SKS Cycle Problem

[Partyguy816]

My SKS will not cycle. I think there was a thread on this forum a while back but I not having much luck in finding it. I've cleaned out the gun very good or as good as I could but nothing. I've got the gas valve towards the right for semi-auto and the bolt will only move about 1/2 of an inch when you shoot. The only thing I can think of is the gas valve is messed up. When I was cleaning it, it looked like a lot of corrosive ammo was shot though it because the valve thing was pitted pretty bad. Could this cause my problems? I checked with Numrich, but they are out of stock right now. I do have another SKS that I could change out the part, but it will be a while before I get back out and shoot.

 

[Freelance Tax Collector]

I have heard that sometimes this can be cause by the gas tube bleeding off because it wont fit properly. Solution get a new tube, you wont have to get a piston.

 

[dzimmerm]

SKS problem

Did you take out and inspect the short piston that is in the assembly under the rear sight? If the spring is broken or otherwise messed up it might not allow full action. Be carefull as that spring has quite a bit of force and it can launch the small piston if you do not have a finger or thumb holding it firmly when you pull the detent all the way up to release it.

The other thing to check is if the bolt return spring is damaged in any way that would cause the bolt to stick on it's way back.

I would definately use a pipe cleaner on the hole in the barrel that feeds the gas tube. How loose is your gas tube assembly? If it is really loose that would cause leaking of pressure that would make the long piston lose force too quickly.

There are some excellent breakdown pictures and even some videos at at least one military surplus website. Just search on SKS.

I hope you get your SKS working as they are fun to plink with, even though the real cheap ammo seems to be getting a little pricy lately.

dzimmerm

 

[Partyguy816]

Everything seems tight and all the springs are good. I took everything apart and cleaned the snot out of it. I guess the only thing is to slowly start changing out parts from my other one and see what works.

 

[Bane]

I have been fighting the exact same problem for over a week. I also narrowed the issue down to the gas tube and piston. Like yours, my gas tube was really badly corroded. I have spent several evenings polishing the roughness out of the gas tube. Hopefully it will help. If not a new gas tube my be in order.