Recently installed mine on my very first AR, figured I'd take some pictures along the way to show others how to do the same install.  It's super easy, and the kit is under $5!

Tools you will need;  1/16" punch, something to tap the punch with(not a full sized hammer), vice grips, some cleaning patches or electrical tape.

We're going to start with the bolt carrier group already removed, if you don't know how to do this....refer to steps 4 through 9 at the following link.  Link also covers my first few steps, but I have them listed anyways in order to have a more complete walk-through on the install process.

Basic field-stripping instructions(separating upper from lower, removing BCG, etc)-
http://groups.msn.com/TheMarylandAR15ShootersSite/fieldstripping.msnw

Now, on to the install process.


Step 1.  Remove the firing pin retaining pin.  You shouldn't need anything other than the punch for this, since that pin tends to come out easily.  It can only be pushed out one way, since it's a cotter pin(loops at one end).



Step 2.  Remove firing pin.



Step 3.  Push bolt in and turn clock-wise, then turn the bolt cam pin 1/4 turn either way to pull out.





Step 4.  Pull bolt out from carrier.



Step 5.  Remove extractor retaining pin.  You may need something to tap the punch with, just don't use a big hammer because you could damage the pin, or the bolt.



Step 6.  Remove extractor, should come right off now that the pin is removed.  Take note of the small spring with the blue or black plastic insert in the middle, on the bottom side of the extractor.

Grab spring, and turn counter-clockwise while pulling to remove it + the extractor insert.  Don't worry about pulling too hard, this stuff won't break and if it does...well, these things are about to get replaced/upgraded anyways.



Step 8.  Installing the actual kit...I only took one picture for this, so I'll cover several things in this step.  Open the BCM Extractor Upgrade package, and you will find 3 little parts(DONT DROP THEM!)...a better extractor spring + black extractor insert + o-ring(Your rifle may not have had an o-ring like this one, that's OK).

Put the new insert in the same area you removed the original from on the extractor, bigger side goes in.  Now put the new extractor spring over the new extractor insert, and give it a little bit of a clockwise turn to "lock" it in.  Last, put the new o-ring over the new extractor spring.  Sorry for the blurry picture, but everything looks about the same as it did when you removed the extractor...except the new spring is a little bigger and now there's an o-ring around it.



Step 9.  Place your newly upgraded extractor back on the bolt, and notice how you can't easily hold it down with your fingers to put that extractor retaining pin back in, due to the new spring.

This is where you'll need some sort of padding and a pair of vicegrips, the padding is used between the bolt and the jaws of the vicegrips to keep from damaging anything.   Once you get that extractor retaining pin inserted, re-assemble everything and enjoy your newly upgraded rifle that YOU did the work on yourself!



Thanks to ThomasH and DCN1982 for offering me info last week when I first purchased this kit and had no idea what I was doing.

Thanks for posting pics of the process.  I actually had several upgrade kits and finally decided to install them last night based on your original thread asking about it.  It really is easy, and this tutorial should help others who want to do it.

Nice, thanks for the post.  Timely too.  I have three upgrade kits sitting in a drawer, will use this post as my kick in the ass to get it done.

I like the padded pliers method better than mine. I just squeezed the bolt and extractor really hard with my right thumb and forefinger, said a string of 4 letter words, and finally got the pin pushed in with my left thumb and forefinger

No problem at all guys, just my way of giving back to the forum.  I'll be releasing more guides as I learn more, and spend more on upgrades.




As for the padded pliers, it was my second option.  The first way was the same way you tried, except I just couldn't get that extractor to seat back in the bolt quite enough for the extractor pin to go through.  I just happened to have a pair of vice grips and a few cleaning patches, so I tried that and it worked nicely.

(bump?)  

Thanks, socialistic!

Thankyou for the tutorial.  How necessary is the rubber o-ring?  Do BCM bolts come with the o-ring installed?
Thanks
Gerry

If it is a BCM bolt the O-ring is not necessary - the spring is REALLY strong on them.  I have compared them to CMMG and Armalite and I just switched the springs out on both of those, didn't use the O-ring because the BCM spring is so strong.

Bump for exposure and possible sticky?

I've seen quite a few handy how-tos on stuff like this, that always end up buried deep within the pages.  Would be cool to kinda tie them all together in a sticky or something.

What are the best sources to get the upgrade kits?

Bravo Company - Forum sponsor, click on their banner at the top of the page.

btt.

Tag...

THATs what the goofy O-ring wat with my BCM upper!