Problem with TNW MG 34, please advise..

[Bossman]

I have a MG 34 TNW build. First time out I ran apprx 200 rounds of 8mm Romanain thru it w/o a single failure to feed or misfire. Yesterday I could fire one single round, would not extract or eject automatically. Had to pull the charging handle to remove the fired round. I tried changing the gas pressure by changing the booster from screwed all the way down to 3 clicks loose and 6 clicks loose, no change. Then I removed the feed tray and top cover and it would extract & eject OK. Anybody have this problem or know of the solution ?
Thought I'd try here before calling TNW.

Thanks

Roger from Iowa

[JBaum]

Hi Roger,

Does the feed assembly move easily and loosely in the top cover? Does the feed lever move easily without binding? Are you letting the belt hang down 5 feet and expecting the feeder to pick up all that weight? Are the cartridges properly placed in the belt links? Are the insides of the belt links clean? Are the ejector and extractor without damage? Is the recuperator binding, did you clean the nozzle and flash hider, and clean the barrel dirt grooves? Is the barrel easily moving in the barrel jacket? Did you use corrosive ammo and not clean thoroughly and lubricate afterwards? Is the bolt catch sticking? Check the barrel for free rearward movement and return. Check the bolt lugs to make sure the knobs on the ends spin freely. Disassemble the bolt, clean and lubricate it. Is the nozzle inside the flash hider? Without it, the gun may produce just enough recoil to operate the action but not work the feeder.

I just have to ask what prompted you to partly unscrew the flash hider to change gas pressure. All the manuals I've read say that the flash hider is to be screwed on tight, then backed off just far enough for the detent to catch in the first slot. No offense, but it sounds like you're really not sure what you're doing with the MG34, and that can get very expensive very fast. Gas pressure is not adjustable by turning the flash hider, and having the front end loose has a tendency to make the gun beat itself to death. The hole in the nozzle is sized according to the cartridge (.308 or 8mm) being shot, which indirectly calibrates the gas pressure according to the cartridge, but it's not like an FAL where you turn it a little and see how it runs. And the nozzle is not the flash hider, in case you aren't familiar with the names of the parts.

The MG34 is not a gun to accept improper care. That was one of the complaints about it in combat when there wasn't always time for proper maintenance. I don't know what books TNW sells or provides with their guns, but it sounds like it's inadequate considering the nature of the MG34.

[762x51]

TNW recommends a special lube - Don't remember offhand what it is but do you have it well lubed?

Orin

[DARIVS ARCHITECTVS]

John is correct 100%. If the movement of the parts feels too stiff, then the souce of the binding must be found. Some parts may not be polished finely enough, or the tolerances may be too tight. I have seen a fully operation TNW MG-34 that was reported to be reliable in warm weather tighten up in frigid weather at an event, because the tolerances were so tight that the recoil spring could not feed a second round. What we lackto help you is more information. Please check the things John mentioned and give us more feedback, and we may be able to help you. Pictures of trouble areas you find will be extremely helpful.

[Bossman]

Hello John,
the feed tray moves easily, the belt was resting on a can with the gun on the bipod so there wasn't
a long hanging belt. Links & ammo are clean & properly loaded. Cannot see any damage to the
extractor or ejector. Recuperator, nozzle, flash hider & barrel grooves all clean. Barrel moves freely,
isn't binding in the jacket. Bolt catch is OK, bolt lugs move freely. I used the Millcomm lube recommended
by TNW to lube the action after the first cleaning.

As for your question on unscrewing the flash hider, I remembered later that there are different sized nozzles according to caliber. The nozzle in the gun is the one I provided to TNW and used in my first successful
shooting session. When I received the gun from TNW it was VERY heavily lubed and I feel maybe it was too
dry after I relubed it. I've cleaned it again and am going to doublecheck the bolt and that area before shooting
again.

As for TNW's manual, they provide a copy of the USGI TM E9-206A from 1943. They haven't went to the trouble to write a dedicated SA manual for their product.

Thanks for your response.

Roger

[Karbinator]

Bossman,

What resolved the problem you were having?

curious

[m2ball]

Roger,

Is the TNW working o.k. now? I have ejection problems with my TNW- they stove pipe out the bottom. The bolt closes on the base of the case and it sticks out the bottom head first. The boster cone is 10mm not the 11mm they recommend. The bolt roller on the right is nicked around the edge. Could this be caused by the force of the recoil by using the 10 mm boster cone?


Thanks

[dluch]

Check to see if you have a loose ejector plate - that small screwed in plate on the reciever that the ejector pin hits when the bolt retracts - mine came loose & I had the same problem.