Well, I took the M1A back out to finally get her properly zeroed in.  I fire 3 shots, and they're a little to the right.  I adjust the front sight, and fire 3 more shots.  I look down at the rifle, and it appears as though the gun didn't chamber a new round.  Not too suprising, since I'm using a cheapo mag.  I take the mag out, and find that the op rod is stuck.  I look down and see that what is apparently the roller has popped off.

So, I bring her back home, and give it a good inspection.  Nothing appears to be damaged, or excessively worn.  I was trying to get the oprod out the other day with a flat head screw driver, but was unsuccessful.  My only theory at this point is that when I was prying it, I knocked the roller off track.  But why was I able to fire 6 shots before the roller came loose?

After 9 months of owning an M1a, I finally got the oprod out today.  I put the roller around the tab on the bolt, and managed to get the oprod back into place.  I've worked the action several times, and as best I can tell, its as good as new.  I have a couple of questions for the M14 gurus here:

1) Is there any reason to think of that this may have happened other than when I trying to pry it out the other day I knocked it loose?

2) Is there anyway to be sure that I've got it back together properly?  I've got the army manual, and another book, and it looks like its good to go.  I'm just kind of irrate that it happened at all, and want to make sure that my favorite gun is working again.

I've been shooting M1A/M14 for thirty years now and I have never ever had to use a screwdriver or anything else to get the operating rod out.  Including when I was put on detail in AIT and had to stip and clean an arms room full.  Just wiggle the sucker, it will come out.  I suspect maybe a bent operating rod, wouldnt hurt to have it checked by someone who knows M14/M1A.  If you dont have an armor close, (National Guard match armor preferably) contact you state HP club, they will line you out.  Except for the gas system wrench, I dont recall ever having to use any tools to completely strip an M14/M1A.

KraigWY
Distinguished Rifle Badge 1071
UASMU Sniper School 1978

Did the roller come off the bolt? Or did the roller just come out of the Op rod like you were taking the rifle apart?
If the first, best to replace the roller spring keeper, if the second, just put it back together and go with it.
'Borg

We-rBorg,

The roller came off the bolt while I was shooting.  I've got the roller back on, although it seems like its a loose fit.

There is a small clip that goes on the stub that the roller goes on, that holds the roller on. MAKE SURE THE ROLLER IS SEATED ALL THE WAY DOWN. If the clip was still there, the roller would snap on hard and not be loose, you also have to make sure the roller is seated ALL the way down on the stub.
Do not shoot it till you replace the clip,,, looks like a thin wire "C" clip.
'Borg

Quoted: There is a small clip that goes on the stub that the roller goes on, that holds the roller on. MAKE SURE THE ROLLER IS SEATED ALL THE WAY DOWN. If the clip was still there, the roller would snap on hard and not be loose, you also have to make sure the roller is seated ALL the way down on the stub. Do not shoot it till you replace the clip,,, looks like a thin wire "C" clip. 'Borg

Cripes, I can't even get the damn oprod off again.  The only time I've ever gotten it off was when the bolt roller was missing.  The roller looks pretty loose, and can slide along the stub.   I'm thinking this thing is going back to SAI pretty soon.

Agillig,
I tried to use a screw driver to jam that op-rod out before but its a bad way to do it.
you'll only break the screw driver.  The way I do it now, grab cheap washcloth or paper towels and a pair of vice grips or pliers.  Hold the reciever assembly between your legs and wrap the handle of the op-rod with the towel then grab it with the pliers,  move it back the position at which it releases (the notch) then gradually turn and rotate the pliers away from the receiver while lifting up (towards the notch) slightly on the op-rod.  Its a pain the first time but after that its smooth sailing....

Adam

height=8

Quoted: height=8 Quoted: There is a small clip that goes on the stub that the roller goes on, that holds the roller on. MAKE SURE THE ROLLER IS SEATED ALL THE WAY DOWN. If the clip was still there, the roller would snap on hard and not be loose, you also have to make sure the roller is seated ALL the way down on the stub. Do not shoot it till you replace the clip,,, looks like a thin wire "C" clip. 'Borg Cripes, I can't even get the damn oprod off again.  The only time I've ever gotten it off was when the bolt roller was missing.  The roller looks pretty loose, and can slide along the stub.   I'm thinking this thing is going back to SAI pretty soon.

I've gotten an oprod off of an M1A and a polytech and I'm totally lost as to what half of you are talking about.  Why would you need a screwdriver to take an op rod off?  Go to a website called surplusrifle.com.  He has pretty good directions on how to properly break down a rifle.  

I could be completely off base, but something tells me "prying" with a screwdriver unsuccessfully does not sound conducive to good operation of the rifle.  Maybe I'm missing something.

It depends,,, it sounds like he put the screw driver between the bolt and roller and popped the roller part way off, instead of the bolt and Op rod.
Either way, you should never use a screwdriver to get the Op rod off,,,  If you want to take it off,, have someone more experinced show you.
'Borg

there is absolutely nothing on the M1/M14 rifle that needs tool force to remove, with the possible exception of the gas plug.  if it doesnt come off with hand force, you're doing something wrong, and should stop before you damage something