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Posted: 5/11/2021 6:01:50 PM EDT
| So, I need to remove the gas block on my PSA upper. The two set screws are giving me hell. First, I just tried to use an allen wrench and it got all twisted. Then I used BSI un-cure and kept applying it little by little for one whole day. The next day = same results. Then I used a pencil torch for five minutes on just one of the screws. I don't have a way to measure the heat, but I figured five minutes would be good enough. The bastard screw is still stuck. Yes, I am turning the wrench the right way. Any suggestions? |
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old allen wrench in the screw head, glow the wrench with a blow torch to transfer heat to the set screw until you smell a sweet smell of the loctite bond breaking down on the set screw, then using pliers so you don't get burnt, remove the old allen wrench since it has been softened by the excess heat to it, then use a new allen wrench to remove the set screw. Also to note, if someone went a touch over board with the 272 loctite on the set screws down the thread channels to bond the gas block to the barrel as well, then its blow torch time again on the gas block with the flame always moving around on the block so it not begin heated in one spot, keep going until you smell the sweet smell of the locktite bond breaking down, then using gloves, remove the gas block from the barrel. Note, remove the gas tube before hand, since this will allow you to slightly rotate the block on the barrel (without bending a gas key) as you are pulling off the bond heat broken block from the barrel. As for when you go to install the gas block again, start the set screw about three theads in the channels, apply a drop of 272 to the allen bolts on the exposed threads, then finishing tightening the set screw downs. The start the screws trick works to apply the 272 to just the screws, and not excess down the threaded channels to bond the block to barrel in the first place (makes for pulling the gas block easy once the set screws are removed after the heat transfer trick via the old allen wrench). And yes, will need to use 272, or the set screws are going to come loose from the barrel heat itself after a while. |
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Update: I used one of my twisted Allen wrenches to heat up while it was inserted in the set screw. I was able to get one of the screws out after applying heat from the torch for about 5 minutes. I tried the same process on the other screw and bent the second wrench. These were the longer style wrenches. I went to the hardware store and bought a 3/32 driver, and used my 1/4 ratchet to turn it. After the whole heating up process again, the ratchet and driver got it out. I realized the longer wrench style might not have been applying the pressure directly to the screw. In any case, it worked and my gas block is free now. Thanks again for the friendly help. |
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