Is this gas key staking okay?

[DDadams]

I couldn't get a great photo to save my life. There looks to be a small amount of material on the bottom side touching the screws barely but I don't think anything on the top side at all. I'm not 100% sure but I'm like 95% sure it isn't touching at all anywhere.


Edit: added another photo + I noticed if I put it on one side facing me the bottom looks fine but the top doesn't. Then when I flip it the exact opposite way it looks fine on the bottom but not the other side.

are my eyes just gone? I wish this camera would focus but I've spent 25 minutes and these are the best I could get

 

[2in1evtime]

I only use bolts that have a pinned gas key set up, if not i drill and pin myself after making sure they are tight

 

[55fairlane]

From the looks of it, the screws look like there way over torqued and the stake marks (peening) is little light...
Factory done ?

 

[Mgderf]

I would like to think that would be o.k., even though the dimples don't actually touch the screws.
When you deform metal like they have done, that extra metal has to go somewhere.
It will compress, somewhat, in that area, and put extra pressure on the surrounding areas.
I'm not an engineer, and I didn't stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night, so...
I could be wrong.

 

[NyleRN]

From the looks of it, the screws look like there way over torqued and the stake marks (peening) is little light...
Factory done ?

How can you tell the screws are "way over-torqued" by that picture

 

[ancjr]

The staking should deform the screwheads a little bit.

 

[KokomoDave]

Starrett center punch would've done better but I have a staking tool from Brownells for this job.

 

[DeadeyeChrista'sdad]

I think it looks fine.

 

[Squid556]

Looks average from all the ARs I've seen. Its on the light side but that one doesn't bother me.

 

[BigRed]

How can you tell the screws are "way over-torqued" by that picture

I would like to learn.

The only way I have learned to estimate torque on screws is touch and feel...and a torque gauge for comfirm.

Knowing by sight would be useful.

 

[55fairlane]

I say over torqued, because as I look at the picture showing the top of the screws, on the flats just where the corners are, you can see some raised metal, this is very common with either cheap screws or a cheap/ damaged Allen wrench or way to much torque applied to the screw, a plain ¼-28 screw needs a meer 14ft/lbs to achieve 3263 pounds of clamp load (not shear strength) , I know an average human can apply way more then 14ft/lbs by hand with a normal leanth Allen wrench, no cheater bar or torque wrench ......

 

[Squirt239]

W

I say over torqued, because as I look at the picture showing the top of the screws, on the flats just where the corners are, you can see some raised metal, this is very common with either cheap screws or a cheap/ damaged Allen wrench or way to much torque applied to the screw, a plain ¼-28 screw needs a meer 14ft/lbs to achieve 3263 pounds of clamp load (not shear strength) , I know an average human can apply way more then 14ft/lbs by hand with a normal leanth Allen wrench, no cheater bar or torque wrench ......

What he said. This guy has forgotten more about machining than I'll ever know.

 

[Indiana_Jeff]

I couldn't get a great photo to save my life. There looks to be a small amount of material on the bottom side touching the screws barely but I don't think anything on the top side at all. I'm not 100% sure but I'm like 95% sure it isn't touching at all anywhere.


Edit: added another photo + I noticed if I put it on one side facing me the bottom looks fine but the top doesn't. Then when I flip it the exact opposite way it looks fine on the bottom but not the other side.

are my eyes just gone? I wish this camera would focus but I've spent 25 minutes and these are the best I could get
View attachment 200700

View attachment 200699

Your photos are quite good. The staking looks too slight. I suggest you take a cold chisel and hit 'em again so that both the key and the bolt heads have clear marks in them. Good luck & stay safe!