M1A gas tube cylinder allignment repair? advise please.

[skipbo32]

HERE IS MY M1A. I HAVE POSTED PICS BELOW SHOWING THAT MY GAS TUBE IS SLIGHTLY TURNED COUNTERCLOCKWISE. THE PICS SHOW THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE OPERATING ROD AS WELL AS THE PISTON WITH THE TILTED GAS CYLINDER (NOTICE THEY DO NOT LINE UP PERFECTLY STRAIGHT). I MUST HAVE TWEAKED THIS BEFORE I BOUGHT A GAS CYLINDER WRENCH FOR TAKING OFF THE GAS LUG.

MY QUESTION IS: JUDGING BY THE PICS, DO I NEED TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS? WILL THIS EFFECT ACCURACY OR MALFUNCTION? WHEN I SHOOT MY RIFFLE IT SEEMS TO CYCLE JUST FINE.....AND AS YOU CAN SEE, THE PISTON DOES NOT HANG OVER THE EDGE OF THE OP ROD (PISTON GETS A FULL SEAT, DESPITE NOT HITTING DEAD CENTER OF THE OP ROD). THE LAST PICS SHOW HOW THE PISTON IS NOT PERFECTLY LINED UP WITH THE OPERATING ROD.

I WAS WONDERING IF ANYONE ELSE HAD THIS EXPERIENCE FROM HARD TORQUES ON THE GAS NUT WITH OUT A GAS WRENCH IN SUPPORT. THE GAS TUBE IS WEDGED ON THE BARREL (NOT SCREWED) SO I WOULD IMAGINE IF IT NEEDS FIXING, THEN I WOULD HAVE TO BUY A NEW GAS TUBE/CYLINDER. IS THIS JUST A MINOR FLAW THAT HAS NO EFFECT ON THE GUN....AM I JUST BEING A WORRY-WORT AND OVER THINKING SOMETHING BY BEING NIT-PICKY? ANY HELP OR ADVISE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.

 

[nbkky71]

It's probably an issue with a mis-aligned op rod guide and not the gas cylinder.

On some rifles the op rod guide might be a bit loose causing the slight mis-alignment of the op rod face and the piston. While it's not critical, proper alignment of the guide can help improve accuracy.

If you're not having any functionality issues you might just want to leave it alone.

If it's really bothering you then you can try a couple of options:

1) lightly tap the op-rod guide to force the parts into alignment
2) remove and reinstall the op rod guide using JB Weld to keep the parts in alignment

 

[skipbo32]

that could be the issue. im not sure. to be honest the gun could have always been that way. i only just recently noticed it compared to another M1A and thought maybe i had tweak the gas tube from hitting on the gas nut with out a gas wrench. i looked at the notches on the gas tube that are fit into the barrel and they look fine...not stripped or anything. the op rod does have some "play" in it. i guess im afraid if i tap on the op-rod guide i will do more harm than good. the guide does not appear to be loose, yet under fire recoil and me striking a 3/8 wrench on the gas nut for disassibly i could see how maybe it could twist a little with out me knowing.