Noob Barrel questions: Pins n' Barrel Press

[gatorglockman]

Greetings.

I have a few questions that I am confused on after reading dozens of posts I searched. Any help would be appreciated. Probably easy answers, but I want to confirm so I don't dork up my parts and $$ spent.

Pin removal. If I am looking at the trunnion with the rear (where the bolt goes) and the muzzle end of it is away from me: do I push the existing pin out from the left to the right side OR the right side to the left?

Pin replacement. Same view. Push in from the right and push to the left or the other way? Does the HK stock pin have a flared side?

Barrel press. My mind is numb too many reads on this part, so these may sound dumb...sorry in advance.

Do I press the barrel into the trunnion by: the chamber end of the barrel into the muzzle end of the trunnion OR push the muzzle end of the barrel through the rear of the trunnion, through it until it gets towards the end and start to gap it?

I read the diff tips (heat trunnion, slightly recess the muzzle end of the trunnion and sand, chill barrel, antisieze, measure the barrel/trunnion tolerances, etc). Any other tips on things used to push the barrel in/protect it, etc? What do you use to shield the barrel from the pressing ram?

Thanks in advance for any insight. :rockon: I am learning a lot from the knowledge that is shared on this site. Thank you to those that contribute so much!

I will continue to research. My 2nd Apex barrel should be in today. I will be buying my HF12T press in a week or so and then attack the pin/barrel removal and get ready to start the build part.

[holescreek]

The barrel pin is not tapered. Get it out from either direction.

Hold the trunnion in one hand with the chamber end up. Insert the barrel into the trunnion until the chamber end of the barrel is sticking up out of the trunnion. Move the parts to your press. I use a 3/4" steel plate with a 1" hole drilled through it to press against. Drop the barrel through the 1" hole in the plate so that the front of the trunnion is resting on the plate with the chamber end up towards the press ram. Press the chamber down into the trunnion.

I coat the outside of the barrel chamber and the inside of the trunnion with anti-seize. Some people heat the trunnion and chill the barrel before pressing. Use whatever works for you. I use a brass bar set on the back of the chamber to press the barrel in. Some people stack pennies to push against. There is a thread on the WG forum about pressing the barrel in to the correct depth, I'll post a link when I find it.

[gatorglockman]

Thanks Holes!

Perfect visual. Makes sense on the pennies and socket approach I saw on other posts/pics. The farther in the trunnion, the bigger the gap. I will make sure I measure and ensure the trunnion is smooth, etc near the pin holes and frt/rear.

Understand on the pin...just making sure. I will prob try to build a jig to support the trunnion and use the press and a punch to push out the pin. I have been warned to expect the "pop" sound. Thanks.

BTW...mailed that letter to you today per our prior chat :wink:

[holescreek]

Here's the link to setting the bolt gap outside the receiver.
http://www.prexis.com/sten/homebuilder/index.php?topic=7617.0

[gatorglockman]

Here's the link to setting the bolt gap outside the receiver.
http://www.prexis.com/sten/homebuilder/index.php?topic=7617.0

Pure money, once again :America:

Thanks!

I had read this post a time before, but re-reading it paid dividends for my feeble mind. My take from your and Blades wisdom and word:

1. Get the barrel pressed deep enough to actually get the rollers to be able to lock in trunnion.
2. Insert bolt and bolt carrier into the trunnion for a lock and utlize the .018 feeler in the gap setting/testing portion of the bolt.
3. Lightly press again with bolt+carrier in place/line against the press and use the feeler gauge as the guide. Once it starts to become snug to the pull/test....time to back off. Theoretically at that point of the press/push, if I used anti sieze and other tricks, it may not take a whole lot to get the minimal distance needed to secure the gap.

Flag me if I made a mo' mo' statement or misque on my take. Game on now...just gotta get that HF press....and that should be next moonlighting paycheck if things go well.

Gator

[automick]

I set my bolt gap using a worn bolt and locking piece
Knowing i will lose some gap after the first few rounds.
After that...i switch back to the less worn bolt and locking piece
and gain back the gap again.

[RogueHK]

BE CAREFUL! i took 20 tons worth of pin punch to my right nut! I almost died!!! presses are no joke get AK-builders press kit!

[gatorglockman]

BE CAREFUL! i took 20 tons worth of pin punch to my right nut! I almost died!!! presses are no joke get AK-builders press kit!

WOW...now that is a story! Care to elaborate?

Yeah, I was aware of the potentials and have read some stories. I will take ample precaution. Thanks for the tip.

[heavy_weapons_guy]

So an AK builders press kit will work to get the barrel pins in or out of an HK / cetme trunnion??

Thanks in advance...

[Buddymack]

One of my sons has a lot of metal in his leg thanks to a press, he was involved in a pneumatic press accident a couple years ago, his mouth was smashed in and his ankle needed to be rebuilt ...
you are right ....be very careful please!

[gatorglockman]

One of my sons has a lot of metal in his leg thanks to a press, he was involved in a pneumatic press accident a couple years ago, his mouth was smashed in and his ankle needed to be rebuilt ...
you are right ....be very careful please!

Thx. I am sorry to hear about your son's accident.

I talked to Holescreek on his method and he basically vises it in place and uses a BFH and a punch to hammer it out. I will give that a whirl first as he has done it several times and I have seen his work.

I have seen some pretty neat ideas on a press cap/punch jig if I go the H press route. I will be asking some of the gents on their safety check and balances (if they have em') if I go that route. Alot of the AK guys go the press route in their builds.

[holescreek]

So an AK builders press kit will work to get the barrel pins in or out of an HK / cetme trunnion??

Thanks in advance...

The cetme pin diameter is only 5mm. I believe the AK builder press kit uses a larger diameter pin. You could get another pin and turn it down.