Max-11/15 gas block adjustment screw stuck

[mlaboss]

Hey all,
I tried to adjust the gas block on my Max-11/15 today, and rather than turning the screw I appear to have stripped it. After getting back home I took out the detent set screw, spring, and ball from the gas block and sprayed some solvent into the hole and let it soak for a bit. Unfortunately I was still unable to budge the adjustment screw, and now the screw seems to be hopelessly stripped at this point.

I've already ordered a couple of the rebuild kits from Odin Works that the Max-11/15 manual suggests, but of course they won't do me any good if I can't remove the old screw.

Any ideas for how to get the old screw out? I tried removing the gas block but the set screws holding the gas block in appear to be loctited in place and I can't get them to move. I don't have the equipment to heat them up to try and remove them, and frankly I'm worried I'd damage the barrel if I tried.

Worst case I suppose I can send the whole thing back to Lage if I'm completely unable to fix the problem myself, but I'd like to leave that as a last resort.

 

[A&S Conversions]

You can get a propane torch for $10.00 or less. Blue only needs a couple of hundred degrees to break loose and red needs 800 degrees. My question is, do you think that the threads of the block are bad, or the threads of the screw are bad, or both?

Scott

 

[mlaboss]

Sorry, maybe I wasn't clear. When I said "stripped" I mean the head of the adjustment screw where the Allen wrench goes is rounded out so the wrench just spins in the screw rather than applying torque to it.

I tried grabbing the screw with pliers but wasn't able to turn it. That's when I tried removing the gas block (I figured maybe I could get a better grip on the screw with the gas block off the barrel) but the set screws wouldn't come out.

I'm honestly stumped as to why the screw is so stuck. I've only put about 1000 rounds through this thing. I guess it gets dirty faster than I thought.

I don't necessarily think the threads are bad, but I want to replace the screw since the head is stripped.

 

[Fishman]

You could try using an EZ out.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screw_extractor

 

[mlaboss]

I just grabbed a propane torch from Home Depot, I'll try heating up the set screws to get them loose tonight. If I can get the gas block off, then one way or another I should be able to get the adjustment screw out of it. Having the barrel in the way makes it tough to get a good grip on it.

Do you think heat may also help loosen up whatever crud is keeping the adjustment screw from moving, or should I just douse it with more solvent if I manage to get the gas block off?

 

[A&S Conversions]

Okay, so it is the hex in the screw that the Allen wrench goes into that is stripped. I would suggest that you go to an automotive parts or fastener location and get an "easy out". This would have a left hand thread to grab the screw and back it out.

Heat is not going to loosen the gas adjustment screw. The carbon inside will tend not to be effected by heat, but something like Hoppes #9 would.

Scott

 

[Mackjack]

Okay, so it is the hex in the screw that the Allen wrench goes into that is stripped. I would suggest that you go to an automotive parts or fastener location and get an "easy out". This would have a left hand thread to grab the screw and back it out.

Scott

Yikes.... Don't break off the "easy" out in or your fucked. Can't drill that out..... I have my best luck heating up the messed up hex socket whatever size it is and tapping in the next closest metric or sae hex or a torx bit. Then unscrewing it. Easy outs are my last stand after I expend all safer options and usually a easy out works best once you've drilled all the way thru to relieve as much pressure as you can

 

[mlaboss]

Well, tried heating up the set screw holding the gas block in place. Did 30 seconds, didn't work. Did 60 seconds, didn't work. Seems like all I've succeeded in doing is stripping either the set screw or my allen wrenches as I still can't get the screw to budge and the allen wrenches have started slipping.

I think I'm well beyond my limited capabilities when it comes to this sort of stuff, so I'm better off letting a professional handle it rather then potentially buggering up my Max-11/15 more than I already have.

Hopefully Richard takes pity on me.

 

[A&S Conversions]

Richard has such a great reputation for dealing with problems. I am sure he can help you out.

Scott

 

[m11stuff@hotmail.com]

mlaboss: Yes, we will take care of it for free. E-Mail sent.

 

[mlaboss]

Thank you Richard! I'll send out my upper ASAP.

 

[IndustrialRescue]

Yikes.... Don't break off the "easy" out in or your fucked. Can't drill that out..... I have my best luck heating up the messed up hex socket whatever size it is and tapping in the next closest metric or sae hex or a torx bit. Then unscrewing it. Easy outs are my last stand after I expend all safer options and usually a easy out works best once you've drilled all the way thru to relieve as much pressure as you can

At that point weld a nut to it, and use a wrench.

I have not once gotten a drill and extractor to work properly. Unless you've got a machine shop, the drill bit will end up going somewhere you don't want it to. And even if you do have a machine shop, you don't normally break a bolt off or strip something out in an object small enough to set in a mill.

 

[mlaboss]

Super-quick turnaround! Just received my upper back from Lage with the gas block screws replaced. In fact, it was shipped back out the same day it was delivered to Lage. How's that for customer service?

From now on I'll be occasionally stripping down the gas block to clean off any accumulated gunk on the adjustment screw. Don't want it getting stuck again!

 

[Gaujo]

Lage is Norwegian for customer service.