I sort of "inherited" an early Universal carbine. GI parts fit, including the M2 mags. I decided to totally strip it down and clean it. When I got to the gas piston nut I discovered it has four prongs my GI tool won't fit. I can't find the four-pronged tool anywhere.
I'd guess my options are these:
Make a spanner wrench, or
Take it out with vise grips and hope a GI replacement will fit, or
Beg for help.
I'll start by begging; anyone have any ideas where to find the four-pronged piston wrench?
Last edited by gundawg; 12-10-2007 at 11:48 PM.
Reason: want to subscribe to this thread
Try making a spanner. It that fails,skip it. If it has functioned so far, then clean it as best you can without taking apart the piston. It's better than buggering it up and finding a GI won't fit.
Unless you are a Gunsmith and have the proper tools and guages, Do NOT remove the nut and gas piston, the nut is staked because it is guaged to distance of travel . You can ruin a Barrel fast if you destroy those threads! Just spray it with solvent, and compressed air to clean it.
Rich
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[I]You know you might be facing your doom,when all you get is a click when you're expecting a BOOM!:( [/I]
Moose is partialy right. The piston nut is usually staked in place on USGI carbines . Removing it even with the correct wrench can strip threads. It is not necassary to remove the piston nut ever. If you think it needs cleaned spray brake cleaner around the piston, that will clean it, no oiling needed. If you do remove it , when repalcing the piston nut just snug it down. It is not gauged in place, to tight though you can crack the piston housing. My opinion, Leave it alone, if you must remove it, order the proper tool.
Points taken and thanks. Brake cleaner sounds like the step to take. The gun doesn't look like it's had much use, but there's a noticable amount of burnt powder around the piston nut - it does move freely so I'll not tempt the gods. I want to go completely through the carbine before claiming it as a bugout weapon.
gundawg, another thing, you really don't need to clean the piston reguarly. I have shot hundreds and hundreds of rds and never had a piston stick. I did have a stuck piston on a CMP carbine I bought though.
