Lower Handguard question

[The Omega Man]

Last night I changed the lower handguard on my SA 93. I had a hard time putting a different hand guard on. It was very tight, and I worried about cracking it. After I got it on, I realized I forgot to put on the little metal piece that separates the inside of the handguard from the gas tube. Because I had such a hard time getting the handguard on, I would rather not do it again. How important is that little piece that I forgot to put in?


Brother in Arms,
The Omega Man

[trotsky]

Pull the handguard & put it on. Before reinstalling the handguard, you might GENTLY file some material from the rear "protruding thing" that goes into the receiver. Stock parts are generally SLIGHTLY oversized - it's expected that you will fit them...

[The Omega Man]

Correction, I ment Upper Handguard.

[trotsky]

DEFINITELY put this on http://www.ak-47.net/akcgi/smile.gif - it will keep the handguard AWAY from the gas tube so your hand doesn't cook...

Same fitting advice - except you will likely need a Dremmel with a sanding drum...

[Jimmy @ Armory USA]

It is very common for new upper handguards to be slightly too long. Shorten it until it fits into the flanges without excessive force.

I get more questions about changing the upper handguard than any other topic.

[The Omega Man]

Thanks, everybody for the help. I hope I can get the upper handguard off with out cracking it.

[trotsky]

I would CAREFULLY put the tail end of this in a vice, and twist while distributing the force over as wide an area as possible. You might also squirt a little WD40 into the ends first if this is not a wood guard...

Folks - anyone else heat these up in an oven to about 150F before doing this? Metal DOES have this habit of expanding with heat http://www.ak-47.net/akcgi/smile.gif