Garand gurus, question about troubleshooting op rod spring:

[Iknownot]

I am trying to diagnose a garand that has an op rod that disengaged from the bolt. (I'm not very knowledgeable about troubleshooting garands though).

In the trouble shooting section if the Duff book, Duff lists that the possible causes could be worn lugs on the op rod or a kinked op rod spring.

The op rod, at least to my eyes looks fine, with regards to the lugs.

The spring has been examined and the question is how much is "kinked"?

The spring had a very slight bend close to where the rod follower fits into it.

So most of the spring was straight except for this one area that was very slightly out of true to a straight line.

Does this qualify as kinked? Or does it have to be a worse bend?

If this qualifies as kinked, where's a good place to order a new spring from?

Thanks in advance.

[Mezcalfud]

http://www.m1garandrifle.com/

I have replaced several springs using their spring packs (op/trigger/etc), and have yet to be dissapointed. I don't have answers to your other questions, I was about to say the lugs? springs are cheap and these are supposed to be the best?

[Iknownot]

Thanks for the link.

[30Cal]

Springs are disposable and weren't intended to last 60 years.

If the oprod dismounts again, then the tab is worn and the oprod is shot. It's one of those types of failures that tends to get worse and more common.

[smle-man]

I agree, the lug is worn on the oprod. They can be rebuilt. There is a guy who specializes in rebuilding oprods. Go to www.jouster.com, go to the M1 section and ask for the oprod rebuilder. Someone will put you in touch with him.

[Iknownot]

Springs are disposable and weren't intended to last 60 years.

If the oprod dismounts again, then the tab is worn and the oprod is shot. It's one of those types of failures that tends to get worse and more common.

So you guys feel it would be worth it to replace the spring and if it happens again, it's definitely a worn lug on the op rod?

Thanks for the help and links everyone.

Just to clarify, there's no where to just buy a new op rod from? The couple of garand parts sites I checked didn't have any listed. Are they hard to come by?

[30Cal]

They're not as common as they used to be, but you shouldn't have a hard time finding a servicible rod. The piston needs to be at least 0.525" and the lug nice and square with no uneven wear.

When the oprod dismounts, the metal in that camming hump gets peened over more and more. This causes the bolt to tend to push the oprod away from the receiver making the problem progressively worse.

[Iknownot]

They're not as common as they used to be, but you shouldn't have a hard time finding a servicible rod. The piston needs to be at least 0.525" and the lug nice and square with no uneven wear.

When the oprod dismounts, the metal in that camming hump gets peened over more and more. This causes the bolt to tend to push the oprod away from the receiver making the problem progressively worse.

Okay. I'll keep that in mind when I get a chance to look at the op rod again.

Thanks for the help.

[NRAhighpowershooter]

As for the Op Rod spring.. I only use the stainless steel spring that Orion 7 sells..My 308 Match Garand was Tony's lab rat for his first springs back 7 yrs ago... I only use them in my Garands and Garands that I work on...Sounds like to me that the op rod is worn and the spring needs to be relaced as well.

[Iknownot]

Glad to hear the springs are the real deal. I was already planning on ordering a set, although I suppose I should order a op rod to be safe as well.

Thanks for the help, once again, everyone.

[NRAhighpowershooter]

If you order a replacement op rod.. don't toss the old one.. get it rebuilt! Op rods will only get scarcer as time goes by...

[Iknownot]

The duff book says that op rods have to be within a certain spec of "x" where they join the gas piston.

I think it was .525" or something like that.

What exactly does this this mean?

How would it be measured?

[NRAhighpowershooter]

The duff book says that op rods have to be within a certain spec of "x" where they join the gas piston.

I think it was .525" or something like that.

What exactly does this this mean?

How would it be measured?

Duff is referring to the gas piston diameter minimums. .525 is minimum.. and you can use calipers.. but a micrometer is the best...

Here is the specs for the lug as well..

[30Cal]

The duff book says that op rods have to be within a certain spec of "x" where they join the gas piston.

I think it was .525" or something like that.

What exactly does this this mean?

How would it be measured?

.525" is the minimum diameter of the piston itself.

[Iknownot]

Thanks for the diagram of the op rod lug. It was very helpful.