Removing the gas piston
 

Trying to remove the gas piston from my Romanian AK bolt so I can install a US made gas piston for compliance.

I know there is a pin ground flush that I have to get out for it to unscrew but I can't get the pin out.

Anyone know what I am doing wrong and how I fix it? :bangin:

The pin is "peened" (smashed) on both ends to hold it in, so you will probably have to carefully remove some of the pin before trying to punch it out. I opted to leave the original piston and change the grip to a Tapco SAW grip on my build. 1-reciever 2,3 & 4-G2 FCG 5-Global Trades Slant Brake 6-Tapco SAW Grip.

I replaced the gas piston on my Polish UF build. I removed paint from the area of the bolt carrier where the gas piston attaches and was then able to see the pin. It was in real good and I had to drill it out in the end.

On my WASR (I know Im gonna get crap for this lol) only one side seems to have the pin. Can I just chuck the carrier into my drill press and drill straight through? Its almost impossible to find the side that is peened and I can see the threads on the other side. Also, the piston is wobbly unlike my romy kit, which is rock solid.

The piston being wobbly is more normal than a tight one. The pin should drive out easily with a punch after you get it started.

I use a piece of a roofing nail for the replacement pin. Peen it down on both sides and then file off the excess and after it's refinished, you can't tell it from the original.

Only problem is theres no pin to hit. One side is an open hole in the carrier through which I can see thread and the other has been ground down so much that its impossible to destinguish between carrier and pin through the grind scratches.

On the side with the grinder scratches, sand it down almost smooth and rub a mixture of WD40 or penatrating oil and a couple of drops of paint over where the pin should be and it should show the outline of the peened pin. Start with a smaller pointed punch until the pin starts moving, then you can use a straight punch to drive it out. Once it starts, it will come right out pretty easy.

Just a thought here, what if you heated it up a bit to expand it enough to make it show a difference and hopefully the pin?
Don

That might work, I've never tried it.