Hello everyone, my name is Cliff. I just bought me a chinese norinco sks, i think its a 1965... I finally managed to get the operating rod that was jammed all the way back im the sight out, and turns out there was no rod or spring at all, just the head.... My biggest curiosity while im ordering a new one, is what i see inside. It appears to be a coil of braided wire... Does this sound normal? Im afraid i do not know how to post pictures, ones that dont contain a url address anyway, and also that i may be postin incorrectly and might come off as rude.. But if anybody could offer constructive criticism about my rifle or my posting i would certainly appreciate it. Thanks for reading!
Welcome shipwreck to our forum! Sorry to hear about your misfortune, if at all possible some photos would be helpful in someone assisting you with this.
That coil of braided wire you are seeing was once a return spring for the rod you are replacing. You will need a replacement for the spring also of course!
Yeah... Your seeing the coil spring or whats left of it. If you can pull it out and compare it to other online pics of an operating rod spring, it may show you if its messed up or simply too short.
Welcome aboard!
I will dig it out then. I wish i knew how to post a picture to show you guys, its hard to believe this was a spring from what i can see, but if there just a rpd and spring there ill clean it out and report back. Thanks for the welcomings!
HI Cliff and welcome to the boards. No worries about posting incorrectly or coming off as rude, we'll help you out as best we can.
Posting photos is pretty simple, though it can be a pain for first time users. See: http://sks-files.com/index.php?topic=87.0
As for your broken op rod, that's truly a first for me. Those things are pretty robust and well constrained within the rear sight block. It would have taken a heck of a shock to do that, I'd almost worry about what else on the poor rifle might have been damaged during such a beating.
Danny and LC are right about the spring. It may be an entire spring in useable shape, or just remnants. I'd get a new one when you get the op rod as they are cheap enough and it will eliminate any lingering doubts you might have.
Here's what a proper working condition op rod and spring off a late Chinese SKS should look like and how they should fit together:
(http://i1352.photobucket.com/albums/q647/jelucer/Chinese/Clayco_M8/100_0733.jpg~original)
(http://i1352.photobucket.com/albums/q647/jelucer/Chinese/Clayco_M8/100_0735.jpg~original)
(http://i1352.photobucket.com/albums/q647/jelucer/Chinese/Clayco_M8/100_0736.jpg~original)
Found a new rod and spring online from dph arms. Yeah that coil was the spring, i didnt expect the spring to have that braided looking texture. Still missing the stem part of the op rod... Haha whatever. You guys rock, thanks for helpin out.
If anybody feels lile answering one more question: my sks being a 1965.... If i put the tapco t6 intrafuse on it am i subject to 922r? Or am i exempt from worrying about that on account of the rifle being 50 years old?
C&R status has no bearing on 922(r). In fact, ATF has determined that swapping stocks from wood to composite automatically removes the rifle from C&R status (at least until an original type wooden stock is put back on).
If you go to a composite stock, you have to play the 10 or less game. On a std. SKS with 14 counted parts, I believe you need 4 total U.S. made parts, of which, the stock is certainly one counted part. (Someone please correct me if I have my #s wrong, I'm going from memory on my phone).
I think many guys do a simple duckbill mag swap for two parts (body & follower) and then a handguard and stock swap to get to four.
-RM
Quote from: running-man on November 24, 2015, 08:58:11 PM
C&R status has no bearing on 922(r). In fact, ATF has determined that swapping stocks from wood to composite automatically removes the rifle from C&R status (at least until an original type wooden stock is put back on).
If you go to a composite stock, you have to play the 10 or less game. On a std. SKS with 14 counted parts, I believe you need 4 total U.S. made parts, of which, the stock is certainly one counted part. (Someone please correct me if I have my #s wrong, I'm going from memory on my phone).
I think many guys do a simple duckbill mag swap for two parts (body & follower) and then a handguard and stock swap to get to four.
-RM
This is going to be an unofficial statement, so take this at your own discretion...
When I asked my ATF agent about 922 compliance, he told me that law is more geared towards importers (putting restrictions on bringing certain weapons into the country), than it is towards individuals. He said they really could care less about individuals changing parts on their guns, unless they are doing something that requires a tax stamp.
Hey goin back to the op rod, i probably ever so slightly scored the cylinder while tapping it out... It shouldnt have to be air tight right; It just needs to push the bolt back? Theres no visible damage...
Yes... All that is after the 'gas' sealing part of the system. It just needs to slide freely. You may have to use a rat-tail file to clean it up again.
Quote from: shipwreck on November 24, 2015, 09:20:45 PM
Hey goin back to the op rod, i probably ever so slightly scored the cylinder while tapping it out... It shouldnt have to be air tight right; It just needs to push the bolt back? Theres no visible damage...
Yeah...it's a crude function, lol. As long as it can slide nice and easy, you'll be fine. If you knicked the bore where it rides, try some emery cloth rolled up and spin it around in there.
Quote from: Power Surge on November 24, 2015, 09:13:43 PM
This is going to be an unofficial statement, so take this at your own discretion...
