Removing Furniture From Gas Piston Tube

[rjc_rbnj]

Could someone tell me how to remove the furniture (i.e, upper hand guard) from the gas piston tube assembly. I need to remove the plastic upper hand guard to Duracoat a gas piston tube. I feel really dumb since this is probably a simple task.

[iNuhBaD]

You will for sure need a crescent wrench, and possibly a rag / towel and a vice.

What you need to do is (obviously) remove the upper handguard from the gun, and tighten the crescent wrench onto the portion that gets locked into the rear sight base. Tightly hold the handgrip (wood/plastic part) in one hand, and turn. Rotate the grip 180 degrees around the gas tube, and it should just come straight off.

JUST LIKE THIS - SEE THIS LINK

If it doesn't come off while holding the foregrip in your hand, wrap the wood/plastic part in a rag/towel, and carefully tighten it in a vise. Be careful to not tighten it too much. Keep it a little loose so it doesn't damage/warp/bend the grip, but tight enough that it won't slip. Then use the crescent wrench to turn the gas tube / grip 180 degrees. It may be tough the first time. Just put it back in in reverse order.

[moleman]

I couldn't figure it out for the longest time either. The handguard is held in by a spring that clamps around the gas tube and it has two ears that stick out to keep the handguard from rotating. To remove the handguard grip the the handguard and twist it so it is now upside down on the gas tube where it can come off. They're on there pretty tight and on one of mine I had to clamp the metal part in a padded barrel block in a vise to get enough leverage on it to break loose. after that it turned pretty easy.

[4thIDvet]

Could someone tell me how to remove the furniture (i.e, upper hand guard) from the gas piston tube assembly. I need to remove the plastic upper hand guard to Duracoat a gas piston tube. I feel really dumb since this is probably a simple task.

Yup. What these guys said. Don't feel bad. I built 10 AKs before Sniper showed me how to get the damn thing off.
Go easy cause some of them are old and they crack.

[zoom6zoom]

The handguard is held in by a spring that clamps around the gas tube and it has two ears that stick out

If you replace the furniture with something else, you may need to leave this out. The Bulgarian plum furniture I just installed didn't fit with this in place, it has molded in spacers.

[rjc_rbnj]

Worked like a charm!!!!

[sjohnson]

Great pics, 4th!

[carolyn martin]

Thanks for the info. I just ran into same problem-------Caroline

[4thIDvet]

Carolyn and RJC. Welcome to the forum. Show us some picts of your weapons when you finish them.

[santanatwo]

I put the rear part of the gas tube (the part that fits in the rear sight block) in a vice, and use crecent wrench to spin the furniture, use a rag to keep from maring the furniture, and gl slow and careful