New SKS question - gas valve.

[Rock_Steady]

I got a new (to me, of course) Yugo SKS the other day, and took it to shoot today. I was pretty surprised with the accuracy with all I've heard about them. Everything was hitting in about a 3" circle at 50 yards - pretty good for me. Anyway, I cleaned the gas tube and everything pretty well before shooting - but it almos tfeels like the gas valve doesn't want to go all the way to the right and stay there. The grenade sight seems to be in the way a bit. Also, the valve isn't very tight - it will move with just the slightest pressure. If I put the valve all the way to the right and put the ladder sight on top of it, it holds down jsut fine.

In short, is this normal or do I need a new gas valve? Eagerly awaiting some insight.

 

[Rexrider]

That does not sound right. The valve should lock into either position. You should have to press the "button" to release it. As a matter of fact, the valve button actually holds the grenade sight down, not the other way around.

Sounds like you are missing the spring that goes under the button.

 

[[email protected]]

i owned a chinese sks and i had to replace that spring. the worst problem i had was ammo cycling. jams galore!!

 

[Bazooka Joe71]

I just bought a yugo myself on saturday...Just out of curiousity, what happens if you move the gas valve to the up position while shooting? Does the rifle just turn into a bolt action?

 

[Technosavant]

Just out of curiousity, what happens if you move the gas valve to the up position while shooting? Does the rifle just turn into a bolt action?

Yes.

 

[DMK]

Take the gas valve apart and clean it good, as well as the button and spring. It sounds like you might have some grit of something jammed in there. Make sure the little spring on the valve button isn't broken. Make sure to clean inside the button where the spring goes.

This article shows how to dissassemble it:

http://www.surplusrifle.com/reviews2006/yugosksvalve/index.asp

i owned a chinese sks and i had to replace that spring. the worst problem i had was ammo cycling. jams galore!!

No this is a little different. The Yugo 59/66 has an additional valve that the other SKS models don't have.

 

[Rock_Steady]

Well -

Actually, on taking the gas valve assembly apart, I discovered that there WAS no spring at all there - so much for a nice surplus rifle! I did, however, pick up a small spring assortment at Lowe's ont he way home and found one that while not perfect, seems to be doing the job rather admirably at this point. If it fails eventually (which I doubt) I have several spares to change it out with.

Now if I could just get it to stop snowing just long enough to go and test it out.

 

[DMK]

Rock Steady, those things happen. That's why it's a good idea to carefully inspect milsurps before firing them (well, all guns for that matter).

That spring should work fine as long as it holds the button up. It's not under any stress at all.

 

[Rock_Steady]

Oh, I'm not upset at all. Like I said, I already got out to shoot it once and was happy with the accuracy. If by spending $3.50 on a spring assortment I got my first milsurp, I'm happy. Chalk that one up to learning something new.