the team and went down to Harbor Freight ... and bought me one a them hydoroglical pressers ... I didn't think my mules could pull the wagon with the 20 TON one aboard ... so I asked for the 12 ton.

Then the guy hands me 3 little boxes. :huh_small

I brought it on home ... took it outta the boxes ... and put it together ...

But I don't think I build it right ...it seems awful short?!?

Either that or them Chinese must be REAL little people ... which I'm thinking is a possibility ....this thing didn't weigh hardly no more than a sack o' taters ... didn't even come CLOSE to no American 16 tons.


anyoldways ...

I'm gonna give it a try and see if I can get that gas block off ... If I can ... I'll be buying at LEAST one of them sling swivels.

If I CAN'T ... well at least I know I can get the correct block.

For such little people ... them Chinese sure do assemble things TIGHT! Maybe they deal in METRIC tons!!!




CPO T


BTW ... Seriously, the reason I'd like to try to save this gas block ... I've already milled the bottom of it flat and true to the barrel so it would accept a scope rail.

CPO,
Here's what works for me. I use a 5/8 open ended wrench and my 12 ton HF hydraulic press to take them off.

Go to the front sight block first, slip the open end wrench under it and move the iron HF press plates together under the wrench. Then, I use the press to push the block off the barrel. Put copper pennies between the press ram and the muzzle of the barrel.

Repeat with gas block.

It will take a lot of pressure and you are sure to get a couple of loud bangs when it starts to move.



I got the gas block off.

5/8 open ended wrench & 12 ton HF hydraulic press.


A COUPLE OF LOUD BANGS???


I SOILED MYSELF!!!


As I mentioned ... I did the front site base the other day ... brass drifts, pieces of VERY hard oak ... and a LOT of hammer work. I kept alternating my point of strike anyplace I could grab an edge. I got it off with no harm done ... but looking back ... I don't see how.

I wish I had the press before I started.

That having been said ... I tried a couple of ways to grab the gas block ... the ONLY thing that worked was the 5/8 open ended wrench & 12 ton HF hydraulic press ... I distorted a LOT of pennies and mild steel ... and bent the lower portion of the gas block ... the portion that holds the bottom of the sling swivel. I was able to straighten it ... and no harm was done to anything ... but I dont think that supporting it in that manner is a *real* good idea.

So, I gave in and just used the wrench.

I really didn't think there would be enough "edge" for a good purchase. But it worked.

If I had to do it again ... I'd do it the same way.

BTW ... I am NOT exaggerating the noises that were made when it started to break loose ... I REALLY thought I had broken it.




In over 27 years of mechanical stuff ... I've NEVER seen two parts pressed together this tight ... that came apart and didn't break.



I couldn't have gotten this done with out the help.

Thanks guys!!!

CPO T


akblue ... check your pm's

congrats:)

I got the gas block off.



akblue ... check your pm's

Your PM mailbox is full. :tongue_sm

Dang crusty PM box buildup.

I done scraped some of it out ...

T