SKS gas piston stuck in gas tube

[Travis Bickle]

The gas piston of my yugo 59/66 sks is stuck in the gas tube. It won't move at all. I assume from corrosion/rust/carbon build up. In the third picture you can see the piston head has a lot of carbon on it. This rifle has never been fired by me.

I have tried soaking it in hoppe's #9 copper/lead solvent remover. I have tried putting it in boiling water and I have been whacking at it with a hammer and punch. I'm scared if I go at it too much harder I'm going to bend up the gas tube and ruin it. I already have ammo on the way and I'm only getting more frustrated with it. Anyone have any ideas before I just give up and order a tapco gas system?

 

[wilcam47]

maybe try some oven cleaner, see if you can get some liquid in the other end. I doubt you would bend the gas tube before it broke free, Id just put it larger side on a piece of wood and use a punch/hammer to tap it out.

 

[iH8DemLibz]

Drive it out with a brass punch.

 

[Travis Bickle]

Drive it out with a brass punch.

I've hit it pretty hard with a hammer and punch already. I will put some over cleaner in there and try it again tommorow

 

[bigjohn]

Soak I. Automatic transmission fluid over night

 

[chevellenut71]

Heat the tube up with heat gun or gas torch (carefully with torch) then try with punch.

 

[Jason21237]

Go to the auto parts store and get a bottle of marvel mystery oil. Let it soak and it will likely break free. Pb blaster or a similar penetrating oil would probably free it as well.

 

[clandestine]

Why is the wood and retaining ferrule missing?

With a solid wood block on some concrete it should break loose. Put the wider end on the wood and hit the tail of the piston with a short blunted punch and a bigger are hammer.

 

[Travis Bickle]

Why is the wood and retaining ferrule missing?

With a solid wood block on some concrete it should break loose. Put the wider end on the wood and hit the tail of the piston with a short blunted punch and a bigger are hammer.

It's a yugo sks in a Chinese stock. It still had the Yugo handguard on it, so I am going to put the matching Chinese handguard in its place. Taking it off made it easier to soak the whole thing in the solvent anyway.

 

[Travis Bickle]

Soak I. Automatic transmission fluid over night

I took your advice and I managed to punch it out with a hammer this morning. Thanks

 

[Boom Boom]

I would soak it for at least 24 hours in Kroil. Two or three days would be better. Hoppes #9 is not a penetrant or rust remover. Kroil is both. For clarity, by "soak", I mean submerge.

 

[Half-cocked]

What condition is the rest of the gun in?

 

[Boom Boom]

What condition is the rest of the gun in?

Probably fine. I've seen this happen when an SKS is cleaned after shooting except inside the gas tube. The tube and piston rust and become one.

 

[Travis Bickle]

What condition is the rest of the gun in?

The rest of the gun is in really good condition. External bluing is close to perfect. Unfortunately the inside of the gas tube was rusted pretty good. I've scrubbed the rust out but It's still left with some bad pitting. The piston still looks pretty good but there is still some pitting on the piston head.

 

[clandestine]

As long as the piston don't bind it should function. The Gas Tube just guides the piston for the most part.

If you have issues then blevins the secondary piston under the rear sight so it protrudes toward the muzzle more will put more tension on the primary piston allowing better function.

 

[wilcam47]

dont forget to clean the plunger under the rear sight. It is under spring pressure so be careful when you rotate the unlock lever.