FP Retaining pin PSA

[Shoot The Refurbs]

I had a stuck firing pin retaining pin on my alby that I had yet to knock loose.
Did some research here and on other forums and saw mention of a lot of people talking about just soaking them in mineral spirits and penetrating oils clearing the FP channel enough to safely function without ever taking the bolt down. I had heard of this method but never had this much trouble getting one off. (honestly, for a moment I thought an Albanian had gone a little crazy with one of Enver Hoxha's welders) 
I had cleaned the bolt profusely before but proceeded to soak the bolt in mineral spirits overnight, cleaned her off, then let soak in some CLP another night.
After cleaning it as good as I could with every small tool I could find, even forging some thinner ones by using dental picks on the grinder. I decided to try big hammer method with my vise again, and although she was still extremely snug, she came free.

While your immediate reaction might be, 'wow mineral spirts and oils really does the trick!'  Yes and No, See what was left behind when I finally did get her apart.









Again, I've never had this much trouble before getting one of these out, and am baffled at how much black gunk filled with metal shavings, not to mention the leftover hardened cosmo is still present even after an overnight soak with multiple cleaners.

So just a friendly PSA especially to our several new sks owners, if you haven't seen your Firing pin because you soaked it overnight and it's 'good', it might not be as clean as you'd think. 

[Greatguns]

I found a bolt to match the threading of an aftermarket front sight tool, ground the end down to 3/32" so as to clear the retaining pin hole, and use it to drive out the pins instead of using a hammer and punch. Have never had an issue regardless how tough the pin was to remove

[Larry D.]

Thanks for the PSA.
In reality, the bolt can't be too clean.

[Bubbazinetti]

I'd drop them in a bottle of Hoppes for a week to loosen all the crud.Let the solvent do all the work for you.

[Phosphorus32]

I found a bolt to match the threading of an aftermarket front sight tool, ground the end down to 3/32" so as to clear the retaining pin hole, and use it to drive out the pins instead of using a hammer and punch. Have never had an issue regardless how tough the pin was to remove

Clever solution 

[Greasemonkey]

About 10 or 15 minutes in a heated ultrasonic cleaner full of varsol, the good stuff, not the Eco friendly nontoxic you can drink it like a martini w/an olive or buff your Prius with it kinda stuff... I got bored, uhm sick of digging and picking small parts clean... works great on little carbs, bolts, slides and all kinds of other stuff too.... Just don't put your dang fingers in it when it's running... It hurts very much badly. 

[Phosphorus32]

About 10 or 15 minutes in a heated ultrasonic cleaner full of varsol...Just don't put your dang fingers body parts in it when it's running... It hurts very much badly. 

Fixed it to make it a more general PSA 

[Bob_The_Student]

GM, I'm so glad you're back in circulation! 

[Shoot The Refurbs]

I found a bolt to match the threading of an aftermarket front sight tool, ground the end down to 3/32" so as to clear the retaining pin hole, and use it to drive out the pins instead of using a hammer and punch. Have never had an issue regardless how tough the pin was to remove

That's actually brilliant, I may have to try to jerryrig something similar if the situation ever arises again.

About 10 or 15 minutes in a heated ultrasonic cleaner full of varsol, the good stuff, not the Eco friendly nontoxic you can drink it like a martini w/an olive or buff your Prius with it kinda stuff... I got bored, uhm sick of digging and picking small parts clean... works great on little carbs, bolts, slides and all kinds of other stuff too.... Just don't put your dang fingers in it when it's running... It hurts very much badly. 

Glad to see you GM!
An ultra sonic cleaner sounds like a solid investment to anyone going to pick more than 1 or 2 of these clean. I have been cheap about it and haven't pulled the trigger yet, I really need to 

[Justin Hell]

I made a similar tool using a small C clamp that I broke the 'foot' off of, and ground to the size of FSB and gas block pins.
The FSB tool idea sounds better as you can get a harder bolt, and a longer lasting tool....just so happens I have a spare that may soon be such a little project.

[Greatguns]

I made a similar tool using a small C clamp that I broke the 'foot' off of, and ground to the size of FSB and gas block pins.
The FSB tool idea sounds better as you can get a harder bolt, and a longer lasting tool....just so happens I have a spare that may soon be such a little project.

I made the punch portion on mine about 1/4"-5/16". Just long enough to pop the retainer and get it moving some. Then finish driving it out with a regular punch. But my bolt was not a hardened bolt. It has seen many a bolt and has not filed me yet, even with the toughest of Yugos.

[Shoot The Refurbs]

GG, that's definitely going to be another project on the list, I think I have a spare sight adjustment tool or 2 for just such a cause. 

[Greatguns]

GG, that's definitely going to be another project on the list, I think I have a spare sight adjustment tool or 2 for just such a cause. 

IIRC that is a M14 bolt that I picked up at the local hardware store. If you notice part of the tool is tapered, that was done to accommodate Yugo M59/66A1 sights and has nothing to do with the bolt retainer aspect.