Romy G Stuck Barrel Pin

[bjbrokaw]

Ok I bought three Romy G kits and I'm trying to remove the barrel pin on the first one. I tried a punch and a 3lb sledge and it didn't budge. I then tried my 12ton press and it didn't budge bud I managed to tweak the gas block and front end. I bent the gas block back so its pretty straight and the gas tube fits now. Well then I drilled a hole through the pin with a 1/8" bit and tried hammering it out and pressing it out again and managed to bend my punch...I then widened the hole with a 3/16" bit so there is barely any metal left and I tried pushing the pin out again with the sledge and press. It didn't budge so I used a dremel to file the pin heads flat with the trunnion (has a few deep scratches in the trunnion now) and the ehad is flat with the trunnion. I tried the same 3lb sledge and punch then tried it in my press again and it didn't budge. I even tried smacking the press plate with a wood block to send a shockwave into the pin and still was not able to budge it. Please help me I'm out of ideas and getting frusterated after 3 days of trying to get the pin out. Btw do you think the gas block will be fine since I bet it back it looks really close to straight and the gas tube fits.

[NRAhighpowershooter]

I had to use a 20ton press at my buddy's shop to break loos the pin... the gauge read 18tons when it popped loose and the gauge read 12 tons as it drove the pin out the rest of the way.... one tight pin!!!!!

[Pryde]

The barrel pins are slightly tapered.
From how you describe, I think maybe you are trying to punch it out in the wrong direction.

[Wyseguy]

Where are you located? I've had a lot of success pressing out pins with my press, and if you'd like and are nearby, come on over!

[bjbrokaw]

I have tried pressing it out from the left side and after all those attemps I went back and tried from the right side just incase. I think for that kit I'm going to have to drill it out a bit bigger and make a larger pin for it on my lathe. Idk what i'll do about the other kits.

Btw I'm located in Fountain Valley (Huntington Beach border)

[Ford8N]

Some pins are just stubborn. Especially the later years when quality control went down. Always soak in Kroil for a couple of days before you press. Trim off a 1/4" drill bit shaft about a 1/4" long and use as the starter punch with a 20 ton press. Stubborn pins will break free with a bang so don't be shocked when it pops. Also, remember to use a dab of Never Seize when you put those pins back in.

[jumbopanda]

I've demilled a bunch of AK kits and only one has had a pin that couldn't be pushed out with my 12 ton press. For that one I just drilled a hole through the pin and then tried the press again. Reluctantly, it came out.

Whatever you do, don't try to drill out the entire pin, because you are sure to enlarge the hole. Drill it using smaller bit and press out the remainder.

[motorhead]

air chisel has always worked for me. the shock seems to work better than the steady pressure of a press. once you started drilling you pretty much commited yourself. hopefully you drilled it EXACTLY on center. you'll have to keed drilling. the pin is 7mm. if you keep everything straight you can oversize it after you press the bbl. back in.

[Utha Schleigle]

The shock waves of the air chisel worked for me. If you have a .25 inch knock out bitt that is the one. My 3lb sledge did nothing.

I do not have a press - but as decribed above. The other guys get pin under pressure with the press and smack the press plate with a large ball pein hammer or sharp rapp (not swing) with a sledge. The pin will move with the shock wave going through the metal assembies. Then realign press punch - get under pressure and smack plates again - close to trunion. It will more the next time.

Whatch out barell pins could possible shoot out at high rate of speed.

The direction is definately left to right or pushing on the serial # side to the charging handle side.

Wood block won't send shock waves.

I am very near Fountian valley. If you have compressor I can bring Air Hammer and knock out bitt. Or you came here.

[motorhead]

there's even a method with a powder actuated nail gun. soak your other kits repeatedly with kroil or pb blaster. don't just spray on and press, let soak at least 24 hrs. pressing frozen parts is not the best way to learn about press work. the rsb is a monster to replace if badly damaged and even a little 12T press requires proper support of parts being pressed.

[chuck762]

I have tried pressing it out from the left side and after all those attemps I went back and tried from the right side just incase. I think for that kit I'm going to have to drill it out a bit bigger and make a larger pin for it on my lathe. Idk what i'll do about the other kits.

Btw I'm located in Fountain Valley (Huntington Beach border)

No need to turn a pin (unless you really really like extra work.) if you use the shank of a drill bit. Just choose the size you want to go up to and then cut the shank of the drill to size. May need to use a cut off wheel. I used that method to replace a couple damaged pins.

[chuck762]

The barrel pins are slightly tapered.
From how you describe, I think maybe you are trying to punch it out in the wrong direction.

The pins in my Polish and Hungarian kits were all straight. No taper at all. I have never built a Romanian kit so those may be different.

[RossRinSD]

How did you straighten the rear sight block. I twisted the rear block while trying to press a barrel pin as well.

But, I have a new process when I build my Romy kits. I don't screw around with popping out barrels. I weld the front trunion to the flat. Cuts build time and demil time in half. Reduces the chances of damaged parts. A lot of the purist will swear by rivets, but screws are easier, and welding is even easier.

Where are you located?

[jumbopanda]

How did you straighten the rear sight block. I twisted the rear block while trying to press a barrel pin as well.

But, I have a new process when I build my Romy kits. I don't screw around with popping out barrels. I weld the front trunion to the flat. Cuts build time and demil time in half. Reduces the chances of damaged parts. A lot of the purist will swear by rivets, but screws are easier, and welding is even easier.

Where are you located?

Most of my kits have taken about five minutes to remove the barrel. Weld builds are only for highly skilled welders and screw builds are just dumb. Drilling out the rivets without removing the barrel is very likely to end up in trunnion/barrel damage.

[RossRinSD]

Most of my kits have taken about five minutes to remove the barrel. Weld builds are only for highly skilled welders and screw builds are just dumb. Drilling out the rivets without removing the barrel is very likely to end up in trunnion/barrel damage.

The build party I attended, not one person had a 5 minute barrel removal. A couple of people damaged their kits while pressing out barrel pins. Some of us wasted most of the day trying to get our barrels out. My easiest de-mill took a couple of hours.

I'm no expert, but there is more than one way to skin a cat. Especially, considering there are quite a few screw and weld builds on this board and others.