YHM Jamb Nut / Barrel Torque Question

AR/M4 AR General Discussion
1

I just got through installing a YHM free float on a Bushmaster with a 24" barrel.

I followed the instructions from YHM with the barrel nut, they say to tighten the barrel nut as tight as you can by hand, and then use a wrench to tighten the nut so that the next available hole for the gas tube lines up.

I had to bow up on the barrel wrench pretty good to accomplish this, so I am wondering if this provided the proper torque for the barrel nut, or should I actually use a torque wrench to get the proper poundage and THEN go to the next hole for the gas tube?

Also, on the jamb nut, has anyone tried to tighten one of these up by any method other than the YHM tool? I’m thinking that I could use a pair of slip jaw pliers and some electrical tape to keep from scuffing it up. I can make a stop for my pliers so as to not squeeze too much. Anyone try anything like this and do you guys think I will be able to tighten the jamb nut up enough with this method?

Thanks a million folks,
TimBoothe

2

you will ruin the threads been there done that

3

fivefivesix,

If I may, what would ruin the threads? Attempting to use something other than the YHM wrench or getting the proper poundage of torque on the barrel and then going to the next hole in the barrel nut for the gas tube?

Thanks for the reply,
TimBoothe

4

If I’m thinking right your. Barrel nut has threads that are internal and external. If you grab the the exterior with pliers or channel locks like I did it will flatten the threads. Yhm uses soft aluminum for there barrel nuts. At least it was soft in the jaws of the channel locks. I ovaled the barrel nut crushed a few holes for the gas tube and stripped threads.

5

I gotcha, I think I need to explain a little further, I’m torquing the barrel nut using a proper barrel wrench.

I was wondering about using the slip jaw pliers to tighten up the jamb nut only. Mine are narrow enough that I can grab the just the jamb nut and not touch the threads on the barrel nut.

I just didn’t know if I could put the proper amount of “umph” on the jamb nut with the slip jaws is all. But the way it sounds, you were able to put plenty on!!!

Thanks a million,
Tim Boothe

6

Ok I may have not read it right. The slip nut on mine was real wide so I used a punch and a hammer and loctite. But whatever u can use to tighten it should be good