ak mag catch pin

[shortround13]

so, my bulgy 74 kit came with the trigger guard/mag catch all apart. was fiddling with it last night and it seems the pin is bigger than the hole. not sure if this is a result of them taking it apart?
I've read all the posts about how to install the catch and spring but none mentioned anything about the pin being a tight fit or larger than the hole.
just wanted to see if there is anything I should know before I file down the pin a little to fit back in....

[nothinghere2c]

is it substantially bigger or just the ends are flared out with a peening hammer?

normally you put it in then peen the ends so it won't fall out.

[shortround13]

It is flared out at the ends

[Dan FS71]

The pin should fit 'normally' threw the whole. Sounds like you have a used pin that has been demilled. Best bet is to buy another pin. There isn't much meat to peen over the ends and asking a used pin to do it twice will bring headaches.

http://www.desertfoxsales.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=DFS%2D027

[buellster]

Normally you can just file down the flare on one side and install. Never had a problem.

[SVT-40]

Don"t fil;e it. Just carefully use a hammer on a flat metal surface to peen the ONE of the flared ends back so it will fit through the holes. Then after reassembly use a ball bearing and a clamp or hammer to re-flare the end.

[savagemann]

Don"t fil;e it. Just carefully use a hammer on a flat metal surface to peen the ONE of the flared ends back so it will fit through the holes. Then after reassembly use a ball bearing and a clamp or hammer to re-flare the end.

I like this idea of de-peening the pin.
Seems better than filing.
After you get the pin in, what I did was use 2 ball bearings on each side of the pin. Hold them in place with masking tape and squish them in a vise.
It flares the ends out nice.
I believe 1/4" bearings worked best.
I did have each size on either side of 1/4" though, and I forget which ones worked best.

[SJgunguy24]

I chuck the pin in a drill and spin it on a file just until it'll fit. Never had a problem flaring back out enough to where it wouldn't stay put.