Aargh! Having trouble with my Yugo SKS trigger assembly ...

[Mulliga]

Well, our rifle club is having our first shoot this weekend, and I'm trying to bring my "new" Yugo to the shoot.

Problem is, I can't get the stupid trigger assembly back on the rifle - I've been pushing with all my strength, but it just seems impossible to get on.

This is the first time I have reassembled this thing (I disassembled it to clean all the cosmo off). I did give the stock two coats of tung oil - could that have anything to do with it?

I'm pretty sure the magazine is in the right place, and I think the trigger assembly is in the right place, too. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

 

[jon1996]

hello,
the trigger must be cocked and the safty on in order to get back into the to stock, did you cock the gun before you disassembled it?
thanks,
jon

 

[campergeek]

Yeah, that thing's a real booger. The first time I reassembled mine I thought something must be broken or misaligned as the assembly just wouldn't lock in. Finally, with the bolt cover off and the bolt and bolt carrier removed, I rested the rifle top side down with the rails on a sturdy work surface. Then, when I was confident that everything was aligned properly with the magazine and trigger group, I put the heel of my hand on the trigger guard and leaned on it with my body weight. It finally popped into place.


Disclaimer: The above is my own experience and may not be the BEST approach. I take no responsibility for damage you cause to YOUR rifle. However, if you DO succeed in breaking a Yugo SKS, let us know. You might deserve some sort of medal.

 

[bbrins]

The safety needs to be engaged (up) to reinstall the trigger group. Here are a couple of websites that may help:

http://will.mylanders.com/shot/sks/

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

 

[Mulliga]

I cocked the gun (just like every single disassembly guide on the net says) and I put the safety lever up. It still doesn't fit. I'll try again later .

 

[pbhome71]

If you look closely, I bet, you will see that the trigger group is a bit more aft than it should have been.

There are two things that you need to check.
a) the front of the magazine well and the magazine cover is install correctly. Sometimes, the lug on the magazine does not latch into the lug on the receiver. This causes the magazine assembly to be mis-align and be a bit more to the aft. This will push the trigger group out of alignment to the rear.

b) the rear portion of the trigger group should align with the recess in the stock.

 

[SteelyDan]

Assuming everything is correctly aligned, it may be more a question of how quickly you apply the pressure than how much pressure you apply. In other words, instead of the "strong squeeze," it may need some sharper pressure. Some folks recommend inserting a broom handle inside the trigger guard and giving it some sharp pressure. I.e., beat on it. I had the same problem and just beat on the trigger guard with the palm of my hand (with the gun upside-down on a carpet) and it finally went in. Think CPR.

 

[BamBam-31]

Ditto SteelyDan. I laid mine out on carpet and banged away at it with a rubber mallet til it locked in place. Invented some new language in the process.

Sounded like this:

 

[Mulliga]

I got it!

My alignment was correct last night. Strangely enough, I tried doing the same thing in the morning and it snapped in without too much trouble. Strange.

Maybe the oil expanded the wood slightly? Hope I didn't break anything .