I'm new to this forum but I think I have something that might help those building their own AKs.  I built my first AK kit over the past couple months with help from some friends.  It is a Romanian kit with Tapco receiver that I bent up.  The pin that the trigger pivots on was too short and the groove is too wide for an e clip.  I don't think my friends and I are the only ones unhappy with this part of the assembly.  I'm sure there are fixes for this but I think it really needs a pin that is designed to do the job.

I designed a pin that is slightly longer and has a groove for a 7/32" e clip.  It is machined from 4130 steel and will be heat treated.  The first samples I had made fit my gun perfect and are much nicer than the originals.  If there is enough interest in these I will have them made in a large enough quantity to make the price reasonable.  I'll try to get some pics up later.  What woul you be willing to bay for two pins and e clips shipped?

Thanks for the input.  Like Sigman said these are CNC machined and I am an engineer.  Please don't hold that against me.  The price for 2 pins and 3 clips (in case you lose one) shipped will be about $12-13.

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g242/gator_97/DSC00043.jpg

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g242/gator_97/DSC00045.jpg

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g242/gator_97/DSC00044.jpg

Ask over at Saiga-12.com.

When they convert their Saigas they usually cut off their selector stop.  Ive heard some people asking for a longer trigger pin to act as a trigger stop.

Ive never had a problem with E clips on Tapco flats, DCI Yugo receivers or any of the other ones I have tried. Maybe I just got lucky though.

I've had the same problem a few times, Gator. If you made a batch, I'd be in for 6 or 8 (assuming a reasonable price, of course)

Gator_97 is my neighbor.  I'm the one to be held responsible for introducing him to building AKs and the arfcom site.  I've bent around 10 flats so far and had this problem on all but 2 of them.  My initial thought was that my DPH jig was out of spec, but it measures exactly 1.25" and  I've seen others post here on arfcom about the same problem.  I feel that my flats are bent correcly due to the fact that the safety selector and trunions have fit perfectly on every one.  The best fix I've seen so far here on arfcom is to "hammer around the axis pin holes on the right side of the receiver".  This does work, but you guys have gotta understand that Gator's a "big time" NASCAR enginer and couldn't bring himself to beating the crap out his newly made AK.  The e-clips that I bought here on arfcom fit the standard pins very sloppy, and allow the pins to move side to side inside the receiver.  Gator's design lets the e-clip fit as intented on the pin, and its positioned slightly closer to the head of the pin making a tighter fit to the receiver.  I've got a couple of the pins (prototypes) at home and they look really really nice.  As soon as he has a larger batch made and heat treated, I'll have them in every AK that I've have built and some for the other 4 kits I still have laying around!  I'll host some pics for him if he needs me to so you guys can see the quality of craftsmanship.  I don't know how to express to you guys that this is not some backyard crap being pedeled here, these pins are being produced by some of the highest technological cnc equipment out there.
Gator, let me know if you want me to post some pics.

I also have encountered this problem on occasion.  I would be in for 6 or 7 sets
as well.  Let me know the price when they are completed.

Thanks.

I think these would sell if the price is right.  How much longer are they? What material will they be made from?  Heat treated? Interested in 5 sets.

Those are very nice. I woud take a set or two.

S.O.

Quoted: Those are very nice. I woud take a set or two. S.O.

Me too.  I have the lathe, but it will be awhile before I can use it,

SRM

any update on these?

SRM

Quoted: any update on these? SRM

Gator's at the track testing (spoke to him via cell phone yesterday), but he has told me that he is going to move forward with the project.  I think he's going to have 50 sets (100 pins) made and heat treated for his first batch.  He said it shouldn't take more than 2 or 3 weeks to turn around.  I've notified him that he'll need to post them on the EE when they are ready.  Ofcourse, 10 sets are already spoken for.

once again any update on these?  i want some badly

I'll call gator tonight and ask him to post an update.  From last we spoke, it shouldn't be long.

I talked to the machine shop today.  They are scheduled to be made the first of next week.  I should have them by the end of next week.  As soon as I get them I'll send them to be heat treated.  The turn around for that is about one week.

How are they comeing along?

Put me down for two (2) sets if you are keeping a list of folks.


Thanks,

Donnie King

Gator's not on the boards as often as I, so I'll try to update everyone.  He got the pins from the machinest yesterday, and they were mailed off today to the company doing the heat treating.  He initially said that it would only take about one week for that to be done.   I'm hopeing that he'll have them back in hand by next weekend, cause I'm sure he'll ask me to do a little testing right away!  My latest Romy build has been patiently waiting for me to drop in the fcg.  

gator mentioned "slightly longer".  How much longer are we talking about.  I want these pins because the standard ones are to short on my flat

Quoted: gator mentioned "slightly longer".  How much longer are we talking about.  I want these pins because the standard ones are to short on my flat

I returned the demo pins I had last week, so they could be heat treated as well, so I don't have any here that I can measure.  My guess is that they are about 3/32" longer than the standard Romy pin.  I know he has CAD drawings on his bench, if I see him today (might not being Mother's Day) I'll ask him to post the specific lenght.

waht have people been doing if their pins where to short.. how did you all fix it befor gator came along

thanks
Sevo

Beat the crap out of your receiver with a hammer to "adjust" the fit.

I have the pins back from getting heat treated.  Once again they are 4130 and heat treated to the same hardness as the original pins (36-38 Rockwell C).  The price is $13.50 for 2 pins and 3 e-clips shipped.  The overall length of these pins are 1.450".  The originals are about 1.4".  I'll try to get some pics up tomorrow of them in an assembled gun.

If you are interested in trying a set send me an email with your shipping information.  If you like them pay me later.  If not just send them back

email sent

SRM

e-mail sent also!


doneking

Glad to see you guys are getting in line!  Here's a couple close-ups for you to gander at.  Remember, with the original pins, my builds with flats were such that the pin only caught about half of the 1.05mm thick receiver on the safety lever side.  Then during cycling, the sloppy fit of the e-clip allowed the pin to occasionally back out.  Thanks to gator that's not an issue anymore!!!!

MO sent today

SRM

Got my 10 sets yesterday!  They look & fit great!

Sample set looks great.  The only precision parts on my AK.

Hope to see mine soon

SRM

Got mine today.  I might not need them everytime, but they are a great piece to have if the receiver is out of spec........of course, that NEVER happens

SRM

got mine just the other day.  Try before you buy??!?!?!?!?   how could i say no.  My problem was that on my bent flat the reciever was just a smidge to wide for the stock pins to fit far enough through.  My solution to thr problem was to to sit on the gun.  People told me about welding a washer on the inside and all sort s of stuff that sounded very problematic.  I am so glad that these pins came around.  I bought them just for the fact they are longer.  13 bucks saved me a heck of alot of work.  They fit great and just the right amount of length.  I have no picked up a total of 5 sets for when i run into this again.  This is by far the easist cheapest solution to a difficult problem.  Gator is a great guy to deal with.  I recomend that people need to pick up at least 1 set for when you run into this problem and they may not be avalible.  It is some cheap insurance.
jimmy

ps i know i can not spell

Some people have asked if I take paypal.  I do.  The email for my account is

[email protected]

Are these for any AK build? (sorry Im new)

I have a ITM MK-99 that i have to use two e-clips on the pins  these would make it nice.

Please IM or email me.

Thanks,

Robert

My pins came in this week. They fit perfectly and look great. I'm told another batch might be made, if there's enough interest.