replacing / repairing receiver cover lever

[rje58]

I have a Russian SKS that I purchased a while back, that has a problem. The receiver cover won't come off! When you lift the lever on the back of the receiver cover, and pull, it won't come out far enough to release the receiver cover from the receiver.

I have to fix this, but I don't want to botch up the receiver, or the cover, in the process. Suggestions and assistance appreciated!

[MN Fan]

Hello and welcome to the forum!

On mine, I have to rotate the lever 180 degrees so that its facing the butt to get it to come out part way. I then have to rotate the lever back up to vertical to get it to come out the rest of the way. It doesn't come all the way out of course, but close to it.

Once you get it out that far, the cover will come off.

Have you tried wiggling it like this?

[dou44]

i have to wiggle one of mine to get it out also.

[desdem12]

I have to wiggle my chinese too but it does come all the way out.

[howiebearse]

also helps to put pressure on the rear of the cover to take up some of the recoil spring tension and a little oil:)

[rje58]

Thanks for the suggestions, guys. I've got several other SKSs - Yugo 59/66, Yugo 59, Romanian, Albanian... so I don't think it's just me not knowing how to remove the receiver cover, but I will give it another shot - so to speak - and report back with the results.