Another AR Build Issue - Stuck/Broken Roll Pin

[Lilhigbee]

A piece of welding rod the nominal diameter of the roll pin and just long enough to clear the lower will give you enough flexibility to get into the pin and enough rigidity to drive out the piece. Grind the end of the rod flat so that you don't spread the pin inside the lower.

 

[etrain16]

A piece of welding rod the nominal diameter of the roll pin and just long enough to clear the lower will give you enough flexibility to get into the pin and enough rigidity to drive out the piece. Grind the end of the rod flat so that you don't spread the pin inside the lower.

Another good suggestion. I think my FIL may have some welding rods at his house.

 

[Lilhigbee]

With just a little bit of imagination you can figure out how I know that will work.

 

[IronMonster]

Mmm... Maybe you should stick to one of these?

 

[PiratePast40]

I'm thinking you'd be better off with a set of roll pin punches.

I'm working on my first AR build as well and learning rapidly. BTW - Damage Industries will get an "OOPS kit" to you faster then PSA. Just sayin'

 

[IronMonster]

In all seriousness I really like Little Crow Gunworks tools. There bolt catch punch I think is the best ( I have the Brownells one too and much prefer this one)

https://littlecrowgunworks.com/product/bct-bolt-catch-assembly-tool/

You can put together and take apart AR's with basically no tools, but its a whole lot more fun if you have some basic stuff.

 

[etrain16]

Mmm... Maybe you should stick to one of these?

View attachment 282117

That looks a bit complicated

 

[etrain16]

I'm thinking you'd be better off with a set of roll pin punches.

I'm working on my first AR build as well and learning rapidly. BTW - Damage Industries will get an "OOPS kit" to you faster then PSA. Just sayin'

I've got a set of roll pin punches, but they won't work for this issue since they're too short and don't flex.

 

[etrain16]

In all seriousness I really like Little Crow Gunworks tools. There bolt catch punch I think is the best ( I have the Brownells one too and much prefer this one)

https://littlecrowgunworks.com/product/bct-bolt-catch-assembly-tool/

You can put together and take apart AR's with basically no tools, but its a whole lot more fun if you have some basic stuff.

Thanks, I'll bookmark that one too

 

[jbett98]

I've used a piece of a snug fitting drill bit as a blind pin to hold everything lined up as I start to drift the roll pin in. As the roll pin enters on one side, the drill bit pushes out the other side.

 

[etrain16]

I've used a piece of a snug fitting drill bit as a blind pin to hold everything lined up as I start to drift the roll pin in. As the roll pin enters on one side, the drill bit pushes out the other side.

I did something similar, I just used a small allen wrench. What I can't figure out is why the pin got stuck in the first place. Once I get the part out, I need to check the alignment of the two holes. I suspect they may be off just a hair.

 

[madcratebuilder]

View attachment 282101
Google up "bolt catch punch" and ditto on the blue tape, cuts down on the "apprentice marks".

14 posts to get the correct solution. This about the only punch that is a must have IMHO. You don't need it until you want to remove the bolt catch roll pin.

 

[Velzey]

Not all roll pins are created equal, I've found real junk ones in a few lower kits. Clearly made in China! And they mushroom real easy..

I've installed and removed hundreds of them without having the "special tool".

 

[erudne]

when I was a small arms repair instructor we were issued an off-set/dog leg pin punch, which broke often but they were the only tool that worked

 

[PiratePast40]

I've tried to read about which tools are absolutely necessary, and those that can be found in the average guys toolbox. Looks like that particular punch could easily pay for itself.

One of the better buys was this multi-tool: http://www.midwayusa.com/product/154145/tapco-multi-tool-ar-15-mil-spec-steel. If you zoom in on the end, you'll see what I mean!

 

[Craig O]

Not Harbor Freight again There goes $100.00 They have Blue Tape also

 

[mjbskwim]

Yep, I had heard that before, but forgot to do it on this build. Always new lessons to learn - some harder than others

maybe use blue.tape.
Joke but I start something like this and put the tape on after the dings
+1 on that punch JayDub shows

 

[etrain16]

maybe use blue.tape.
Joke but I start something like this and put the tape on after the dings
+1 on that punch JayDub shows

So, to summarize:

 

[Velzey]

No blue tape and sometimes you end up with this

 

[mjbskwim]

View attachment 282214 No blue tape and sometimes you end up with this

How did you get my picture?
Luckily never did that bad on a build