[17947794]

I was out hunting with a buddy of mine last night deer hunting. We were walking across a dried lake bed when I a misstep sent me waist deep into a bog. Apparently soil and grass was floating onto of the little remaining water. My rifle was absolutely trashed. The barrel went straight into the mud and the entire front half was coated with this awful smelling grime. We immediately went back to camp where I changed clothes and dismantled my rifle and cleaned, dried and reoiled every part before putting it back together. Only one piece wasn't disassembled and cleaned. The spindle valve. There is no visual mud on the piece and it still rotates freely without and grinding our roughness but I was wondering if you think I should take it out and clean it just in case? And if I should, how do I? The only reason I didn't in the first place was because I have never removed one before

 

[4Quangs]

I'd clean it out. The gas port is normally open from the barrel to the gas cylinder, so there's a good chance you may have had some water get into the cylinder. You'll need a gas plug wrench (cleaning rod handle) and something to keep the whole rifle from twisting as you loosen the gas cylinder plug. They make a special wrench for that purpose; the gas cylinder wrench fits over the barrel and the gas cylinder to hold them still while loosening the gas plug.

Before loosening the gas plug, make a mark on the gas plug and cylinder so you know how much to retighten when putting it back together. Thoroughly clean the gas cylinder, gas piston and gas cylinder plug with a solvent such as Hoppes #9 then wipe off excess solvent and reassemble. Don't use oil on the piston or inside the cylinder or on the inside of the plug.

 

[wiz1997]

If you had mud in the barrel, I would definitely clean everything especially the gas system.

Check out tonyben's how to videos here on this forum or find them on youtube by searching for tonyben3.

Any dried mud in the valve will (or perhaps already has) get pushed into the gas cylinder on the first shot.

Grit may eventually damage the piston.

 

[17947794]

I removed the entire gas system, cleaned the barrel, and then cleaned the entire gas system (No mud got into it or the barrel, the flash suppressor caught most of it but I did both just in case) The only part that wasn't broken down was the Spindle Valve itself

 

[4Quangs]

I removed the entire gas system, cleaned the barrel, and then cleaned the entire gas system (No mud got into it or the barrel, the flash suppressor caught most of it but I did both just in case) The only part that wasn't broken down was the Spindle Valve itself

I've never disassembled or cleaned the spindle itself. In Viet Nam, we didn't have gas cylinder wrenches, so we never cleaned those either. I always operated under the assumption that firing a few shots would dry out the gas assembly.

Stateside, of course, I have had to pay for the M1A and I can't always fire a few rounds when needed, so my concern focuses on not putting the rifle away wet. Sorry I misunderstood your original post.

 

[KurtC]

It is near impossible to get mud (or anything else) in the spindle valve. Even a barrel full of water wouldn't do it, unless you tried doing a tilt test under water and broke the vacuum seal. RNGR2

Just apply some CLP on the outside and turn it a few times. If you ever have the gas cylinder off the rifle, you can spray it out with dry cleaning solvent.

 

[GardenValley]

It is near impossible to get mud (or anything else) in the spindle valve. Even a barrel full of water wouldn't do it, unless you tried doing a tilt test under water and broke the vacuum seal. RNGR2

Just apply some CLP on the outside and turn it a few times. If you ever have the gas cylinder off the rifle, you can spray it out with dry cleaning solvent.

Good advice. Go with this.

 

[POLACK]

I was out hunting with a buddy of mine last night deer hunting. We were walking across a dried lake bed when I a misstep sent me waist deep into a bog

that's why walking sticks were invented. i use old type wheel barrow handles(round).poke the ground around you..you should carry some sort of poly line about 30 feet with you in pack.loops at both ends. case this happens ,and your hunting 2 or more,throw the rope,let them pull you out.or,if your hunting alone,and you fall in,tie rope securly around wrist and throw as far as you can.easier to find the body.

pull off the gas plug,remove piston.shine light in barrel,look into hole on bottom of gas cyl to see if you see light.or stick a pipe cleaner in hole.