Front trunnion repair

[ott1]

I need someone in socal (LA to OC) who knows how to repair a front trunnion where all three holes on one side were all egged out. Maybe weld and redrill?

[tujungatoes]

"So-cal" is a rather large area. You might wanna be a little more specific.

[nicoroshi]

Welding on a front trunnion?
Sketchy at best IMHO.
Don't want to weld on a heat treated piece of steel that is holding back 40,000 lb/in2 of pressure unless you normalize, and anneal it afterward.
Could potentially crack, and potentially send a bolt through your shoulder when fired if it shears the locking lugs.
I recommend against it unless you know what you're doing.
Another front trunnion can be purchased easier than replacing body parts.

EDIT: post some pictures please. If the egging isn't that bad rivets can still hold, and would only be a bit smaller on the exterior as they would fill the egged out section when pressed.

[big ron]

how bad are they egged out?

[killathrilla]

...

[CSACANNONEER]

If not too bad, rivets will expand into the egged out areas and you'll never know the difference. If it's real bad, don't use it at all. If it's questionable, get oversized rivets and you should be GTG.

[ott1]

I think the egging is pretty bad. Buying another is always an option, but I'm trying to save this matching numbers kit.

When I said, weld and redrill, I forgot to add re-heattreat the holes or the entire trunnion.

[nicoroshi]

Pics please!!!!
CSA is correct. using a slightly longer rivet will fill the egging, and still have enough meat to form a good rivet head.
Pictures would be most helpful to allow the builders here to assess the severity of the egging/ chances of saving the trunnion without any welding required.

EDIT
Missed your picture in the first post (Oops!)
Totally savable.
Slightly longer rivets, and press away.
I have seen much worse work.

[ott1]

If it's savable and won't be too hard, I may rethink of putting the parts kit up for sale.

[big ron]

why was a drill used?

[SJgunguy24]

That's why I tell people to let me take care of demilling the kits they bring me. Just use bigger rivets and countersink all of them to increase the surface area the rivet has to grab.

[CSACANNONEER]

Those are not that bad. I doubt that longer rivets are even needed. Personally, I'd just use the standard rivets in an AK Builder rivet set. But, my judgement isn't always what some would call "the best". I've even shot Hotrails' first AK build on more than one occassion.

[ott1]

why was a drill used?

I didn't do the demilling so I don't know.

[Robidouxs]

why was a drill used?

I have demilled many an AK but I am somewhat at a loss how you would egg the trunnion hole. I use a hand drill but my bits bind everytime I hit the trunnion with my bits. Out of curiosity, what bits and tools were you using?

[nicoroshi]

I'm with Big Ron.
I punch mine out. No drill needed.