Free float rail AR problems
- Thread starter jj05
- Start date
I have sayings that I call Joeisms. It all started with Joeism number 1 If it seems too difficult it is For those that find further explanation helpful: Your doing something that doesn't have to be done, You don't have the right tool, something is quite wrong with the process etc.
Ok, maybe I need to rephrase this. I am looking for advice to help me troubleshoot this issue that I'm having. I understand that beating my AR with a hammer is not a good thing to do. I was simply trying to convey how difficult it is to reassemble the upper and lower. Any HELPFUL posts would be appreciated.
madcratebuilder
New member
Is there any chance you tweaked the upper when you torqued the MI barrel nut? Did you use a receiver block when you changed the barrel nut? If so, what style?
The previous combination apparently worked fine, right? All that changed was mounting a free float to the upper. The free float itself has no apparent affect on the pin fit, other than having the new barrel nut too close to the front eyes.
After that, how much torque was used, and what kind of fixture? It's hard to imagine twisting the pin lugs so much that they are no longer parallel, but it is aluminum, not indestructium. If you could insert long rods in the pinholes, it would pretty quickly show how much out of parallel they are, should that be possible.
As for being hard to assemble, my new AR is that tight. I DO beat the pins in with a screwdriver handle. Each fits it's hole very well, the overall Center to Center spacing is a few thousandths too close. It happens with lowers and uppers made 1,000 miles apart.
Try each pin separately, one is usually worse than the other, from there you can futher diagnose what happened. Worst case is breaking something, of course, but if they will go together, then shoot it for 10,000 rounds and keep it lubed. It will loosen up long before you really need to tear it down and clean it.
After that, how much torque was used, and what kind of fixture? It's hard to imagine twisting the pin lugs so much that they are no longer parallel, but it is aluminum, not indestructium. If you could insert long rods in the pinholes, it would pretty quickly show how much out of parallel they are, should that be possible.
As for being hard to assemble, my new AR is that tight. I DO beat the pins in with a screwdriver handle. Each fits it's hole very well, the overall Center to Center spacing is a few thousandths too close. It happens with lowers and uppers made 1,000 miles apart.
Try each pin separately, one is usually worse than the other, from there you can futher diagnose what happened. Worst case is breaking something, of course, but if they will go together, then shoot it for 10,000 rounds and keep it lubed. It will loosen up long before you really need to tear it down and clean it.
Palmetto-Pride
New member
And some people should not post when they have nothing valuable to add to the discussion............
StrongSideArmsInc
New member
It appears from your post that the free float barrel nut is threading to far back and hitting your lower reciever and making it tight for the pins to get lined up. This has been a problem before when I have used YHM FF tubes. One thing, is make sure you have not installed the barrel nut backwards, yes, some will gone on the wrong way and the recessed cavavity will allow it seat deeper than it should be. Second, make sure you the free float tube is not threaded to far back on the nut, as these tend to do the same thing if you thread them too far back. Most free float tubes come with a lock ring that you put on first, then thread the tube on to desired length, the lock it in place with the ring. If all else fells, call the manufactuer for help. Check your front take down pin to see if it is getting rubbed when youtry to close the upper and lower.