M1 Carbine Piston Nut Help

[dscottw88]

I am reassemling my M1 carbine today. I removed the gas piston and piston nut but now I can't recall how far in I am suppose to screw the nut back in. There is a small hole below the the piston, I'm wondering if this hole is for a pin (iv'e heard of some GI carbines having the nut staked into place) or if its just for excess gas coming from the barrel.

Either way, my question is, Do I screw it in only enough so that gas can bleed out or do screw it in all the way so that the nut covers the hole completely? I would think that I need to screw it in all the way but I'd be just slightly disappointed if I were wrong.

 

[M2 Carbine]

Screw the nut in as far as it goes.
There's a spanner wrench available to get it tight.
If you don't have the wrench, do the best you can.
That hole in the bottom of the housing is where the gas port was drilled in the barrel.

Stake the nut in place.

Why did you remove the nut?

 

[dscottw88]

The old nut and piston had fallen out while shooting a while back. these are the new parts I'm trying to remember how far in it goes. Mine was never staked to begin with, and this new nut doesn't have a hole to be staked with. reccomendation?

 

[FMJMIKE]

I would call a gunsmith.

 

[Gifted]

Or send back to the factory, depending on what make it is.

 

[M2 Carbine]

The old nut and piston had fallen out while shooting a while back. these are the new parts I'm trying to remember how far in it goes. Mine was never staked to begin with, and this new nut doesn't have a hole to be staked with. reccomendation?

The nut was probably backing out for a while.
A normal thing whenever you clean the gun is to check to see that the nut isn't loose.
Shooting the gun with the nut loose can crack the piston housing, usually from that hole backward.

It's not a big deal to use a center punch and stake the nut in but if you don't know what you are doing just use blue/green LockTite after cleaning the threads good. If the nut loosens up again, then use Red LockTite.
Then put a drop of paint across the nut and piston housing so at a glance you can see if the nut has turned.

If you get the proper wrench, they only cost a few dollars, and tighten the nut pretty tight it usually will stay in place if you do nothing.

The M1 Carbine is about the simplest gun to repair there is. Something wears out or breaks, you just replace the part and keep going.
I had a gallon Zip Lock bag full of broken and worn out Carbine parts, including a receiver.
Full auto eats up Carbine parts.

You can usually find those wrenches at the bigger gun shows, or on the Internet. They should be about $10-$15.
You might also get a bolt tool while you're at it and a spare extractor, ejector and springs.
The extractor is the weakest part in the Carbine. You may never break one, or you may break two in a week.
The bolt is easy to work on with a bolt tool and a bugger to work on without it.

 

[dscottw88]

Hey thanks for all the input M2, now I know what to look for. I found the wrench online for $9.99, now its time to go look for a couple of those parts you mentioned. thanks again!

 

[M2 Carbine]

You're welcome.
Post if you have any more questions. I'm not an expert but I've been into Carbines for 45+ years.

Which Carbine do you have?

 

[Spiggy]

mind sharing where you found the tool?

 

[dscottw88]

M2: It's an Auto-Ordnance carbine, I'd send it in because its still under warranty, but I can't find my sales receipt. I gotta get some sort of file to put those in from now on.

Spiggy: I found the tool on this website, I've never ordered from them but it looks legit.
http://www.e-gunparts.com/DisplayAd.asp?chrProductSKU=543690&chrSuperSKU=&MC=