M-1 Rifle gas piston replacement

[Ithaca Gunner]

Anybody here ever do it? Not the entire rod, but just the piston on the forward end of the rod. Numrich has rods with new replacement pistons on them for $219.95. I saw replacement pistons on e-bay for $12.00+$10.00 shipping. I admit, I never thought the piston was replaceable. Are they shrunk in? Crimped?

[country gent]

I believe I read somewhere they were welded together. A simple fixture and tig welder might do the job. I believe I would purge the inside of the tube with argon mix gas to help avoid flash inside at the weld joint. Keeping it straight and true will be the issue.

[M-Tecs]

They are silver soldered on. I've done several. No issues

[Ithaca Gunner]

Thanks, M-Tecs. I probably shouldn't have to worry about it for quite a while. I just checked mine and it measures about new.

[bstone5]

Do a few, silver soldered on, the problem is some are not straight and or bent.
There is info on the proper dimensions of the operating rod.

[MtGun44]

Diameter is ultra critical. Even .001 under factory "minimum allowable" diam and they will not
function. They MEAN IT when they set that min diam.

Bill

[Nobade]

After they are soldered on, they really should be ground to size. So you need a setup that will allow you to control the diameter and roundness. A spinjig on a surface grinder will work if it doesn't have any slop in it.

-Nobade

[M-Tecs]

If you purchase from the sources below they will be sized correctly. If you make your own use 17-4 SS. Specs are here http://myplace.frontier.com/~aleccorapinski/id16.html

http://www.fulton-armory.com/%5Cfaqs...Qs%5COpRod.htm

http://www.e-sarcoinc.com/garandoprodtipgaspiston.aspx

https://www.standardpartsllc.com/pro...?idproduct=380

Here is his ad from the Garand Collector's Assn. journal if you want to sent it out.

SERVICE:
M1 operating rod inspection and repair using an
actual working operating rod gage - just like the gages used by
armorers when operating rods were originally manufactured for the military. Operating rods reformed as needed, $15; pistons replaced with custom machined corrosion resistant (stainless) parts to fit your op rod, $25; custom oversized pistons made upon request; operating rod lugs rebuilt, $30. Contact Jim Swartz, Pickerington, Oh. Tel (614) 834-4895 or email: JSwartz280@aol.com (OH).

[W.R.Buchanan]

The clearance for that piston is .004-.007 under the ID of the gas cylinder. My gun wouldn't function because the existing piston was .009 under the worn gas cylinder.

I made a new piston out of 303ss. It is nothing more than a diameter.004 under the ID of the gas cyl. 1/4" long with a spud that goes into the op rod, literally a 10 minute job. I silver soldered mine in place as well.

Reassembled and gun runs fine and has for many years now.

My gas cyl. was worn oversize and so buying a replacement wasn't an option and really if you have a lathe and can silver solder, the thing is so simple to make it's not a big problem.

Randy