New AK gas tube wont fit, Help!

[ba ba booey]

After breaking down my new (to me) WASR to clean it before taking it to the range, I noticed that it's gas tube was pitted on the inside. I wanted to get some new handguards as well. (have some new polish laminated wood unissued ones on the way, $35 from www.robertrtg.com ---they look like a great deal).....Well when I was taking the gas tube out of the old handguards I ended up chipping the metal that seats up against the rear sight block with a wrench---so between my oafy inflicted damage and the rust pitting I wanted to get a new gas tube to go with the new handgaurds that are on the way. Anyway just got a new east german AKM gas tube in the mail, and I cannot get this thing to fit into place. Side by side with the old one I cant tell a difference in size, but once one side of it is seated on the gas block I cant get the other side to clear the top of the rear sight block at all.

So before I altered the new east german gas tube, I wanted to get some opinions from those who have more experience that I do. This is my first AK and I'm not trying to Bubba it up. If anyone here recommends sanding, I would guess that one would try sanding the side that meets up with the gas block with some 220 grit sandpaper?? I read somewhere that the finish on east german gas tubes is a little thicker than most. Don't know if that's true.

But anyway I would really appreciate some suggestions on getting this tube fitted to my rifle while I'm waiting on the handguards. Thanks for all replies.

 

[WardenWolf]

Lightly file the contact surfaces of the gas tube until it goes in. It's as simple as that. Really, that's all there is to it.

 

[7mmsavage]

Is it hitting the top of the rear sight block or just the latch that holds the tube down? Maybe you just need to rotate the lever a little. Just trying to eliminate the easy stuff first.

Have you got a caliper or something you could do some measuring with and compare the two?

Could very well be that the distance between your WASR's gas block and rear sight is a bit closer than that of the AKM the new tube came from. You may need to take a little off one end, like WardenWolf said, that wouldn't be a big deal. Probably just a few swipes of a file, but go easy and check it often, you don't want to go wild and take off too much.

 

[ba ba booey]

have made sure that the lever is in the correct position, but that's not really the issue as im not able to clear the top of the rear sight block, but only by a hair.

For the suggestion on using a file---just a normal metal file? Not trying to make this overly complicated just would rather take off just enough that a little too much

No I don't have a caliper around, you think its a good Idea to get one for this job?

 

[ba ba booey]

picture

picture of new and old tubes side by side, with new one on the left. It should be noted that the old one has a little slop when fitting into place.

 

[WardenWolf]

Just a normal metal file. Keep in mind there's different grains of metal files, same as wood files or sandpaper. A diamond needle file set is a good investment.

 

[briansmithwins]

AK aren't ARs, parts will need to be fitted.

Figure out where the new gas tube is binding and file it down. Go slow and check often.

BSW

 

[OleReb]

I just use my dremel when i run into this,i have built alot of AK's and run into this when i'm doing a mismatched kit,just take a little off at a time and you will be fine.

 

[TurtlePhish]

Use a bigger hammer.

I'm only half joking. A good rubber or rawhide mallet might do it.

Files and sandpaper too.

 

[Averageman]

I'm going to go completely out on a limb and say..Measure It!
Measuring , then taping it with masking tape and checking your measurments a second time will allow you to use a dremel to take off the big stuff and a file to clean it up square.