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Gunsmithing AR-15 Free Float Tube Jam Nut Removal??

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goosendmax

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Nov 29, 2012
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Rifle, CO
Can anyone out there help me please? I am trying to find a spanner wrench to remove the jam nut/lock nut on the free float tube for my AR. I have looked on Brownells and Midway USA and all they seem to have is either a multi tool or a spanner wrench for the buffer tube. I know the one for the buffer tube will be too small. Can anyone tell me what tool I need and where I can get it?
Thanks
 
Not knowing what forend you've got I'm gonna go out on a limb and say it's probably a barrel nut wrench that you need. The free float tube I ran for a while didn't really have a jam nut. The barrel nut was, in fact, the first 1 1/2" or so of the forend and the tube just screwed onto that. ( AR-15/M16 FREE FLOAT TUBE | Brownells )

If, on the other hand, it really is just a jam nut and not the barrel nut then a strap wrench should work. Pick one up from Harbor Freight fou under 10 bucks.
 
bptactical said:
Strap wrench.
Click to expand...

+1 on this if it is just your run-o-the-mill aluminum, 2pc FF tube. Use a quality strap wrench with a good, non-slip strap to grip the tube and unscrew it from the locking ring/barrel nut portion of the 2pc FF tube. If the whole assembly doesn't come off with it when using the strap wrench (some of them are seemingly welded in place although its usually just a gross amount of loctite that a heat gun...or hairdryer on kill...will loosen up, but if you don't, then the entire assembly may come off in one piece...only an issue if you plan on reusing the FF tube/nut later), then you'll need a basic AR-15 barrel nut wrench to get the rest off.

If not a basic FF tube, let us know which specific make/model handguard you are talking about because some require the use of proprietary wrenches to get the assembly removed without damaging the tube itself.
 
The old tube I am trying to remove is an RRA quad rail. The jam nut that goes against the tube is about a quarter inch or so wide and has four horizontal cuts equally around its circumference. I don't think I can get a strap wrench around it because there is only about 5/16 gap between the tube and the upper.
 
(R)Loctite River Arms?

Get a torch, get ready to lose your patients. Good luck.
 
That looks a LOT like the same jam nut Yankee Hill Machine uses.

yhm-9433.jpg


I'm thinking their forearm wrench would probably work. If you're not worried about reusing the nut you might also try tapping it around with a large punch and a hammer till it's loose.
 
I haven't messed with a RRA tube but from the images on the web they look exactly like the Yankee Hill Machine jam nuts. Go to the YHM website and look at the jam nut under "Forearm Accessories." If that looks like the same animal to you then the YHM forearm wrench should work. Seems a reasonable assumption to me that one of these companies is making them for the other.


(This post is, essentially, a dup of another post I made just a few minutes ago but since I'm new here and my last post included an image and a link it was suspended pending moderator approval. Sorry.)
 
Last edited:
Muzzlebreak: it is the same jam nut as the YHM. I will look into their wrench then. Thanks.

As far as the Loctite goes, I have dealt with it before, and have never had a problem, just heat it up real good with a heat gun (NO torch) and use the right tool, and everything comes apart real nice. Never had an issue with the stocks or buffer tubes.
 
Cool. Hope it helps. Also, the tool is a few dollars cheaper from Brownells than YHM.


Let us know how it works out.
 
Just pulled my RRA Quadrail off last week... here is the tally...

1 thoroughly trashed strap wrench...
20-30min with the heat gun.... No movement whatsoever with the strap wrench...
10min with a torch and no movement with the strap wrench...
5min more with the torch and a pair of channel locks... Success... Quad rail off... well jam nut & quad rail are off together with only a slight marring of a couple rails... still haven't gotten the jam nut off of the quad rail...

I'm pretty sure RRA owns a couple shares in Loctite, because they must be the largest consumer of Loctite in the US...
 
Rock River jam nuts are not the same as YHM, they look alike but are slightly different.
I battled with a couple and then I got smart and purchased a "hook spanner wrench"
Buy Adjustable Hook Spanner Wrenches & Sets from UseEnco
These will handle any jamb nut you run across, just make sure you get the appropriate sized wrench.

They are cheap enough but I did whittle on the hook a tad to get it to fit well in the slots on the nut. Pad the face of the wrench with leather or copper so you don't ding the finish.
Both of the RR locknuts broke, this was a flaw in the nuts and RR warrantied both.
Yes, they do use Loctite liberally, heat and the spanner wrench will get it.
 
bp: thanks for the info. That's what i was wanting to get, the right tools for the job!

Bill: I want to remove it because I want a different one that better suit my needs and most importantly my wants. So instead of buying a brand new rifle, I put on the new part that I want. Since I also do not want to pay a gunsmith for the work and I get more satisfaction and pride out of working on my own stuff, I decided to do it on my own. But instead of going into it blindly, I decided to ask a few questions from people that have had experience doing this type of thing. Plus it's fun!!
 
MTAR15 said:
I assume you are not an AR15 owner?

M4CarbinePoster24x36_lr_zps2a24a8e6.jpg
Click to expand...

I own a RRA a2....sold my colt match.......wore it out and sold it.
IMHO...all these add ons for and AR is like making a ruger 10-22 accurate..... pretty soon you got a real exspensive gun...you`ll never get your money back out of it.....
 
Bill Larson said:
I own a RRA a2....sold my colt match.......wore it out and sold it.
IMHO...all these add ons for and AR is like making a ruger 10-22 accurate..... pretty soon you got a real exspensive gun...you`ll never get your money back out of it.....
Click to expand...

Haha, I think that explains 90% of any firearm in my collection.

But as goosendmax says, sure is fun......
 
Thought I would update you guys now that I was able to find some time to change out this free float tube. I did end up ordering the Yankee Hill forearm wrench from Brownell's ($25), after I recieved it I removed the upper from the lower, removed the bolt and put the upper in a vice block in the vice and preceeded to heat the jam nut with my heat gun (on the low heat setting). I let it heat for about five minutes making sure i was constantly moving the heat around the jam nut and the tube. Then I tried to remove the nut with the wrench and it wouldn't give, no problem, just heated it for about another seven to ten minutes (I really didn't time it, but it was for two songs on the radio) put the wrench to it and it busted loose nice and easy. No torch, no broken components, and I already sold the old parts to a buddy looking to upgrade his AR. The right tools and a little patience pays off again!
 
Bill Larson said:
I own a RRA a2....sold my colt match.......wore it out and sold it.
IMHO...all these add ons for and AR is like making a ruger 10-22 accurate..... pretty soon you got a real exspensive gun...you`ll never get your money back out of it.....
Click to expand...

I don't even know what to say to this. Sold a colt after "wearing it out". You just rebuild it.

And nobody tries to get there money out of an accurate gun...you never sell the shooters.
 
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