SKS has problem firing

[normsutton]

blinddog

ok , let me get this straight, he told you not to put it together like this







and told you to put it together like this


NORM

[juniustaylor]

Norm, that's how it sounds to me. I was looking at a couple different resources that showed how to assemble one and all of them showed to do it the way your bottom picture shows. I guess so the spring guide will butt against the back of the receiver cover. That is crazy, who'd have thought. blinddog, hopefully it works out for you now.

[normsutton]

JUN

his gun smith is nuts

the fist time you pull back on the bolt it will pop the spring into place, I have 8 SKS's and I have put them back together the first way in all of them , now if you put the spring in backwards it will give you some problem's because it will bind



NORM

[papabear]

+1 with Norm, I have only had three SKS's but all three when reassembled were like PIC #1.

[blinddog]

I had it together like the pic on top. I just don't understand what or why that would have caused a firing problem. Jeez, if I'm correct that is a return spring for the bolt, isn't it? He didn't charge me for what ever he did and that might be a good thing because I haven't fired it yet. he said he fired 20 rds. through it and no ftf. I will check it out tomorrow or the next day and make sure it fires.
Blinddog

[normsutton]

Blinddog
you might clean the chamber with acetone & a 45 cal bore brush ,it might have lacquer build up in it that will keep the bolt from closing all the way

NORM

[juniustaylor]

According to an old Army manual for the SKS, it says this:
7. Replace recoil spring assembly:
a. Insert recoil spring assembly, curled end
first, into bolt carrier.
b. Pull receiver cover pin fully to the right.
C. Slide receiver cover into place from the
rear.
d. Secure cover with receiver cover pin.
e. Rotate pin down to locked position.

It is vague in 7a, but it pretty much says to lay it in there and not secure the spring into that shelf. Now, I'm not going to question those that own an SKS. Norm and papabear don't seem to have any problems with theirs.

In regards to the failure to fire, the manual says this:
Defect:
Fails to fire (cartridge in chamber).

Cause/Remedy:
Defective cartridge. - Reload
Bolt not fully locked. - Clean and Lubricate

I think you should just fire the crap out of it and see if you can get it to malfunction. If not, then the spring is okay how the gunsmith installed it. If not... then I don't know. You can always ask the folks on the SKS forum - http://www.sksboards.com/smf/index.php Find SKS Troubleshooting down the list.

[normsutton]

JUN
they are going to tell him the same thing i told him

http://www.sksboards.com/smf/index.php?action=profile

NORM

[blinddog]

I will let you know how the range time works out.