sks problems

If you haven't already done this, the very first thing to do to an SKS is a complete and total teardown and cleaning, getting all the cosmolene out of everything, including inside the bolt.

http://www.surplusrifle.com/sks/carbine/index.asp

Answers

Get all your SKS answers here....

http://www.sksboards.com/smf/index.php

Wow!

Braids10--That is one seriously screwed up SKS! You've covered almost all of the "normal" bases. I would check the gas valve--some of them are so corroded that they leak enough gas that there isn't enough left to operate the semi-auto system. A brand-new stainless steel gas valve is to be had if that is the problem, or there is a cheapie-fix using aluminum foil. Check www.surplusrifle.com for details.

Oh, while you're checking the gas valve, check the gas port in the bbl, beneath it--if it is mostly clogged with crud, that might be contributing also.

Anyhow, good luck. The SKS is one of the most rugged, reliable, military rifles to be had, but, like any machine, they can be mucked up enough not to work.

Like Smokey Joe said, with a Yugo, if it is not cycling correctly, my first place to look (assuming it was cleaned properly) is the gas valve. If it's corroded, junk it and replace it. Replacements are easily had at www.sksman.com. I think they were around $20. I wouldn't bother trying to jury-rig a fix if it appears iffy; I'd just replace it.

There's an extension from the gas piston back to the bolt carrier as well.

The energy from the piston and piston rod are trasmitted through this extension to the bolt carrier when the piston rod raps the extension.

Make sure that this extension isn't corroded, bent, or crudded up. Or even missing. Or its spring may be missing or begunked.

It impacts the bolt carrier right in the cutout in the bolt carrier where the stripper clips fit in.

You should not have to take the bolt itself apart to solve this problem. There are only five parts in this assembly and you can see them all. (Extractor, extractor double-coiled spring, firing pin, firing pin retaining pin, and the bolt body itself = 5.)

Taking the bolt apart involves a couple of sharp blows with a suitable punch and a suitable backing to remove the firing pin retaining pin. It is a very stiff wringing fit in the bolt. Not recommended unless you absolutely have to get to the firing pin. Once you do it, however, and realize what sharp blows are required, it's easier to do. Mark the firing pin before starting this operation so you can be 100% sure you are reasssembling it correctly.

Make sure the firing pin and its channel are clean and the firing pin can rattle back and forth freely. Jammed firing pins can cause slamfires.

Hm....

Just whatever you do, don't fire it with the gas system disassembled.

The gas port points right at your face and you will get a snootful if you do.

FEEDBACK ?

Did you ever discover the cause of the problem?

Those yugos don't have a firing pin return spring. You can get an aftermarket pin with one for it if you want to though.

The short(rear) op rod extension spring is clean right? And your gas port in the barrel is clear of obstructions?

Check the bolt return spring for proper assembly, goes one way.

Like Smokey Joe said, with a Yugo, if it is not cycling correctly, my first place to look (assuming it was cleaned properly) is the gas valve. If it's corroded, junk it and replace it. Replacements are easily had at www.sksman.com. I think they were around $20. I wouldn't bother trying to jury-rig a fix if it appears iffy; I'd just replace it.

Click to expand...

This is what I suspected initially: that the gas valve may be plugged. Make sure you can see daylight through it, and that it's not clogged up, if you haven't yet.

i took a round and tried to put it in the extractor to see if it would grip it and it was very stiff it didn't want to move to accept the round. after messing with it i finally got it to take the round. but it is still not ejecting the round when i pull the charging handle back.

Click to expand...

Also, if the ejector isn't grabbing the round to eject while manually cycling, I'm going to guess you've got a problem with the bolt. Have you disassembled the bolt to make sure it's not clogged up with cosmo? If it's sticky, it's probably not got enough tension to grab the casing. If you can't get it apart, take a camp stove outside and boil a small pot of water, and put the bolt in there for about 5-10 minutes; then soak the damn thing in a high-viscosity oil (like motor oil), and move the extractor manually as much as you can to make sure there's nothing clogging it up. I'd say a boil is necessary to add a little agitation (or stir, I guess). Boil it again to get that oil (and grit) out and I'm fairly certain the bolt will be like-new clean. I guarantee you get some cosmo off it, no matter how well you've cleaned it. I'm going to guess that's your problem, judging from your description.

Also, somewhere on sksboards.com there's a thread with info on how to use a paper clip to create a tighter seal on the gas valve; apparently it works well when that is the cause of lack of cycling.

What I'd do is get an unissued $170 SKS from jgsales.com ( http://www.jgsales.com/product_info...ition-backordered-/cPath/290/products_id/1077 ) and use the one that works. Use the one you've got for parts, if necessary. They're cheap enough still that this is (IMO) more practical than buying individual parts.

Communications problem?

Ben Shepard:

The short(rear) op rod extension spring is clean right? And your gas port in the barrel is clear of obstructions?

Click to expand...

I asked that already:

There's an extension from the gas piston back to the bolt carrier as well.

The energy from the piston and piston rod are trasmitted through this extension to the bolt carrier when the piston rod raps the extension.

Make sure that this extension isn't corroded, bent, or crudded up. Or even missing. Or its spring may be missing or begunked.

It impacts the bolt carrier right in the cutout in the bolt carrier where the stripper clips fit in.

Click to expand...

Apparently he didn't see it.

I wonder why he's messing with the bolt? Did I misunderstand the symptoms? I understood it wasn't cycling. Is it that it's really just not extracting? Hard to believe... that extractor could pull stumps.

And I never said anything about dirt in the gas port, only that he shouldn't fire it with the gas stuff disassembled because the port points right at your eyeballs.

I am positive we have a communications problem here.