Cosmoline removal on an SKS

[Redneck with a 40]

I just bought a Yugoslav SKS today for $150 in excellent condition. I would appreciate any advice or input on getting the cosmoline out of the barrel, action and stock. I'm a complete SKS newbie, this gun looks like it will be a lot of fun, once I get the gunk cleaned out of it.

 

[Jackal]

Here is a link that should be very useful to you. http://www.surplusrifle.com/sks/index.asp

 

[Arkie]

Cheap Brake Cleaner and lots of it !!!

I'm doing one now. Spray it on and blow it dry with air.
It will take all the cosmoline off of the metal parts.

Make darn sure that you take apart the bolt and clean the firing pin really good too. When you put it back together make sure it rattles when you shake it. Do Not oil or grease the firing pin. It suppose to run dry. Oil will just collect the dirt and make it stick....

Here is a link that you can go to and they will show you how to do it all...

Click Here...


Look on the right hand side and there will be everything you need.

For the Stock, you can put it in the oven (when the wifes not home) with a cookie sheet that you do not use anymore and put the oven on warm. The Cosmoline will leach out of the wood and all you have to do is wipe it off with paper towels. You will have to do it for a while. Mine just took about 3 hours to do before it finally quit ooozing out. LOL...

 

[Arkie]

I type waaaaaaaaaaay too slow. LOL...

 

[DWARREN123]

I use cheap brake cleaner and mineral spirits for metal (soak the bolt). For the wood I use cheap oven cleaner (follower the warnings on label) then use a vinegar solution to neutralize it, sand to remove raised particles and finish to taste.
It is very important to get the operating system very clean (bolt, gas port/valve, gas tubes).

 

[mrmeval]

Disassemble the bolt and make sure the firing pin and channel is clear. You might want to consider a firing pin kit from Murray that adds a return spring
http://www.murraysguns.com/sksown.htm

If you have Fail to extract issues you might need a replacement gas valve. Though you can make a gasket from a paperclip.
http://www.surplusrifle.com/reviews2006/yugosksvalve/index.asp

 

[BobTheTomato]

Get a piece of PVC pipe with a big enough diameter to out the barrel in and put a cap on one end. Strip the rifle and place all of the pieces in the pipe and cover the other end (rag and rubber band or latex glove or something). Wait about 3 days. When you pull the pieces out they should be clean. If not brake/parts cleaner.

 

[Dr. Dickie]

Best thing I have found (it cuts cosmoline like nothing) is Strypeeze (?) paint remover. I use this on the stocks (I think it is the methylene chloride that does the cutting). If you look for a brake cleaner product that lists either methylene chloride (there are no chlorides in there, that is a laymen misnomer) or something like trichloroethylene. You will not likey find chlorinated products in carb cleaner, although it does have all the other good organic solvents). Now be careful here, do NOT USE chlorinated solvents on any plastic products (even hard nylon will be impacted by the chlorinated products).

 

[ball3006]

Odorless mineral spirits....

is all I use. Pick up a parts cleaning brush at an auto parts store and your wife/girlfriend's toothbrush and you are all set. Get a can of LPS2 and treat the cleaned metal so it will not rust. It is a rust preventative/lube that dries.......chris3

 

[Lonestar.45]

For the metal, disassemble completely. I used brake cleaner on mine, worked perfectly. Some of the hard to get areas, like the mag/mag spring/trigger group, I put in an old pot of boiling water on the bbq pit side burner. Once it came off, hit it with brake cleaner/compressed air.

After de-como'ing the metal, squirt a bunch of breakfree CLP and rub it in. You're good to go.

For the wood, rub down with mineral spirits. Then I made a "boat" out of aluminum foil, put it in the oven with the door cracked, and baked it for 20 minutes at 150 or so. Take out, wipe down with mineral spirits, and repeat. It took mine a total of about 2 hours.
No, it did not stink up the house (that's what the foil is for, to keep it off the burners), but I did hit the fan to exhaust the heat.

I rubbed in a small amount of boiled linseed oil after it was done, put it all back together, and that's it.

One thing----be sure to really really clean the bolt/firing pin. If the firing pin gets stuck in the forward position, dangerous slam fire can occur. Dissasemble the bolt to make sure all the cosmo is out. If you can't dissassemble, soak in mineral spirits for a day or two. Make sure the firing pin will rattle back and forth when shaken, and you're good.

There's tons of good info here too:

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