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Posted: 3/20/2008 1:12:34 PM EDT
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and well, it's really not a complete build as I bought a complete upper but anyway. I've read till my head hurts, all the stickies, forums, and watched the videos. Are there any tips others might have for me as I embark on the lower? I plan to have all my tools here by tomorrow and am hoping to put it together this weekend. First and foremost for me is to go slow and with attention to detail so I don't screw it up. Any other tips? Thanks much, cc |
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Take-down pin detent pins/springs. On your first build, try to find the biggest clear bag you can for a impromptu glove box. That way when they launch, they won't find their way into the stratosphere or deep in your shag carpeting.  Thus ends the voice of experience. |
+1 take your time Also dip your roll pins in grease, and tape the crap out of the receiver if its your first build. I also do not reccomend the vise grip technique on the bolt catch. detent tool----buy one or make one. and buy an extra detent if you can. You can file the tips of the detents or work the take down and pivot pins back and forth when you are watching TV like I do  . |
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My pet peeve is the trigger guard roll pin. Not sure why, but on every build I've done that one has been a bitch to put in... I hate it so bad I am thinking about going with a magpul grip on my next build just to avoid the hassle. For the bolt catch pin, I tape the heck out of the left side of the lower and use a punch long enough to extend well behind the back of the receiver. Just tap it in until you feel a tiny bit of resistance when positioning the bolt catch (if you are careful you can have the bolt catch between the ears when you do this, just don't jam it!), then hopefully enough of the pin will be sticking out to allow you to locate the hole on the side of the bolt catch on the end of the roll pin. Then you can continue drifting it in with light taps. A helper is nice to have when you are doing this... Also, be careful when screwing the mag catch into the button. It's very easy to scratch your lower, and it's difficult to hold the button far enough in while turning the mag catch. A helper here is nice too. I like to get it close and then function test it with a mag so I don't go to far. +1000000 on the plastic bag for the front takedown detent. I've never lost one yet, but the potential is there... Definitely buy a couple extra detents and springs. They are very cheap. I have never had trouble installing them without tools, but YMMV. Be safe and do it in a bag... For the trigger and hammer pins, just be PATIENT... it's like shooting pool with a rope. Sometimes you can use a slightly smaller drill bit or punch to get everything somewhat aligned and then diddle it around to get the pin to line up wiht the internals... the trigger is the beast, cause the disconnector shares the same pin. Oh, and make sure your springs are pointing the right way before you start. It should be difficult or something is probably oriented wrong! I also recommend anti-walk pins here... Very irritating to have your pins start walking out at the range while you are blasting away. These are the only trouble spots I can think of... it's not bad at all. In fact it's one of my favorite projects! I do them for my friends just because I like to do it! |
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Thanks folks for the tips. I'm really looking forward to this although after reading these, I just realized, I don't have an AR cli..er magazine (just kidding). I have some on the way but they won't be here until Tuesday. Ah well, I can put the mag catch on and adjust it later. As for the detent, yes, I've read where a lot of folks lose those. I plan on doing the clevis pin trick that is detailed in a couple of places so hopefully I won't lose it! Oh, what's recommended for grease on the buttstock (and barrel for that matter as I'm going to do a full build next)? I'd imagine just about anything will work as long as it prevents galling or should I be looking for something high temp like wheel bearing grease etc....? Thanks again folks, very helpful! Cheers, cc |
wheel bearing grease is fine. Also what i do to my roll pins is squeez one end of them with some pliers slightly, its helps get them started and just makes life easier. |
I use a large vise to squeeze the roll pin and reduce it's diameter by 2 to 3 thousands. I found the roll pin to be 5 to 6 thousands larger than the trigger guard hole. By squeezing it in a vise prior to assembly and liberal use of CLP or any slick lubricant made the install much easier.
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Yup thats the same thing I learned to do. Although I just use some Pliers real quick. And I tend to tightening it up more on one end then the whole way through to help get it started easier. |
| Thanks for the advice guys... Maybe I'm weird, but that really was my worst issue with installing LPK's... A couple installs I have done were so tight I was seriously afraid I would damage the ears, since it's so difficult to support them adequately while installing the roll pin. |
| I dipped the ends of the roll pins in grease and use a nail set punch to tap them in. The grease holds the pin in the hole so you dont need an extra set of hands and the nail set punch fits perfectly over the roll pin so it won't slip off when you are hammering away. |
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Thanks folks for the advice. This is going to be fun....and hopefully uneventful! I think I've got all the punches, etc....that I need so now it's about show time. I will be setting up the laptop nearby to peruse all the tips etc... as I go. Thanks again. Cheers, cc |
Got em. Both starters and the punches themselves. Oh, and lots of tape! Going to embark on this project tonight I think. Thanks for all the advice folks. Cheers, cc |
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Folks, Just wanted to say thanks for all the tips. I put it together last night and it went off with pretty well no major issues. I did have two issues unfortunately. One, the Tangodown grip I got mates with the magpul enhanced trigger guard like crap. So I had to abandon that and just use the grip that came with the LPK. It's too bad because I think I prefer the feel of the TD grip. Second, I bought a stock castle nut wrench from Brownell's. It didn't fit the castle nut. I have a DPMS armorer's wrench so used that but it buggered up one of the nut's slots a little. A little paint and no one will ever notice. But anyway, I got it together with no scratches on the receiver etc.... Lots of electrical tape used! Amazing what having the right tools did for me....made it very easy (cept the stock castle nut!). Anyway, thanks for the help. Now to start researching taking off the stock handguard and putting something a bit more useful on! Cheers, cc |
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