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Posted: 11/3/2012 11:18:25 PM EDT
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Just received new wood for my MAK-90 from ironwood designs. I'm having a little trouble installing the upper handguard.
Any tips or links? Also, anyone have any experience with gap in the butt stock? I guess the website did say minor fitting. |
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My IWD set that I just received for my MAK-90 was tight too. Both the fore-end and the butt-stock took some filing and fitting to go on properly.
If it's too tight and you try forcing it you'll break that fore-end. What I do with the fore-end is this: Put it up to the gas tube as if you were going to put it on, and take note of how much longer the wood is than the gas tube. File some of the wood off at and make an angle/bevel to help it get started going on. You may have to remove a little wood from it all the way around (reducing the overall length a bit) to get it to go on. Just go slow and check the fit often as you go. Once you take it off you can't put it back. Once you have it close go ahead and spin it on there. IMO you shouldn't be able to get it on with just your hands. If it's fitted properly it will be tight enough still that you'll need a tool to help you twist it onto the gas tube. Unless you have wicked strong hands like me. I like to use about a 12" crescent wrench on the flat sides of the gas tube toward the rear. Then use my hand on the wood and twist it on. The butt-stock will also need some "fitting" too probably. You just have to get a flat file and start working over the sides, top and bottom of that square area that slides up into the receiver. Again, be patient and stop to check fitment regularly. In my opinion again, you'll need to give it a little "persuasion" still to get it all the way "home" once fitted properly. You definitely do not want to have it so lose that it just slides right in all the way by hand. I leave them tight enough that you have to use something like a 2-3 lb rubber mallet or dead-blow to give it a couple whacks. Be patient, use some common sense, and you'll be fine. If you use any power tools, BE CAREFUL and go SLOW! Hand tools/files are your friends here. |
| 1/32" gap at the butt stock/receiver interface is required, and most original stocks will come out that way. Unless the stock is extraordinarily tight, a full-contact fit might result in the receiver knocking chips out of the stock. And if the fit is that tight, it will bulge the stamped receiver. |
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