Flash hider frustration

[ARFrog]

I have a Troy built 5.56 complete upper that I am trying to remove the flash hider on without success.




I have vice clamped the receiver to the vice; supported the barrel/handguard with a block of wood; used a 3/4" wrench - lefty loosy; all to no avail. It does not budge.

I have tried Kroil. I have tried a heat gun. I have tried both a strap wrench with 3/4 wrench. No joy

Given the length of the handguard there is no room to vice the barrel next to the flash hider so The barrel does seem to move and I am concerned about torquing it.

Any suggestions short of drop kicking it?

(Also, it does not appear to be pinned.)

[bohoki]

a tight fitting wrench and hammer it in the loosen direction but to spare the upper just hold the barrel in your hand

[baih777]

if your barrel is under 16 inches, its pinned.
you should be using this to hold the barrel.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/NO-M-A-R-4-Universal-V-Groove-Bench-Vise-Barrel-Block-any-Caliber-223-308-556/273289681284?epid=1218677538&hash=item3fa1559984:g:CesAAOSwLVZVuV4A

sometimes wacking the wrench with a hammer jars it lose. one wack. if several stop. maybe Loctite by the mfg.

[baih777]

can you take some close up pics of the muzzle brake. 3 or 4. might see a spot weld.

[mycrstuff]

Don't use the receiver vise you need a barrel vise. It you don't have one take a 2 x 4 drill a hole in it the size of the barrel. Then cut it in half. Go to Big 5 and buy baseball bag rosin for $2.99. Put the rosin around the barrel then clamp the wood and the barrel into the vise. If it slips use more rosin.

[NPFreedom]

[ARFrog]

can you take some close up pics of the muzzle brake. 3 or 4. might see a spot weld.

The barrel is 16" plus the flash hider.

Here are three photos:






I have the No-mar vice blocks with the receiver pins but not the barrel vice blocks. I assume if I get the barrel kind or router out a 2 x 4 that I have to remove the handguard????

[SkyHawk]

No need to remove the handguard, just clamp the vise block to the exposed section behind the flash hider.

[stormtrooperx]

I had an AUG barrel with a loctited flash hider that just didn't wanna budge. Tried the no-mar vise blocks, but no good, the barrel kept twisting once enough force was applied. Got this Viper Barrel Vise, wrapped the barrel in a cardboard paper roll (recommended instead of rosin) and clamped it down really really tight, hit it with a MAP-PRO torch until the loctite burned off, then took a 12-inch Magpul wrench to it, and put all my weight on it, that broke it loose.

Definitely feel the barrel vise was worth it, the barrel came out with nary a scratch.

[ARFrog]

I have never heard of Sea Foam but will check it out. I thought that the Kroil was doing basically the same thing.

I will also check to see if I have a pipe to go over the wrench.

[stormtrooperx]

I have never heard of Sea Foam but will check it out. I thought that the Kroil was doing basically the same thing.

I will also check to see if I have a pipe to go over the wrench.

If rusted, Kroil will help. But if loctite, best to burn it off. Torch it, and wait about 20-40 seconds for a wisp of smoke.

[drmjf]

https://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-tools-supplies/rifle-tools/bench-vise-blocks/ar-15-bev-block-prod72951.aspx

This is what I use, holds the barrel by using the barrel locking lugs. Never had a muzzle brake not come loose. Best $50 I ever spent.

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

[ARFrog]

The manufacturer verified that they do not use locktite. Will work on making a wood barrel vise clamp this evening. If that doesn't work then I guess I will be shopping at Brownells

[ARFrog]

SWEET SUCCESS!

Before getting out the wood blocks and drill bits or turning my credit card over to Brownells or Midway, I thought I would take one more attempt at muscling off the flash hider.

One of my concerns was torquing the barrel which I solved by adding another 1 x 4 on top of the existing 4 x4 and placing it such that the upper vice block was in the vice and the wood blocks were supporting the barrel behind the flash hider with a micro towel also protecting the barrel. This extra blocking took out the extra wiggle.

It also seems that the 24 hour wait allowed the Kroil to "creep" and losses things up such that one good flex of my bicep and the flash hider finally broke free

I was able to put on a new brake and cage easy-pesey

Thanks to all who gave great suggestions. It seems that I need to add a few more items to my "gunsmithing bag".


LOL - I got so excited getting the flash hider off that I tackled a staked castle nut. Who would have thought that the castle nut would be so easy and the flash hider so hard to get off.