L1a1 blues

[crossrhodes]

I have gremlins hiding in the gas system and can't get them out. I duracoated a much in need of TLC L1A1. I didn't remove the front sight/gas block and opted to tape the inside to protect the gas port, barrel was plugged, etc etc, I have a few under my belt for dura and gunkote. After assembly I went to test fire, it fired but the bolt didn't cycle. OK it's going to need to be adjusted. I did the fire and adjust one click at a time until it would start to cycle....Nope it wouldn't cycle and as I got nearer to closing the gas port the bolt carrier would be about 1/4 to 1/2 inch back but the bolt was still locked in the locking lugs and it needed some force to pull the bolt open. Now the gas piston moves freely, did the check without the spring and it slides freely back and forth, I didn't remove the block from the barrel so it shouldn't be misaligned, tried different ammo and tried the different position with the gas plug. Can anyone see something I might missing. Oh' it an inch not metric.
Thanks in advance.

 

[BBBBill]

Did it work properly before you coated it?

 

[crossrhodes]

Bbbill

Yep I missed that step. I should of test fired before I did the job, which I normally do, but a one man shop gets very busy and I jumped from one job to another. Sooooo. I did ask the customer if he had fired it, now he's a pasture at the town church, he stated "about 20 Rd's" before he brought it to me.
All I can say is hard telling not knowing and it's my fault for not checking. On the other hand. I spent 27 years as a fed, after the first year....I learned not to trust anyone for the next 26 years.

I may screw the pooch on this one.

 

[BBBBill]

What receiver is it built on? Is the gas piston eroded? Full length gas tube or half length? Screw in or soldered? Leaking at gas block to barrel interface? Barrel properly indexed/gas tube piston lined up with the hole in the receiver? You might have to solder in the tube or replace it to stop a leak. You might also go over to the FAL Files Forum. Lots of folks over there with experienced with the FAL.
http://www.falfiles.com/forums/index.php?s=

 

[crossrhodes]

Thanks BBBILL

Yes the gas tube threads are out of wack and I had a heck of a time threading it back in, but the cuts in the tube do line up with the gasport.

 

[LNK]

Make sure the gas plug is in the right position, it can be rotated 180 degrees I think for grenade launching. If I was home I could tell you which way it goes. One way completely blocks off the gas to the gas cylinder....

Good Luck,
LNK

 

[rklessdriver]

I had the same problem with my L1A1 after I did some work on it.

Turns out I had removed the gas tube and broken the sealer on the threads.... Century had used some hard type like locktite. OF course I cleaned the threads up real good and didn't put any back on when I re assembled it....

Took me a little while to figure it out. Double checking the gas block plug adjusting the gas system even on the lowest setting would only halfway eject the chamber.... After about 10mins it dawned on me.

Some liquid tefelon thread sealer on the threads of the gas tube and it was back to working fine.
Will

 

[crossrhodes]

reklessdriver

I think that's it. The gas tube threads are bunged up and there is signs of a gas leak. I'm going to give your idea a try and let you know how it works out. I figured it has to be some thing simple and overlooked.

THANKS