Bent Rear Trunnion - Bulgy Sidefolder

[JPurp]

I am working a Bulgarian AKS-74 build and the left fork of the side folder trunnion is obviously bent. I didn't take a measurement but I would say it is approaching a 1/4".

Anyone have any advice on bending this back?

Being a cast part I assume it is brittle so I don't want to just vice it up and bend it back. Could heating it with a torch help? Anything to watch out like getting it too hot?

-JP

[69Mach1]

Bend it back slowly and carefully. The rear trunnion was heat treated.

[JPurp]

Bend it back slowly and carefully. The rear trunnion was heat treated.

Thanks. I already pre-purchased a 4.5mm rear trunnion from Turbothis for another build. Worst case I have to buy another.

[SVT-40]

Is it a true Bulgarian rear trunnion or one of the Asian reproductions? The repros are soft, and are subject to squashing.

[7,62x39]

I had the same thing happen to me, but it was because i was stupid when demilling it. I bent it in, about the same as you are saying yours is bent, and i just bent it back out in the vise, no issues. It was a new russian 5mm pin trunnion.

[JPurp]

Is it a true Bulgarian rear trunnion or one of the Asian reproductions? The repros are soft, and are subject to squashing.

True Bulgy from an 1988 matching AKS-74 kit. Forks were blocked up and supported during demilling but who knows.

I was at the shop tonight and started to work on it but couldn't find a good way to vice/clamp it and bend the forks and then I got distracted by my Romy RPK build.

[7,62x39]

True Bulgy from an 1988 matching AKS-74 kit. Forks were blocked up and supported during demilling but who knows.

I was at the shop tonight and started to work on it but couldn't find a good way to vice/clamp it and bend the forks and then I got distracted by my Romy RPK build.

I just put the ear that was bent in the vice and hit the other side with a rubber mallet until it was straight. If your vice is not accommodating this, you could take a screwdriver or something similar, put it through the push-button hole, and torque the screwdriver to bend it. I wasn't really thinking about breaking the ear off when i did mine, I figured if it bent in by my doing, i could bend it back out once without weakening it too much or breaking it. This was also when K-Var still had replacement trunnions, so it wasn't really too much of a concern.

[JPurp]

Thanks again. I am going to get this wrapped up tonight. Like I said above worst case if I break it I am already in the queue for the next run of trunnions from Turbothis.

I just put the ear that was bent in the vice and hit the other side with a rubber mallet until it was straight. If your vice is not accommodating this, you could take a screwdriver or something similar, put it through the push-button hole, and torque the screwdriver to bend it. I wasn't really thinking about breaking the ear off when i did mine, I figured if it bent in by my doing, i could bend it back out once without weakening it too much or breaking it. This was also when K-Var still had replacement trunnions, so it wasn't really too much of a concern.

[7,62x39]

Thanks again. I am going to get this wrapped up tonight. Like I said above worst case if I break it I am already in the queue for the next run of trunnions from Turbothis.

No problem, let me know how it goes.

[JPurp]

It's built. Just a little fine tuning and refinishing.

I tried a good 10 different ways to get these straightened. Each time getting a little more aggressive. What finally worked was hitting the ears directly with a hammer.

No problem, let me know how it goes.