SKS gas lever issue.

at360 · July 26, 2014, 04:00 PM

I just bought a Chinese sks type 56, took apart to clean it. Now that i want to put back together I am having issues locking the gas tube back in place, it wont shut. The lever wont move down at all.

However it locks down when the front end isnt in place (picture #1)
But when everything is properly in place it wont lock in
I am new to weapons so ill take any help !

Here's what I'm dealing with
Sks: http://youtu.be/SoxU77TXxKc

rightside · July 26, 2014, 04:16 PM

Sometimes you have to look at the junction where the tube goes down into the sight/trunnion area. Look at the way the latch inside the trunnion is oriented . Make sure it's straight up and down. Sometimes when you move the lever up for take down, the latch is still a little out of line and the gas tube won't drop back in. You may have to move the lever while pushing the tube to see if the latch is actually lining up to let the tube fall in properly.

at360 · July 26, 2014, 05:31 PM

still no luck , not sure what im doing wrong here:confused

rightside · July 26, 2014, 06:26 PM

Not sure either. Is the front being pushed forward as far as possible before rotating the rear ? Sort of wiggling it forward as you move the rear into place? Your pics weren't much help because we couldn't see the ends and how they are positioned. Any more pics possible? I'm not an expert by any means , so maybe someone else may chime in with some help.

Maybe when it's that close but just won't seat, a light tap or two with a rubber mallet might be enough to finish seating it so the latch can be rotated down.

tangolima · July 26, 2014, 06:44 PM

There is a lever next to the rear sight. That lever needs to be pushed all the way up for the rear end of the gas tube to drop in position. Then the lever needs to go all the way down to lock the gas tube in.

-TL

Blindstitch · July 26, 2014, 11:59 PM

Look at the rear sight and the angle that little handle sits at might need to be lifted and lowered to get it to sit in right. I don't know the exact terminology but I have one and had trouble dropping it back in until I examined the angle that sight lever was on so I could make a straight drop in.

at360 · July 27, 2014, 12:58 AM

Heres what I'm dealing with
http://youtu.be/SoxU77TXxKc

rightside · July 27, 2014, 05:26 AM

So, your problem is that the lever won't rotate to the locked position after you reinstall the gas tube. Correct? It looks and sounds like your gas tube is seating correctly. You might try a bit, just a bit more persuasion on the lever , to get it started rotating downward. At least that's what I'm seeing. It may pull that last bit of seating with it. The wood on those old Chinese sks's are often swollen with oil and grease( that's what it looks like anyway) Correct me if I have it wrong. That can keep it from that tiny bit more you need for the lever to start downward. You may even have to lift it up a little while pushing the lever down for it to start moving.

Blindstitch · July 29, 2014, 06:36 PM

Did it go in yet?

July 26, 2014, 05:31 PM	#3
at360 Junior Member Join Date: July 26, 2014 Posts: 3	@rightside still no luck , not sure what im doing wrong here:confused

July 26, 2014, 06:26 PM	#4
rightside Senior Member Join Date: February 4, 2012 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 419	Not sure either. Is the front being pushed forward as far as possible before rotating the rear ? Sort of wiggling it forward as you move the rear into place? Your pics weren't much help because we couldn't see the ends and how they are positioned. Any more pics possible? I'm not an expert by any means , so maybe someone else may chime in with some help. Maybe when it's that close but just won't seat, a light tap or two with a rubber mallet might be enough to finish seating it so the latch can be rotated down. Last edited by rightside; July 26, 2014 at 06:59 PM.

July 27, 2014, 12:58 AM	#7
at360 Junior Member Join Date: July 26, 2014 Posts: 3	video link Heres what I'm dealing with http://youtu.be/SoxU77TXxKc

July 26, 2014, 04:16 PM	#2
rightside Senior Member Join Date: February 4, 2012 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 419	Sometimes you have to look at the junction where the tube goes down into the sight/trunnion area. Look at the way the latch inside the trunnion is oriented . Make sure it's straight up and down. Sometimes when you move the lever up for take down, the latch is still a little out of line and the gas tube won't drop back in. You may have to move the lever while pushing the tube to see if the latch is actually lining up to let the tube fall in properly.

July 26, 2014, 06:44 PM	#5
tangolima Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2013 Posts: 3,816	There is a lever next to the rear sight. That lever needs to be pushed all the way up for the rear end of the gas tube to drop in position. Then the lever needs to go all the way down to lock the gas tube in. -TL

July 26, 2014, 11:59 PM	#6
Blindstitch Senior Member Join Date: April 14, 2013 Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin Posts: 2,692	Look at the rear sight and the angle that little handle sits at might need to be lifted and lowered to get it to sit in right. I don't know the exact terminology but I have one and had trouble dropping it back in until I examined the angle that sight lever was on so I could make a straight drop in.

July 27, 2014, 05:26 AM	#8
rightside Senior Member Join Date: February 4, 2012 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 419	So, your problem is that the lever won't rotate to the locked position after you reinstall the gas tube. Correct? It looks and sounds like your gas tube is seating correctly. You might try a bit, just a bit more persuasion on the lever , to get it started rotating downward. At least that's what I'm seeing. It may pull that last bit of seating with it. The wood on those old Chinese sks's are often swollen with oil and grease( that's what it looks like anyway) Correct me if I have it wrong. That can keep it from that tiny bit more you need for the lever to start downward. You may even have to lift it up a little while pushing the lever down for it to start moving.

July 29, 2014, 06:36 PM	#9
Blindstitch Senior Member Join Date: April 14, 2013 Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin Posts: 2,692	Did it go in yet?