Removing the Romanian "G" kit barrel pin
 

I have seen various report on how some of these Romanian G kits have a barrel pin that just defies logic on how tight these are and how they require some of the most extreme measures to get them removed. I have four of these Romanian G kits myself and over the weekend I went to a build part planning to build up my Polish PMKM kit of a 100% OOW receiver and when I got to the build I discovered that I had forgot or somehow lost my barrel pin.

Well, lucky for me I had happened to bring along one of my Romanian G kits as if things went really great I figured I could start the demil on that kit. So, in that context my only solution for finishing my PMKM build was to steal the barrel pin from my Romanian parts kit... Note of caution here... I did measure and compared the two trunions to make sure that the barrel pin and trunion hole for the same from the Rommy kit was the same as what the Polish kit needed. I don't suggest swapping these parts normally but I really had no choice besides ordering a new pin and waiting weeks for it to show up.

So anyways...

I got introduced to the stubborn Romanian Barrel Pin

When I went to press out the barrel pin I set a heavy piece of 1-inch plate steel across the bottom of my 12-ton press and took some misc pieces of steel to shim up the barrel and the front of the trunion so that the trunion was supported and perpendicular to the press. Next I took a short 1/4-inch Grade 8 bolt and lined everything up (I thought the bolt was 1/2-inch but looking at it last night it was more like 3/4-inches) and applied pressure. After putting on the full-face shield I started putting on the pressure. There was no sign of movement of the pin as I really put on the force and I bent the grade 8 bolt!

Try two - A trick that worked for me and others since!

After a little amazement that you could bend a 1/4-inch grade 8 bolt on that pin one of the guys at the build party suggested taking another grade 8 bolt and put it under pressure and give the bottom of the jack a pretty good whack with a hammer... So I did this with (and I confirmed by looking at the bolts I have) a 1/2-inch Grade 8 bolt. I got considerable pressure on the bolt and gave the bottom of the jack on top of the press arm a good whack. I gave the jack another pump and whacked it again. With the second whack the barrel pin popped free with a hell of a crack.

I have shared this on several sites and I have seen several people that had barrel pins that they couldn't get out before trying this was able to get their pins removed....

Another suggestion to try as well...

I don't know who to post credits to for this suggestion and I have not got to try it yet but this may be something you want to do along with the trick above... The suggestion is to add oil to one side of the barrel pin as it goes through the trunion. Then add heat to the opposite side of the trunion. You don't need to heat the metal super hot just enough heat to help draw the oil into the hole around the barrel pin. After this is done, try pressing the barrel as described above!

One additional suggestion...

I don't know how good of an idea it is to be pounding on the bottom of your jack on the press arm as far as the life of your jack. I am personally going to try to find a piece of steel or even aluminum that I can put under the jack and on top of the press arm of my H-press. This way when I need to do any stubborn pins in the future I can pound on a piece of disposable metal as opposed to my tools (the jack in this case).

Good Luck and I hope it helps even a few of those out there dealing with stubborn barrel pins! Oh yea, the pin worked great in the Polish build and my Polish build is almost done but that will be a new thread!

If anybody sees other suggestions or even if this helps please post... it helps to know that my ramblings on here are helping someone every now and then...
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More Related threads and resources on the web....

Note: This is a topic that is well discussed on the web. i will be adding links below to these other threads so that somone that is fighting with these pins has more places to look for suggestions. Please feel free to suggest additional links...

http://ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=4&f=51&t=76162

http://www.gunsnet.net/forums/showthread.php?t=255902

http://www.gunsnet.net/forums/showthread.php?t=254156

http://www.akfiles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8226 <-- Excellent photo showing spacer for doing trunion!

http://www.akfiles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8166

http://www.akfiles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7750

Quarterbore, I had a stuck Romy pin... UNTIL I tried the press/hammer trick!

A good amount of pressure on the pin in the press, and just a light hit on the bottom of the press plate with a 5lb hand sledge and PING! "it moved". YEEHA!

Well, I bent the hell out of the 1/4 grade 8 bolts and almost gave up, until my buddy who is a mechanic said bring the barrel to me, so I did. He drove it out in 2 seconds with an airhammer, I was astonished, so I went out and bought what I thought was an air hammer and tried it on another barrel pin. I peened the crap out of it. Once again I brought it to him peened pin and all, it took 2 seconds. He had a larger air hammer than mine, so if you use this method research the difference and buy the big one. I think he said he paid $45, I paid $15 for mine. Oh and use a blunt tip attachement not the pointed one it will save you some heartache. :bangin:

Here's another good thread on the subject:

http://www.gunco.net/forums/showthread.php?t=15308

G whiz! And Oh D**n!
 

:eek: Well, guys welcome the latest victum :bangin: of the grade 8 bent bolt club. :welcome: I too have bent 3 bolts tryingot remove stubbon barrel pin. So far the pin is still winning but I will beat it out in the end. :D

Finally, used a carbide bit and put a hole down the middle of the pin. I followed this with a BFH and a really good punch. Wow! slide out like hard. I will replace it with drill stem.

Okay guys, how long / dameter bolt should I use to remove these dang barrel bolts.

And, I am assuming to use Grade 8 Bolts.

Killjoy

Real short... To get the pin started I bought the shortest 1/4-inch grade 8 bolts my hardware had (1/4-inch I think) and I even added a second nut to the bolt and snugged it up with the head for added strength... That got my "G" pin out!

I bent a slightly longer bolt (based on below I think it was 3/4-in long Grade 8) and my pin didn't budge! Also, make sure you wear a safety shield wen fighting with these pins and using these bolts as I would hate to thing what that bolt could do to an eye with over 10-tons of force on it :eek:

Barrel pins are the one time when I get everything lined up and snugges up and I put on the safety shield and stand back as the force on those pins is just awsome!

I hate these damn kits!


Apparently I have have one of the Romy G Kits that has a 7mm hole, but they inserted a 11mm pin!

I have bent Grade 8 bolts as short as 1/4". I tried the hammer trick and nothing. I also tried freezing the barrel (woked for my Polish Kit). This last time, I heard a loud crack, and though I had it. I removed everything, and found my Gas Tube Port / Rear Sight Assy, bent to hell!

At least they are only $10. But still!

Argh....I think I am done for this evening.

KillJoy