Question about FAL gas regulator

[mutt]

I finally got around to playing with my FAL and I have a question about the gas regulator. The only way I can get it to cycle and hold open on last round is to have the gas port almost fully closed. I think I have 3 clicks left before it is completely covered by the collar. Is this normal? I expected it to cycle all the way to the midway point of the regulator's adjustment range. I'm using 147gr MKE ammo. I also noticed my gas regulator is not finger adjustable. I have to use a tool to turn the collar. Videos I've watched show people adjusting their's by hand. Are these signs of mechanical issues or just normal variances? Here's a pic of my regulator:

http://i967.photobucket.com/albums/ae156/mutt112000/Mobile%20Uploads/20151015_203559_zpsrwmx6s8r.jpg

[USMC88-93]

As I would understand it, your gas setting is dependent on the ammunition used and would be different from one load to the other. What is the info on the ammunition you are using is it a weak loading? There are more than a few knowledgeable FAL folks here so you should get a useful answer at some point.

[mutt]

As I would understand it, your gas setting is dependent on the ammunition used and would be different from one load to the other. What is the info on the ammunition you are using is it a weak loading? There are more than a few knowledgeable FAL folks here so you should get a useful answer at some point.

It's supposed to be a NATO spec (M80) load. I do have some LC M80 and old surplus MEN I can try but that will have to wait till I can get out to Pawnee. The indoor range I shoot at doesn't allow steel jacketed rounds and both will attract a magnet.

[mtnrider]

Both of my FAL's I can adjust by hand. Have you striped the rifle down and given it a good cleaning?

[mutt]

Both of my FAL's I can adjust by hand. Have you striped the rifle down and given it a good cleaning?

I haven't. Didn't think too since it came to me in such pristine shape. The internals were spotless but I admit I didn't check the gas system too closely. I'll strip the gas system down and make sure there's no hidden crud.

[Great-Kazoo]

I finally got around to playing with my FAL and I have a question about the gas regulator. The only way I can get it to cycle and hold open on last round is to have the gas port almost fully closed. I think I have 3 clicks left before it is completely covered by the collar. Is this normal? I expected it to cycle all the way to the midway point of the regulator's adjustment range. I'm using 147gr MKE ammo. I also noticed my gas regulator is not finger adjustable. I have to use a tool to turn the collar. Videos I've watched show people adjusting their's by hand. Are these signs of mechanical issues or just normal variances? Here's a pic of my regulator:

http://i967.photobucket.com/albums/ae156/mutt112000/Mobile%20Uploads/20151015_203559_zpsrwmx6s8r.jpg

Based on that you're close to the 3 setting, which isn't abnormal, depending on ammo used. Regarding the adj being hard to move. IMO, That too isn't abnormal. There's a reason a Gas Adjustment too was made. Mine were snug because the retention spring was new, not some bagged out part, kits were known to come with.
The question is. What setting is it on, to lock back the bolt ? Also is there leakage between the gas tube and gas block? Something not uncommon with that rifle.

[mutt]

So I took the hand guards off and as I was looking at the retention spring to make sure it wasn't fubar in some way, I noticed I could suddenly turn the collar by hand. It is still stiff but workable. I was not able to do this before. All I can think of is maybe the hand guards were some how interfering with movement - torqued too tight, interfering with the spring, I don't know. All I know is I didn't actually do anything other than remove the hand guards. Weird.

The bolt locks back on the current setting. I can make it work one more click towards open but the ejection seemed less positive and erratic. If this setting isn't abnormal, then I am good with it. What are the signs of a leak between the gas tube and the block?

[mtnrider]

I should have mentioned when I said I can turn mine by hand, it's not like they are loose, it does take a little force to do so but they do turn. Like Kazoo said, that's probably not a abnormal opening for the gas port. One of mine is probably just a little bit more open then yours. The other is quite a bit though.

.

[BPTactical]

Hard gas adjustment can usually be traced to a couple of things:
Dirty/corroded gas block threads/dirty/corroded gas adjuster or overly stiff retention spring. Pull the gas tube and give the block and adjuster a good cleaning, reassemble with a dab of quality grease on the threads.
Now to the issue of having to nearly close the adjustment to get reliable lockback on the bolt- suspect worn gas system components or severe gas leakage. Inspect the piston, gas tube and gas block for excessive wear/corrosion.
Corrosion issues are pretty common on older part sets, corrosive primered ammo was common.

[mutt]

No corroded parts kit gun here, this is a FN factory gun, Gun South import. I pulled the gas plug and piston. Other than light fouling from my tinkering, it's pristine. Perfect chrome on the piston. No signs of pitting or corrosion. Plug is the same. I am assuming if the chrome plating looks good wear is not an issue? A quick glance down the gas tube reveals no corrosion either. I'll pull of the adjuster and give it a good cleaning/lubing this weekend. As indicated before, something about the hand guards was causing my hard adjustment problem. Now I can turn it with my hand, stiff but no screw driver required. Maybe MKE ammo is on the weak side? I'll see if I can open up the regulator more with LC ammo. Thanks for all the info guys.

[def90]

Use something other than MKE/ZQI.. My FAL doesn't like that stuff either..

Other than that, regulator can be hard to turn, especially the Imbel regulators. It's not uncommon to have to use a wrench/tool of some sort, being able to turn by hand is rare. Yes tight handguards can push in on the regulator as well.

[mtnrider]

Maybe MKE ammo is on the weak side?

MKE/Zenith is pretty much all I shoot out of my 2 FAL's (and SCAR, AR10, PTR91) Never have had 1 single issue with it in any of those platforms.

[Zombie Steve]

New stuff is stiff. Slow burning powders bloom late - lower pressure at the chamber, but higher pressure at the gas port. Adjust accordingly.

[jerrymrc]

New stuff is stiff. Slow burning powders bloom late - lower pressure at the chamber, but higher pressure at the gas port. Adjust accordingly.

I can attest that burn rates affect the gas setting. Remember that NATO ammo only has to meet a few specs as to performance. I have tested many "Nato Spec" ammo that will be within 20 FPS but require a 1.5 adjustment in gas setting for a Fal. Many things affect the setting and as has been pointed out age has something to do with it. Being a late import the first thing I would ask is to remove, clean and report the size of the gas piston. All it might take is a different one to make yours more adjustable. Later in life many Fals were machined with cutters that should have been replaced.

At the very worst everything gets looked at and if OK just enlarge the gas port a few thousandths and your back to the middle of your setting. You are on that edge that I always liked to have a little more. When I get down to 2.5 with SA then it is time to bump the port up a little. My experience is that 2.5 on SA = 1.0 with wolf = 3.5/4 with LC/Aussie. 1.0 leaves no room for carbon build up or other things and the whole point is to be able to cycle the gun with any ammo.