NateTSU Posted January 25, 2015 Share Posted January 25, 2015 I am trying to swap the factory barrel, it's a Palmetto State Armory upper with a Midwest Industry Gen 2 free float rail. I bought the upper already assembled from psa. I have everything taken off except the barrel nut, I can't even get it to budge. I have watched videos (brownells) on how to do the barrel swap. Has anyone had issues with Psa uppers before? Any tips? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Miles Posted January 25, 2015 Share Posted January 25, 2015 You might give PSA a call and ask if they use Loctite when they put them together. I bought a Brownells barrel extension torque tool (#0800-000-637) so I don't have to worry about tweaking an upper when the going gets tough. Money well spent! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NateTSU Posted January 25, 2015 Author Share Posted January 25, 2015 Well I sent customer service an email asking if thread locker was used, hopefully I get a response Monday. I applied a little heat to the barrel nut so if there was thread locker it should have turned loose, but I was still unable to get it to break loose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nebwake Posted January 25, 2015 Share Posted January 25, 2015 Ive had to use some serious heat and tourqe before to get them off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike cyrwus Posted January 25, 2015 Share Posted January 25, 2015 everything include the gas tube?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NateTSU Posted January 25, 2015 Author Share Posted January 25, 2015 Yes including the gas block and gas tube. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NateTSU Posted January 25, 2015 Author Share Posted January 25, 2015 (edited) Well I was able to get the barrel nut broke loose. I preheated the barrel nut with a propane torch for 3-4 minutes then put the wrench on and started applying torque and more heat, after about 30 seconds of this it finally broke loose. I took much more heat and pressure than I thought it would whoever assembled my upper must have had it tourqed at the max end of the spec. Newbake had it right, more heat and more torque. Edited January 25, 2015 by NateTSU Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ah0386 Posted January 26, 2015 Share Posted January 26, 2015 Good on you. A 1/2" drive breaker bar with 2 to 3 feet of handle will give you easy leverage and control from a an overzealous torqued nut and heat helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nebwake Posted January 27, 2015 Share Posted January 27, 2015 glad you got it. I have been shocked at times with how tight some of the factory barrel nuts are. I swear they use red locktite and an impact wrench! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NateTSU Posted January 28, 2015 Author Share Posted January 28, 2015 When I torqued the barrel nut on the new barrel I was pleasantly surprised how easy it was, Everything was lined up at 35 foot pounds of torque. Everything I have read says 30-80 so whoever must have installed it must have been close to 80. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akeefer Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 Red locktite is tough stuff. I had to use a torch quite long to get mine to budge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EkuJustice Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 I have had one I took apart for someone who chose to use red on everything. Barrel nut, buffer tube everywhere. The alignment wasn't right on the barrel nut and he couldn't budge it. The stock he tore the back apart on a rifle tube trying. To budge it and it didn't move. A torch drilled hole through the tube and a steel dowel rod eventually removed the buffer tube. A lot of time with a torch and the barrel but eventually moved. The torque required really isn't that much. I don't even use a torque wrench anore as I know what's good on it as the minimum is actually pretty low. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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