How do I replace the Gas Tube Lock Rivet??

[broclirobb]

Hello everyone!

I am very new to this site and as well as a new owner of a WASR-10.....

If I am not posting this in the right area or I am doing something wrong please let me know so I can correct my self.

My problem is I was trying to remove the gas tube from my rifle but it was stuck in place. I took a pair of pliers to the "Gas Tube Lock" and it snapped the lever right off. The good news is I did loosen it and was able to take of the gas tube off. But now it is broken and I have found the part I need on K-VAR for cheap.

Not sure if I can post a link so... go to K-VAR------->Spare Parts & Accessories------->Gas Tubes------->AK-080GTL (Gas Tube Lock Assembly for stamped receivers).

So I figure I can cut the old one out with my dremel, but I am not sure what type of tool to use to install the new lock. I am reading that I would need to rivet it somehow, but I have no experience in this. I see ads for rivet tools from ACE hardware for 19.99 but I don't think it will work for my application. Is there a specific tool for this part of the AK? Is there a another alternative to fix this?

I appreciate any insight or ideas from anyone. Thanks in advance!

[knall]

You just get a punch that sits in the thing properly and smack it out.

The new one just slides in...... and with an apropriate punch you mushroom the end open. (while saporting the oposite end of it, to keep from driving it back out again)

[allesennogwat]

If you can find a ball bearing slightly larger than the hole in the end of the lock you may be able to squeeze it in a vise or with a C-clamp or even a pair of channel lock pliers.

[broclirobb]

THanks for the quick replies. I like the ball bearing idea because I still dont know what tool I would use to "mushroom" the rivet. knall, could you possibly post a link or some search words to find a tool to do this with?

Thanks

[cktad]

Look at the end of the lever that has the indention (opposite lever side). Place the ball bearing in/over it and hit with hammer. It will press out the sides of the indention, "mushroom", and that holds the lever in place. Get a ball bearing that is just a bit bigger than the lever indention. Hit it too hard and it will be tight but will work it's way to being more easy to rotate. Click on photo to see the end that flares out.

[ronin]

Originally Posted by broclirobb

THanks for the quick replies. I like the ball bearing idea because I still dont know what tool I would use to "mushroom" the rivet. knall, could you possibly post a link or some search words to find a tool to do this with?


Thanks

EDIT: DON'T DO THIS - My mistake. --Ronin

Take an old punch, 1/2" bolt or something like that and drill a dimple in it. This bowl shaped depression makes the rivet's head mushroom. The idea isn't to form in one hit but over a number of hits.

Ballpark a drill bit that will cause a depression that side of the final mushroom you want.

Your rivet should stick out 1.5x it's diameter so you have enough material to form it. I'd use the factory rivet head on the leaver and shape the other side.

As knall mentioned, you do need to support your original rivet head - ideally in another dimple. That's your backing plate.

Some guys get fancy and use multiple bits to start the rivet swelling, to start the mushroom, drive it down and finish the head. I don't think you need to worry about getting super fancy, but that's up to you.

Utga has some rivet forming posts around that are good reference material but all you need for a simple job is a light to medium hammer and then a punch and backing plate with a dimple.

[ronin]

Flaring the head out with a ball bearing sounds a lot simpler and will look more like what the original had.

[knall]

Ronin , we are not talking about THAT KIND of rivit.

The end of the lever in question is hollow, and need to be mushroomed OUT. I dont have a problem with the ball bearing idea...... but like a said..... a similarly shaped punch and a hammer will do the same thing.

As far as taking a picture of the tool, ......its a hunk of metal, that fits where you want it to. Maybee YOU call em cold chisels?

The adapters for the swing press are all called punches.


( Yes a swing press is a HAMMER)

Originally Posted by ronin

Take an old punch, 1/2" bolt or something like that and drill a dimple in it. This bowl shaped depression makes the rivet's head mushroom. The idea isn't to form in one hit but over a number of hits.

Ballpark a drill bit that will cause a depression that side of the final mushroom you want.

Your rivet should stick out 1.5x it's diameter so you have enough material to form it. I'd use the factory rivet head on the leaver and shape the other side.

As knall mentioned, you do need to support your original rivet head - ideally in another dimple. That's your backing plate.

Some guys get fancy and use multiple bits to start the rivet swelling, to start the mushroom, drive it down and finish the head. I don't think you need to worry about getting super fancy, but that's up to you.

Utga has some rivet forming posts around that are good reference material but all you need for a simple job is a light to medium hammer and then a punch and backing plate with a dimple.

[ronin]

Sorry knall - misunderstood. I was thinking folks were saying he could do the flared outward rivet with the ball bearing or just form a normal rivet head. I guess that doesn't make any since as the rivet would swell and not move. Duh on my part.

Broclirobb, definitely ignore my post about the rivet set. I should have thought more before I responded.