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Posted: 6/30/2005 1:19:47 PM EDT
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I'm in the process of putting a new barrel on my AR-15. Everything has been going well, until now... I can't seem to remove the gas tube from the old front sight assembly, in order to install it on my new front sight block. I've removed the pin, and squirted WD-40 all around it to try and loosen it up. But pulling on the gas tube while wiggling it, doesn't shake it free. I imagine there is some carbon build-up in there. I'm reluctant to put pliers the tube for fear of bending or squishing it. Are there any tips on how to wrest this gas tube out of that front sight block? The image of the situation can be seen here (cut & paste this web address to your browser): http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-5/1007915/AR_FS_GT.JPG John Rich |
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www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=1851&title=AR-15%2fM16+TOOLS&s=7188#7188 Bottom tool P.S you can make your own tool. The idea is to make the block, clamp the tool on the gas tube, then give the tool a love tap to start the gas tube out of the vised FSB. |
Nice! But for $25, I'm going to struggle a little longer soaking in solvent before running to Brownell's. Thanks for that reference. Gosh, there's a special tool for every darned thing... |
| In the backwoods, we sometimes find an open end wrench that fits tight to the tube, and tap against that. Works on the auto side of things, haven't tried it on a gas tube. If the tube is real soft, it might deform it a little. You can also wrap a few rounds of tape around the tube to give a bit of a shoulder for the wrench to push against. |
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I had the same problem earlier in the week. I took a pair of channel locks to the gas tube, the key was to break it loose by twisting side to side before it would come out. I put a good helping of Kroil all around, let it sit for a day or two, then broke it free twisting from the 10oclock to 2 oclock position. after it broke free and could rotate in the front sight base it was easy to tap on the pliers to get it out. There is minimal scuffing on the tube and i was using ALOT of pressure to grip it. If you mess up the tube they are cheap to replace (i think they are pretty stout though... at least the ones i have removed). Id like to get that brownells gas tube wrench in the future. I used these (smaller set wouldnt grip): 
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It sounds like everyone else had the same idea as me to jury-rig something to pull that gas tube out. I put the front sight block in the vise, gripped with leather inside the jaws to avoid scratching. Then I used a vise-grip plier on the gas tube, with a strip of leather as a soft buffer pad in the vise-grip jaws, to provide a firm grip on the tube, but without crushing or denting the gas tube. Finally, I used a hammer to tap on the vise-grip to knock the gas tube loose and extract it from the front sight block. This worked well! No damage to the tube, and I'm back in business on my gunsmithing. Thanks for all the tips, guys. Photo attached: www.villagephotos.com/members/viewimage.asp?id_=13246559 |
| I use a 1-2-3 block with holes in it. I put the gas tube through one of the holes in the middle and pull it out the other end and then smack the FSB into the block by pulling the gas tube. Kind of like using a dent puller. The softer the metal the better. You could use a vice too but I prefer an old 1-2-3 block. Always works like a charm and doesnt bang up the FSB too much. |
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