Those damn stupid little pins...

[Potshot]

...in the cocking handle!

Guys, I have a problem child cocking handle that's annoying me.

After rifling through my filth.. I mean various and sundry FAL parts, I found a handle/lug combo that the pin fit snugly in. However as my addiction... erm, hobby continues to infect, I'll probably want to use this cocking handle sooner or later (I DID re-park it after all!)

Any of you guys have a recommendation for getting these stupid (#@$!! D. Saive!!) pins to stay in better? I don't want to use Loctite. I was thinking of judiciously using a center punch to flare the ends of the pin a bit so it wouldn't move. I know about the screw-lug deal as I do have one of the ally Tapco handles, but I'm not sure how much I care for it being aluminium and black wheras my reciever is park. BTW is the Tapco Izzy fwd assist handle ally too?? Has anyone had their stuff blued over park? How did it turn out?

So, guys, any advice on these stupid little cocking handle lug retention pins?

Thanks,
Bill

[Snakeshot]

Roll pins seem to stay put fine.

I think I've replaced almost all of my solid pins with roll pins.

[Potshot]

Roll pins??

grrrrrr....

I worked my way through school as a motorcycle mechanic and if there are two things that I think are mechanical abominations it's roll pins and pipe thread!! (no flame intended) I get grumpy every time I see those roll pins buried down in the slide of my HK USP...

Yeah, roll pins might work, but I'd much rather find a way to get the solids right.

Thanks for the idea though....

[rwwje]

Mic your wire coat hangers (after burning off the coating) looking for one that is one or two thousandths larger than the existing pin(s). Some types are the right size for cocking handle and gas tube pins. Polish a piece of coat hanger wire, cut it a litte long, file the ends flat to the proper lenght, blue or park, and install.

[Templator]

You need a 2mm diameter X 8mm long roll pin for the charging handle lug. For the gas tube retaining pin, use a 2mm diameter X 10mm pin. They can be bought from any industrial supply house for about $5 per hundred. Pinch the tip closed on one end and they'll start easily enough,... very easy if you have a roll pin starting punch. I made mine, but sets are sold by Brownells.

Check out this thread.

http://www.falfiles.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=55991

[W.E.G.]

Lots of good advice here.

I HATE the pin too. In fact, I hate it so much that I won't screw with it any more. Its TAPCO charging handles for me for the rest of the way. And you get a US part out of the deal.

Yes, the TAPCO Izzy handle is aluminum too.

[Potshot]

HEY!! Who PC'd my topic??!! grrrrrr

Jeter, I don't want to know how TAPCO handles you. That's between you and Buddie...

*Seinfeld*

Not that there's anything wrong with that.....

*/Seinfeld*

Anyone else had these stupid pins fall out or start to work their way loose? I guess I shouldn't whine too much though... we ARE dealing with 40 year old surplus rifles though, eh?

Anyone out there with new DSA's have issues with the aforementioned stupid pins working their way out?

[stimpsonjcat]

Whenever I have pins that fit loose I merely WHACK them with a hammer to flatten them a bit and then they usually fit nice and tight.

But then, being a part-time Smith predisposes me towards whacking things with hammers.

[usmc326]

Either Hammer the ends with a hammer & punch so the metal "flows"; or, "stake" them like is done on the AR's bolt hex screws and for 1911 grip screw bushings.

Staking is alot easier & fast: take a pin-prick punch(the type you use for marking/starting a drill hole). Put the point on the edge of the pin, so that the blow puts a dent in the pin edge AND the adjoining metal, basically melding the two together. One on each side and that pin won't come out until YOU want it to. No beaten pin head, so it's readily removable & reuseable.

[Potshot]

Hey! Hey! HEY, whoa there stimsonjcat!

It's an FAL not a Harley!

Yeah, I could stake, flatten, mash, whatever the damn thing works on clutch hub nuts I suppose why not EBR's.....

[stimpsonjcat]

Don't panic man!

Everything that can break on my FALs has already been broken...at least once.

[Templator]

,... roll pins don't work loose,...