When I asked my ATF agent about 922 compliance, he told me that law is more geared towards importers (putting restrictions on bringing certain weapons into the country), than it is towards individuals. He said they really could care less about individuals changing parts on their guns, unless they are doing something that requires a tax stamp.
I couldn't agree with you more Sal. thumb1. 922(r) is making fly **** out of pepper 99.99% of the time. Toss in the whole "The modifying action is illegal, the end product is not" and it's basically impossible to enforce. ATF has better things to do than nail guys putting tapco stocks on SKSs, but the law is the law, regardless of how stupid it is. Selective enforcement is all the vogue in DC right now. Best to be squeaky clean in my opinion because what they let pass now the might not later.
What the heck could cause this broken piston and ground spring ? Only the head of the OP rod was all that was left in the channel ? Am I missing something here ? Where is the rest of the rod ? What caused this action, some cheap after market OP rod and spring ? Man Id be concerned.
Welcome aboard Ship Wreck
Yeah DC thats what happened. Not sure what caused it because ive only put one round through this rifle, bought it a few days ago. The one round i shot was in the marina i live at, trying to free it up. But the op rod bein stuck was the first thing i noticed when field stripping it, it must have been that way for a while, not sure why previous owner wouldnt have fixed it, parts are delivered for like $20.
Ive noticed my gas piston os bent a little bit as well. I suspect ill get a new tube and piston at some point as well, maybe thats what jappened. A small bend managed to break with heavy usage.
Are you sure it wasn't fired with no op rod at all and the broken piece isn't part of the piston?
Piston should be the same length as the tube. ...
Yeah gas piston is fine, just a little bemt. Its clearly the head of the op rod.
Hmmm, or the gas piston got bent when it was fired and the op rod was stuck. If you are concerned about 922r and are going to get a new gas piston you can look for made in USA gas pistons as they count as a 922r part. Below is a link to CNCWarrior who makes one made in USA. It says it's for a Yugo but I think the pistons are all the same even though the Yugo gas tube is different at the end. Maybe someone else can verify that or you can contact cncwarrior directly.
http://www.cncwarrior.com/SKS-Gas-Piston-p/23152.htm (http://www.cncwarrior.com/SKS-Gas-Piston-p/23152.htm)
Or there is this one on eBay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/SKS-Gas-Piston-New-US-Made-922r-compliant-/161871781200?hash=item25b04f5d50:g:PwYAAOSwHnFVuRqb (http://www.ebay.com/itm/SKS-Gas-Piston-New-US-Made-922r-compliant-/161871781200?hash=item25b04f5d50:g:PwYAAOSwHnFVuRqb)
Or there are the Tapco ones too (I don't know this retailer, I just stumbled across there web site).
http://grabagun.com/tapco-inc-sks6602-sks-gas-piston.html (http://grabagun.com/tapco-inc-sks6602-sks-gas-piston.html)
Or here is one on eBay that is under $15 shipped as of my typing this:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Tapco-Intrafuse-Tactical-Weapons-Gear-SKS-Gas-Piston-/311489306659?hash=item488635a023:g:pdsAAOSwkZhWT0UA (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Tapco-Intrafuse-Tactical-Weapons-Gear-SKS-Gas-Piston-/311489306659?hash=item488635a023:g:pdsAAOSwkZhWT0UA)
Finding a new gas tube is trickier unless you go with a Tapco one and you may not need one. Either way you are looking at $40-$50 plus shipping. Or you can get a butt ugly NCStar one that has no hand guard for around $20 (yuck, don't do it).
I have a like new Chinese gas tube for sale but it has the jungle stock hand guard on it. I have a black plastic hand guard I'd toss in for free but you'd have to swap them out yourself (not a big deal). I am asking $40 plus shipping. PM me if you are interested.
Thanks for the info carl. Im not too worried about gas tube and im starting to just not care about the govt cfrs right now either. Not sure how op rod broke or piston bent, had something to do with some previous owner. I got new op rod and spring commin now.
This is very strange to put it mildly. The mystery of...how the heck did this happen and where is the rest of the op rod? :o
If the gas piston isn't bent too bad it may still cycle. While not ideal it might be ok (seen them work slightly bent before). Just make sure it's all there and the right length as stated previously.
It might just be that the rod was faulty and just broke.....or the gas piston was stuck back after firing with a lack of cleaning a corroded tube....and the previous owner just took a hammer too it the wrong way....bent it, and just opted to try break it off....and succeeded.
I haven't heard of this ever, those things are so tough I would trust them as a trailer hitch pin. Hope a good cleaning and a new op rod and spring are all you need.
Best of luck and welcome to the board! thumb1
I think i would replace the gas piston along with the operating rod and spring to be safe. Also id make sure there's no play inside the gastube after doing so. Inspect the bbl area where it feeds the gas for cloggage.
When you shot it did it cycle the empty ?
Man good luck with this. Pretty strange situation. And the next time you try shooting it maybe mount the gun and pull the trigger with a string from a ways away fart1. Maybe being a little over cautious but thats just what id do.
Oh, And Happy Thanksgiving everyone and remember to set your scales back 10 pounds this week :)