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Help SKS issues!!!!!!!!

Gatorboat
Hey Guys,
I have recently joined the SKS world. I bought a Chinese SKS and I can't get it to cycle. As far as I can tell the bolt doesn't move at all when the the round fires. I can manually cycle the bolt and the spend shell ejects and a fresh round chambers. I stripped the gun down and cleaned and oiled what I could. Rifle still does the same thing. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Does the position of the cross bolt have anything do to with anything?
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Comments

10 comments

Date Votes
  • rufe-snow
    The gas system in the upper handguard actuates a piston. Either the gas system is plugged, or the piston is missing, or rusted in place.

    Go to a site called Surplus Rifles it will give you complete disassembly instructions for the SKS. It shows how the gas system actuates the piston assembly to function the bolt.
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  • tr fox
    He probably has the gas tube shut off as when using the grenade launcher. Course I'm assuming his SKS has a grenade launcher.
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  • 11b6r
    As the man said. check the gas port, and free movement (and presence of) the gas piston. Also check for free movement of the tappet- the thing that the gas piston hits. It transfers motion of the piston to the bolt. Stiff spring, but should move under pressure.

    The Yugo version has a grenade laucher with a gas shut off valve, the Chinese rifles usually don't. surplusrifle.com is a good site.
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  • Gatorboat
    Got the gas tube apart and the piston is present cleaned and check to make sure that everything is working.The rifle is trying to cycle the bolt is moving about halfway back. There is not a granade launcher on this rifle. Is it possible to get a lighter recoil assembly to put in behind the bolt?
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  • sonic1
    most people start cutting the springs...the problem is in the gas system.....leaking or clogged...not the spring if its the right one..
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  • beantownshootah
    quote:Originally posted by tr fox
    He probably has the gas tube shut off as when using the grenade launcher. Course I'm assuming his SKS has a grenade launcher.


    Chinese SKS rifles don't have grenade launchers (or at least I've never seen one that does).

    I also vote for a defect somewhere in the gas system.

    If the gun cycles manually, then the most likely culprits include a plugged or leaky gas tube and missing or damaged (eg corroded/rusty) gas piston. Prior use of corrosive ammo can do this.

    Best first move is to disassemble the gas system entirely, then inspect and clean it thoroughly. Fortunately doing this is not particularly difficult. If any parts are worn/damaged, replacing them shouldn't be too expensive.


    Edit (responding to above):
    So you got the bolt moving some of the way. . .I guess that means you're half-way there!

    A lighter recoil spring is NOT the answer here. The standard recoil spring is designed to be used with standard rounds; you shouldn't need a lighter one, unless you want to cycle lighter than normal rounds (and why would you want to do that?). If the gun is working normally, a lighter than normal recoil spring is only going to cause battering of the action and increased wear and tear.

    Again, make sure the gas tube is completely free, and make sure there is no rust or corrosion on any moving parts in the gas system.

    Also, it sounds silly, but make sure your recoil spring is put in the correct way. If its put in backwards, the gun won't cycle right. IIRC, the metal guide rod part goes in the back against the receiver cover.
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  • 5mmgunguy
    Beantown's plan is the solution.
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  • 11b6r
    Agree- pull down gas system, clean gas port (lacking the tool, bend a pipe cleaner and poke) check gas piston and gas cylinder, and the exhaust ports on the cylinder- check the tappet- corrosive can seize that- lube very lightly, be sure it is free to move.
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  • buddyb
    Go to surplusrifle.com.Go to the section on Yugo SKS(I know yours is Chinese)There is a tip about making a ring from paper clip to help seal the gas tube.If you do that and it fixes yours,you know your gas piston is worn out.
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  • Belt Fed .50 Cal.
    Be sure to check the gas port and make sure it is not clogged up with carbon. If your piston is moving freely and your bolt is only going half way back it sounds like you may not be getting enough gas pressure to move your bolt all of the way back.
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