M14 Forum

ShovelheadDan

This is my first post and the reason for joining.
I have a fairly new Springfield M1A that has always performed flawlessly.
At the range the other day, I had to manually load every round. (with the charging handle)
I've had the gas piston out a few times and learned the other day from a YouTube video that I'm supposed to mark the position of the gas tube plug before removing it so that I can tighten it back to the original position.
I haven't done that because I didn't know I was supposed to.
I've never had the gas tube itself off as I don't have the tools to remove the
castle nut.
The ammo was the same German surplus I've been shooting so the only thing I can think of that's causing the short stroking is the gas tube plug.
It passes the tilt test easily.
Thanks for any advice.

Gus Fisher

Did you move the spindle valve? There is a screw slot on it and that slot HAS to be perpendicular to the barrel for the gas to flow through it correctly. If the slot is parallel to barrel, that will cause short stroking every time. If it is parallel, push in on the slot with a correctly fitting screwdriver and turn it 180 degrees. The rifle should function correctly from there on iout.

ShovelheadDan

The spindle valve slot is perpendicular to the barrel.
Thanks

tonyben

Did you loosen the gas lock and slide the gas cylinder forward when you cleaned it? If you did, you may not have tightened it back all the way. Is the front band really loose? If it is, you may be able to get one last turn on that gas lock. It sounds as if your gas ports are not lined up. When you loosen the gas lock, does the operating rod move forward just a little? If it doesn't move at all, then your gas cylinder is not seated all the way back (loose gas lock).

Does it eject the fired round but fail to strip a round from the magazine?

82nd ABN

I was thinking along the same lines a Tony. I'm wondering if the gas plug is loose and venting gas. To see if your gas ports are lined up slide the piston all the way to the rear, either remove the op rodnor lock the action back with the bolt stop. Take a small punch or small Allen key and pass it through the vent hole on the bottom of the gas cylinder. It should go into the barrel if it's lined up. You can even use a flashlight and shine it through the same hole to actually view that it lined up. If the gas port is not lined up you discovered your problem. If you have on occasion, removed the piston there is a chance you moved the gas cylinder off the shoulder as Tony said tuis will be evident if the front band has a lot of play in it. If the action does not move at all when fired, it's probably one of the two things already mentioned. Spindle valve or port alignment.

Bolt2bounce

The gas port in the barrel can be clogged with carbon also.. sounds like an easy fix.. if it has always run and now doesn't should be something simple.. B2B