first time at the range with SKS, wont go semi auto?

[Lucky Scott]

Got a Yugo 59/66 SKS, (yes, the one with the grenade deal) and it shoots fine single action, but wont go semi auto. Also, very hard to pull the bolt back after shooting.
It wont eject the spent casing, the bolt wont move at all until I grab it and muscle it back.

Any ideas?
I am thinking gas system and have been looking at perhaps a faulty gas valve.
its new, but perhaps it is still bad.
is there any way to check it?

[caldude]

It's most likely the gas valve, either it's faulty, or it's in the 'grenade launching' position. I'd check the position of the valve first.

Here's an article from Surplusrifle.com on replacing the gas valve: http://www.surplusrifle.com/reviews2...alve/index.asp

[SLYoteBoy]

It's most likely the gas valve, either it's faulty, or it's in the 'grenade launching' position. I'd check the position of the valve first.

Here's an article from Surplusrifle.com on replacing the gas valve: http://www.surplusrifle.com/reviews2...alve/index.asp

+1 , im no expert on sks's , but I was also going to mention I thought that it had a gas valve , and to check the position.

[Lucky Scott]

The position is correct, but I am going to double check to make sure the valve has the holes in the right place.

[CSACANNONEER]

The position is correct, but I am going to double check to make sure the valve has the holes in the right place.

For shats and giggles, did you try putting the gas valve in both positions?

[Lucky Scott]

You know, I didnt. I should try both positions.
Good idea.

[Heatseeker]

This might be a dumb question, but have you inspected the gas tube for cleanliness? When I got my 59/66, the amount of cosmoline in the gas tube was unbelievable. It certainly would not have functioned as it was when I got it.

Just trying to help.

[Lucky Scott]

I was always taught that there are no dumb questions.

I have checked that and even ran a pipe cleaner thru it to make sure it was clear.


Thanks for the help.

[NotEnoughGuns]

I had to replace my gas valve on my yugo with a new stainless steel one to make it reliable. It wouldn't shoot wolf ammo but other stuff would work. Yugo ammo is corrosive so the gas systems on them seem to not work all that great.

[glennsche]

one guy at the range stopped me when i was shooting my sks and asked me to trouble shoot his...turned out he had no piston.

sometimes its very simple

[Lucky Scott]

Wish it was always that simple.

yes, mine does have a piston. At first I was wondering it there should be seals on the end, (like rings on a car piston), but I took another SKS apart and there were none on that one.

I am also wondering about oil in the gas system. I am under the impression that the piston does not need oil to work. Being an old guy I always want to oil everything up, but have not put any oil inside the gas system.

I am wondering if there needs to be oil to create a seal or make it work better, but I cant find anything that tells me to do so.

[nrakid88]

dont oil up the gas system. the gas flowing into it just burns it and turns it into this horrible black substance that almost bonds to the metal. it is a PITA to get off, put a light coat in the gas tube for storage, but try not to oil up the piston

[hifiguns]

Make sure the chamber below the rear site (containing the piston extension) is cleaned of cosmoline. But, it's very likely that the gas valve is bad. You can get a new one here:

http://www.cncwarrior.com/comersus/store/comersus_viewItem.asp?idProduct=1

[Mr Wizard]

I have a russian SKS that will eat anything I put in it, but my Yugo won't cycle anything but Golden Tiger ammo. Can't figure that one out..

[CHS]

Got a Yugo 59/66 SKS, (yes, the one with the grenade deal) and it shoots fine single action, but wont go semi auto. Also, very hard to pull the bolt back after shooting.
It wont eject the spent casing, the bolt wont move at all until I grab it and muscle it back.

Your gas system is probably fine, but it sounds like you need to clean all the cosmoline out of the recoil spring and rear of the bolt carrier. Probably clean up the bolt again soon.

If it's really hard to move the bolt/carrier back, something is gumming up the works and preventing rear travel.

An SKS should be fairly easy to charge.