Remove top cover wood????

[woodey]

How do you get the wood off of the top cover on an AK?? It looks like it has the retainers spot welded in place?

[JHC]

Clamp square end of tube in vise or with pliers and "carefully" twist the wood handguard 180 degrees, it will come right off.

[69Mach1]

[weezil_boi]

like a charm

[JeffM]

I'd recommend heating the wood slightly with a heat gun or hair dryer so it has a bit more give when you twist it. I've seen lots of them crack on other people, but I've never cracked one myself using heat.

[woodey]

Thanks, I'll try that

[xrMike]

I'd recommend heating the wood slightly with a heat gun or hair dryer so it has a bit more give when you twist it. I've seen lots of them crack on other people, but I've never cracked one myself using heat.

Rubbing some beeswax, candlewax, or even bar soap onto the ends of the handguard will make it go on easier too.

[Utha Schleigle]

I use a cresent wrench or vise - Hose down with WD-40. Remember to especially oil the leaf spring clip between the wood and tube. Move/spin wood evenly across the edge. If it binds, don't force it back up and push more evenly second attemp. Yes heat up - when it is hot put on car dash. On dash in paper bag. When I came out from shopping LE was looking at it through my windshield.

[motorhead]

some are already cracked by heat. may be painted on also.

[JeffM]

some are already cracked by heat. may be painted on also.

Heat from shooting is not the same as heat from a heat gun or from laying it in the sun.


I should mention that I also squeeze the edges of the hand guard towards each other to keep it from flexing while twisting.

[JTROKS]

After about 7 years of not shooting or tinkering with my AKs I actually forgot how to take those off. I was trying to figure that out 2 days ago and it finally dawned on me after 5 minutes of looking at it.

[motorhead]

some come off in pieces due to the heat of firing. often the retainers are holding the pieces togerther. they have been known to spontaneously ignite from prolonged f/a fire. the cheap poly ones melt and stink. there's a vid on youtube of a guy firing drums while his upper flames on.