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Posted: 4/19/2007 7:37:31 PM EDT
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Okay, so I see you guys don't recommend buying upper kits, that it's not cheaper than buying a complete. Oh well, live and learn. I bought this "complete rifle kit" from SARCO, Inc. for $399 plus shipping (~$10). The invoice shows the trigger is backordered, which doesn't bother me because I already had a LPK installed. I have a second stripped receiver that will get this LPK later, so I can afford to wait on the trigger. What I can't afford to wait on is the barrel, which isn't in the box, and the invoice doesn't say anything about it. I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt until I find out a reason not to, I'm assuming the barrel is coming in a separate box. It would not have fit in the VCR-sized box that came today. It's supposed to be an A1 barrel, most other parts are supposed to be A2. Exactly what I wanted, though I'll probably put A2 furniture on. Over in the "assemble your own" thread there have been several requests for a set of instructions on building an upper, but I can't find any good replies. I used the ones that are there to build a lower and I see I can use it for adding a barrel. But, there's a lot of stuff here I don't find instructions for. I'll need to assemble the BCG and rear sight, and will definitely need some kind of guidance for those. Here's the pics I took tonight, not very good light, sorry. Here's what came out of the box: http://cx650c.home.mindspring.com/images/ARParts/all_bags.JPG The furniture: http://cx650c.home.mindspring.com/images/ARParts/furniture.JPG The gas tube is wrapped and strapped to a strip of wood, presumably it's fragile. http://cx650c.home.mindspring.com/images/ARParts/gas_tube.JPG The upper receiver and rear sight parts are in this bag: http://cx650c.home.mindspring.com/images/ARParts/up_rcvr_bag.JPG http://cx650c.home.mindspring.com/images/ARParts/up_rcvr_parts.JPG Bolt, charging handle, and a lot of stuff I don't know came this way: http://cx650c.home.mindspring.com/images/ARParts/bolt_etc_bag.JPG http://cx650c.home.mindspring.com/images/ARParts/bolt_etc_parts.JPG So, can somebody help me with the nomenclature (I tried), and how to put this stuff together? |
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I received several helpful PMs from members, thanks to all of you. After I sent this last night I kept looking and ended up finding that TM9-1005-319-23 manual, and it does indeed seem to have everything I had been looking for. Has the instructions and torque values and how to stake the bolt carrier key and how to assemble the rear sight, and all of it. I'll be collecting a few tools that I don't have already and then I'll be taking pics as I do this. It may not be "the smart way", but hopefully we'll have something to point to when the question comes up again. I appreciate the offers of help also, and I may take up some of those offers if I run into trouble. I would like to try as far as at least dry-fitting and all that before I surrender, I kinda like the idea of having that intimate knowledge of every part and would like to be able to say I did it. OF COURSE I'll be back here for advice every step of the way too. With pics, in better light. The parts as they came out of the bags seemed to have been coated in some kind of grease, just like the lower parts I had assembled earlier. I'll satisfy myself with cleaning and lubing them, and will likely attempt the ejection port cover and rear sight if I can make time this weekend. THANKS GUYS! [edit to add:] By the way, it's not like I'm in dire need of finishing this in a hurry, for a couple of reasons. I don't have access to a rifle range, at the moment; and my mags from the GB still haven't shown up. |
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Memphis area. Okay, having been pointed at the big Army manual in the 'information' section, I found what I needed. I had the rear sight together before I remembered I had wanted to document and take pics. It really isn't troublesome, though I did have to remove the roll pin and insert the spring since I got out of order and didn't get the picture the first time. I left the allen screw out of the elevation knob since I was obviously going to need to adjust it, and the manual showed to loosen it 3 turns to make that adjustment, so I figured it should be possible to insert it after assembly. That ended up okay after I bought a set of the little L-shaped allen wrenches, long shank-- which I would have needed anyway had I followed the instructions and inserted this screw and then needed to loosen it, since the little tip for a screwdriver I already had would never have worked for this- couldn't get it in there after assembly. The long allen wrench did work well. What I called a "C-washer" was actually several of the clips that hold the ejection port cover hinge pin. They were 'glued' together, so it looked like one thicker item. Now I have extras. I haven't had much trouble figuring out which pin or spring goes where, they seem to be pretty different, so that you couldn't easily get the wrong one in there. The "Tip?" is probably the detent that holds the buffer in place. I don't yet have a bench built, though I do have a vise if I can get a bench set up. I don't have the fittings to hold the receiver parts for stock and barrel installation, and for holding the bolt carrier to torque the key bolts down prior to staking (thanks for the PM tip, I have the screws temporarily snugged in but I need to get them properly installed). Since I will certainly be building at least one more rifle (already have the receiver) I intend to buy the allen wrench/socket drive tool thingy (to use with a torque wrench) for the key bolts, some kind of adapters to hold the receiver halves in the vise, one of those GI multi-tool things that looks like it does the barrel and flash hider and stock, and is properly set up for use with a torque wrench; and probably some roll pin punches. I have a foot-pound torque wrench already. I know there's argument about the type of torque wrench, some say the deflecting beam isn't accurate- but I know the break-type must be calibrated in a lab, so the home mechanic isn't better off with one of those. I haven't figured out what the lock washers will do. I will want to find an A2 flash hider. I don't see anything that will be a 'peel washer' or crush washer for the flash hider? So, waiting on the barrel now. I called the company and I'm waiting for a call back. |
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You are going to need either a barrel block or action block to assemble your upper. If I were you and you were only going to build this one upper I would make a barrel block out of wood to allow you to lock it into a vise when you tourqe the barrel nut down. You pretty much have to have a barrel wrench to do it right, otherwise you may damage the nut. You can get a USGI style wrench for about 10 dollars or so. Good luck with your build. |
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Finally yesterday my barrel arrived, after 2 months of delays, shipping the wrong parts, etc. So my kit is all here now. Last gun show I bought the upper reciever block that you pin into the upper and then lock the extended part of the block into the vise. Also got an A2 flash hider and crush washers. I have a foot-pound deflecting beam torque wrench, but I need a barrel wrench/flash hider wrench/stock wrenches (both kinds). I guess the GI multitool and the M4 stock/1911 bushing wrench would cover it all. I need snap ring pliers. I need tools to torque and stake the bolt carrier key bolts. Do we like the MOACKS? Looks like under $100 at If I can find my Grandpa's old propane torch I'm gonna build one of those tools for installing the front handguards. |
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