Front sight tower removal??

[tomovich]

I have a Chinese MAK90 that needs it's front sight tower replaced. Proper method? Remove the two pins and then...................???????????

Thanks in advance.

[KernelKrink]

Those things are press fit on, you basically have to press them off or beat on them with a large hammer and block of wood to remove them. If you don't care about damaging the old sight, I would dremel a slot in the thickest part almost all the way through, then whack the slot with a small chisel. That should split it and allow it to slide off easily.

[tomovich]

It looks like it will give me something to do with my new 20 T press! Thanks for the info, that was what I figured.

[graveman]

Brake fluid will make things smoother and easier also, wheter you're beating it with a hammer or pressing it out. If you're not worried about the FSB at least worry about the barrel.

[tomovich]

graveman,

I'm already soaking in Kroil. :wink_smal

I'm curious though, without removing the barrel from the trunnion or receiver, how to you swap FSB's in the press?? Any tips or tricks you might be able to pass on??

[KernelKrink]

On my press I have a press plate with various sized slots in it, one fit the bbl diameter very well. Laid the gun vertical in the slot with the fsb laying on top of the plate and bbl in the slot. Placed a nickel over the muzzle and pressed until it popped. To replace the fsb, I'd find a short piece of tube that barely fits over the bbl and use it to hammer the new fsb into place.

[tomovich]

OK Kernel, you just described what I figured I'd do, the easy part. NOW, without taking the barrel off (out of the trunnion), how do you put a new FSB back ON the barrel?? Push from the back of the receiver with the stock removed?? That would collapse the receiver I bet. This strikes me as being the hard part...........or am I just not being creative enough? :huh_small

[graveman]

If everything is the proper size and well-oiled, the new FSB should slide right into place, might have to tap it with a rubber mallet to get it where it needs to be. If the pinholes aren't drilled in the FSB it would be a good idea to get them done before installing it; that way you can see when you got it in the proper place. Don't forget the pin closer to the muzzle is the one that keeps the little muzzle plunger in place.

[KernelKrink]

Place the FSB on the bbl and use a small piece of tubing that slides over the muzzle to gently tap the FSB into place.

[tomovich]

I did the job last night. I pressed the FSB I wanted off an old barrel assy. I then rested the clamped-shut lower handguard bracket on the pressure plates and used a deep socket to press on the FSB onto my complete rifle using the press. The old ones came off with a big POP (more like a bang!) and the new one slid on just fine. I used a little anti-seize for the hell of it. My preban MAK underfolder now has the folding bayonet on it that I took OFF from another pre ban MAK years ago to build my Bulgarian side-folder AKS-74. :cool_smal Cool!!!! Maybe I'll post a pic later.