M14 Forum

Philz M1A · February 21st, 2012, 04:46 PM

So I bought my M1a a little over a month ago, am waiting on my buddy's farm to transition from muddy swamp to warmer and dry before taking her out to break her in. Translation, yes she has sat in my safe all this time.

This past weekend I decided to break down all my guns and clean them, and to break down the M1a for the first time in order to familiarize myself with her. I did lots of research online (here), watched youtube vids and set to work. It wasn't that bad actually, I was left with the "wow that was easy" feeling.

However.

I only got to 3rd base. I stopped short of removing the gas tube. I have referred to this thread but am a little hesitant to remove it. Do I need a BAD4-T1 tool? I have a Bill Ricca kit with supplied tools as well.

My basic idea is to mark the tube with white out (witness mark), unscrew/disassemble the thing and then put it back together, torquing until the mark lines back up.

Thanks everyone in advance for helping to get me acquainted to this great piece.

jbrooks · February 21st, 2012, 06:30 PM

SOunds like a plan. Easy as pie, all you do is just unscrew the gas plug, remove the piston and, if you want to remove the gas CYLINDER, just remove the flash hider, unscrew the gas CYLINDER lock and pull the gas CYLINDER off the barrel. It comes atraight off the splines.

Enjoy!

JWB

Dredsen · February 21st, 2012, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbrooks

SOunds like a plan. Easy as pie, all you do is just unscrew the gas plug, remove the piston and, if you want to remove the gas CYLINDER, just remove the flash hider, unscrew the gas CYLINDER lock and pull the gas CYLINDER off the barrel. It comes atraight off the splines.

Enjoy!

JWB

Yes this is right, don't worry about marking.

the gas cylinder lock will index just right. I had to gently tap my cylinder off when i dropped into a sage.

However you don't necessarily have to remove the cylinder to clean it.

jbrooks · February 21st, 2012, 07:17 PM

+1... just remove the cylinder if you are just wanting to figure out how the thing is put together or you want to swap a barrel.

Marking the plug with a sharpie or similar doesn't really do anything for the torque consistency. Just take the USGI combo tool or a short (6" or so) 3/8" wrench and torque it till it's nice and tight. You'll get the hang of it. I don't even use a gas cylinder wrench. Been doing this for 20 years now... :)

JWB

Philz M1A · February 22nd, 2012, 06:03 AM

Thanks all for the advice. I guess I was just over thinking it. :)

Dave P · February 22nd, 2012, 06:41 AM

I think removing the gas cylinder is a real pain. Gotta take of the flash hider first, etc, etc. Major dis assembly.

Why do you want to do this?

The only time I ever do it is for a new barrel. No reason to, otherwise.

And don't put the figure 8 nut on backwards.

jbrooks · February 22nd, 2012, 06:43 AM

When you're just beginning, check the gas plug every 50 rounds or so (caution: it will be HOT...) and see if it is loosening up. Just crank it tight again. You will get the "feel" of how tight you have to crank it down.

JWB

Philz M1A · February 22nd, 2012, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave P

I think removing the gas cylinder is a real pain. Gotta take of the flash hider first, etc, etc. Major dis assembly.

Why do you want to do this?

The only time I ever do it is for a new barrel. No reason to, otherwise.

And don't put the figure 8 nut on backwards.

I should have gotten my terminology correct, no need for the cylinder to come off, just wanted to take out the gas tube. I'm assuming it will get all gunked up with carbon after putting a few hundred rounds through the barrel.

jbrooks · February 22nd, 2012, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philz M1A

I should have gotten my terminology correct, no need for the cylinder to come off, just wanted to take out the gas tube. I'm assuming it will get all gunked up with carbon after putting a few hundred rounds through the barrel.

Philz M1A, the M14 has no "gas tube". The gas PISTON fits inside the gas CYLINDER. The piston is hollow, as is the gas cylinder plug.

The system is self cleaning, you don't need to do a thing with it but maybe every 500 to 700 rounds simply remove the piston and take a properly fitting drill bit and scraping any carbon out of the INSIDE. Same goes for the inside of the gas cylinder plug. Don't touch the outside surfaces of the piston, and the gas Cylinder will NEVER need to be cleaned.

Note the gas Piston has 2 concentric bore-holes. Look inside and you will see a wider hole at first and then a smaller hole that goes into the piston STEM. Both these holes should be inspected every 600 rounds or so.

The less you mess with the gas system on the M14, the better.

No slam on any videos you may watch, but most are overly complicated. This is an extremely simple rifle to work on. After all, Grunts and Jarheads were issued this weapon for combat in the world's worst environments. :)

JWB

Philz M1A · February 22nd, 2012, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbrooks

Philz M1A, the M14 has no "gas tube". The gas PISTON fits inside the gas CYLINDER. The piston is hollow, as is the gas cylinder plug.

The system is self cleaning, you don't need to do a thing with it but maybe every 500 to 700 rounds simply remove the piston and take a properly fitting drill bit and scraping any carbon out of the INSIDE. Same goes for the inside of the gas cylinder plug. Don't touch the outside surfaces of the piston, and the gas Cylinder will NEVER need to be cleaned.

Note the gas Piston has 2 concentric bore-holes. Look inside and you will see a wider hole at first and then a smaller hole that goes into the piston STEM. Both these holes should be inspected every 600 rounds or so.

The less you mess with the gas system on the M14, the better.

No slam on any videos you may watch, but most are overly complicated. This is an extremely simple rifle to work on. After all, Grunts and Jarheads were issued this weapon for combat in the world's worst environments. :)

JWB

thanks again for the clarification and update, I was thinking round thingy and thus my use of "tube." Piston sounds better.

The vids are overly complicated for the part, but you are correct I am finding out this is quite a simple weapon....

Mindfield · February 22nd, 2012, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbrooks

SOunds like a plan. Easy as pie, all you do is just unscrew the gas plug, remove the piston and, if you want to remove the gas CYLINDER, just remove the flash hider, unscrew the gas CYLINDER lock and pull the gas CYLINDER off the barrel. It comes atraight off the splines.

Enjoy!

JWB

you do realize that a cylinder is in fact a tube, right?

jbrooks · February 22nd, 2012, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mindfield

you do realize that a cylinder is in fact a tube, right?

Yes... and a "hammer" is used to pound nails...

and a "barrel" is a bullet tube.

Nomenclature counts.

JWB

xm-25 · February 23rd, 2012, 05:15 AM

I thought a "barrel" was something you shot fish in.

dcguillory · February 24th, 2012, 07:44 AM

thanks for the clarification for this noob too (referring to myself)