Saiga disassembly problems

[Z-Michigan]

I have a .223 Saiga 16" that I bought recently. It is factory stock. I am trying to disassemble it, just so I know how, and have had two problems:

1) I can't get the gas tube completely off. I was able to lift it until its lower edge is hitting the rear sight base area. Is there some trick?

2) I can't get the front handguard to budge, one bit. I have unscrewed the screw that holds it into the front trunion. I also tried unscrewing the sling mount screw but that doesn't seem to touch anything. I read elsewhere that it comes off easy once the gas tube is removed, but I can't see that it's even touching the gas tube anywhere. What tricks or techniques are needed?

FYI: I'm aware of saiga-12.com, but I'm not registered there, and I didn't find anything answering these questions while searching there or searching the web (not to mention searching THR!).

Thanks in advance.

 

[xd45gaper]

this is a dumb question but is your bolt carrier removed when you are trying to remove the gas tube?

i dont have a saiga so not sure about any tricks with them but i do own AK's. Also is the gas tube lever sitting exactly on the flat position?

 

[Z-Michigan]

Thanks. I had removed all other parts - bolt carrier group, top cover, recoil spring.

I had the gas tube lever as far up as it would go, which is somewhat farther than horizontal (parallel with the barrel). The actual cross-pin for the gas tube appear to be about horizontal when the lever is like this.

 

[SN13]

Sounds like you know about the rotating lever cross-pin. Make sure that the flat part is perpendicular to the gas tube and just yank out.

The handguards slide off forward. take a rubber mallet and knock it towards the muzzle until it comes off.

 

[xd45gaper]

Sounds like you know about the rotating lever cross-pin. Make sure that the flat part is perpendicular to the gas tube and just yank out.

yes yes thats what i was trying to say lol

 

[Z-Michigan]

So, it sounds like a framing hammer should be part of the Saiga gunsmith's toolkit?

In all seriousness, should I just use more force? I'm used to being gentle on guns, but of course I've heard the "common knowledge" about working on AK's with a rock.