Yugo SKS, what to do?

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agdude

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I just purchased a Yugo SKS on a whim. Compulsive purchase :biggrin: saw it for about $100 and had to have it.

Anyway, this thing is COVERED in grease. I've cleaned most of it off with brake cleaner and a cloth. But what else do I have to do? Obviously clean the barrel. But what about the gas rod. Do I have to clean it all out of there? Or is it good to have some in there for lubrication? Any and all suggestions would be welcome.
 
Total disassembly is required. There will be cosmoline inside the stock. The rifle is fairly easy to take down, but you may do a search for the procedure. I would not shoot it until it is clean. WD40, mineral spirits, acetone, etc. all work well too.
 
As mentioned, complete disassembly is required. I used Gunscrubber on the metal and oven cleaner on the stock. Worked great.
 
If you live in the southwest USA, the inside of a car does the same thing.

When I bought my M44, I left it in the back of my old Ford Bronco in August. Needless to say, I had a sticky, stinky mess in the back. Cosmoline all over the carpet. Gave me an excuse to rip it all out, but man that was nasty.

This trash can idea seems pretty cool.
 
Another suggestion.

get a big pot that will never be used for food again. Fill it with water and bring to a boil. Turn off heat. Drop what parts will fit into the pot and let soak. This will melt the cosmoline.

Remove and spray with break cleaner or Gun Scrubber while still hot. This will save a lot time.

If you have a nice sunny day, put the receiver on some aluminium foil and let it sun tan for a little while. This will help to heat up the cosmoline and make it easier to clean off.

And yes, everything must be cleaned. Especially the firing pin and channel.

There is a catch to everything in life. Cosmoline is the Yugo's catch. It is a real PITA to clean but it is worth. I think you will be pleasantly suprised how much fun the rifle is. Enough that you may even go through it all over again after you buy the second one. :D
 
I bought one of those Scunci steamers, worked great.

For the stock I wrapped it in newspaper and put it in a garbage bag out on the driveway for a few days, changing the papers every so often.
 
+1 on the Murray's bolt mod. $40.00 and it eliminates the possibility of slamfire. Ben is a great dude, does great work with a fast turnaround.

+1 on the Oven Cleaner method, it works great.
 
If your wife won't let you use the oven and you're too unfortunate to own a dishwasher (and by you and your...I mean me and mine) what's the best procedure for removing the goo?
 
I dissassembled mine and wiped the bulk of the cosmoline off with a towel. I then soaked the parts in a bath of mineral spirits and continued wiping till it was clean. It'll take some time, but it's well worth the effort. Enjoy!
 
Go to a hardware or paint store....

and get some odorless mineral spirits. Scrub down the gun with it, wood and metal, and let dry. Mineral spirits really cuts the grease and cosmoline on a gun. Then wipe down the metal with LPS 2 or Breakfree and let dry. Then assemble and have fun.....chris3
 
Cleaning the bolt is the most important thing

You must clean the firing pin channel in the bolt on these rifles. It is very important as not doing so may mean that the firing pin protrudes from the bolt face when putting a cartridge into battery that it may discharge. This could result in the rifle running away on full auto.

Use a punch to remove the extractor and firing pin should come out. At this point use a degreaser to make sure ALL cosmoline is removed from the firing pin and bolt.

You should also competely disassemble the gas system. Remove the barreled receivre from the stock and make sure it is degreased as well.

Do not lube the gas system, only lube the rails, bore, and any other moving parts (except the piston).
 
I read that you can disassemble the rifle and put all the parts, stock included in the dishwasher.

The guy had pics - the rifle looked new coming out of the machine.
 
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