Always remember to angle your torque wrench 90 degrees to your barrel nut wrench. Otherwise, you are applying much more torque than your wrench is reading due to adding length to the moment arm.
Outstanding tutorial. You paced yourself, did not constantly reposition the assemblies which made for excellent comprehension and moved sequentially throughout the process. For me, one of the BEST teaching videos I have ever watch. Nice job!
I really appreciate the video. I'm very new to the AR platform and want to install a free float rail on my rifle. Excellent job providing me the necessary information. You also did something I don't see often, you handled your gun carefully. I see too many people throw their guns around on videos like they're nothing. I have always taken care of my belongings and appreciate seeing others do the same. Thanks again.
I still watch this video at night just before bed time... its very relaxing .. a grown man's bedtime story ;) ... In all seriousness, thank you Chad for doing this video! I had a similar rail without an instruction manual and this video applied to it - spot on!!
Chad, I've been building ARs for awhile and you showed a new way of aligning the handguard to the upper without using my speed square. Thanks for showing an old dog a new trick.
Not sure if anyone mention this but when you use a torque wrench and the extension runs up and not 90degrees youll have to calculate the difference. A 10" torque wrench with a 4" extension at about 35ftlb would be an overtorque of about 10ftlb. The longer your torque wrench or shorter your extension youll have a smaller change and vice versa. Let it click once or beep take it off and raise the torque max
thank you for staying on topic unlike so many others posting videos. i watched several videos on free floating rail systems and too many were torture just to make it half way through.
Years ago the first ar15 I shot was my dads with a YHM TJ series hand guard. That thing is heavy as hell. Along with the giant scope and floodlight, I was fatigued before the first mag was empty. Informative video, thank you.
Thanks. I just put the A2 post back on and hammered the taper pins back in, that's all that was needed. Everything i needed (except tools) was included to install this thing as intended. I dont know about the troy rail, but as long as you have the barrel nut, a tightening ring, and the rail system you should be fine. Some rails (including YHM) have anti-rotation screws; mine were just flathead screws, very easy. Make sure you have a vise block and an AR15 armorers tool.
THESE are the type if videos I miss from you guys!! Great video - great content. No need for gun gripes, zombies, politics, etc. just give me good gunsmithing vids
Great video! Been rocking the rifle length diamond quad rail on my AR for about a year - don't regret it at all. My rifle is a 20" AR with a bipod on the end, so this works well. EXTREMELY well made!
Great video, very informative. Another helpful tip when setting the gas block is to measure the distance from the barrel shoulder to the gas hole and ensure this is equal to what the edge of the gas block to the gas hole is as well. This is the number one issue with short stroking rifles. If these are aligned then they will rarely short stroke.
If you have trouble with short stroking, take the old triangle or round hand guard cap and fashion a spacer to place between the gas block and shoulder on barrel. Check the gas tube total length at marker line on upper receiver after install. This fix should line gas port with hole on gas block eliminating the short stroking.
If you read the instructions that come with the forend, it tells you to install the set screws to hold the rail in place. The screws also align the flat top perfectly. THEN, you tighten the jam nut( with the proper YHM wrench. Only 30 bucks). There's a lot of people making videos, but not a lot doing it correctly...
i put a yhm free float tube on my ar a couple years back and i love it. i have noticed that the jam nut can loosen up during firing. if i did it again i would use locktite on that too.
I did it all today, works perfect. It is just about a perfect fit, maybe a 1/10th of an inch between the gas block and the hand-guard. but it DOES fit, and it looks quite nice I must say.
Loctite is necessary for the assembly of engines, so no ,heat will not hurt it. It is specifically designed for resistance to heat and constant exposure to oil.
Thanks!! Great Video!! You are helping a LOT! of people out by making these video's.. I honestly Love the Mall Ninja stuff but this "How Too" Video's are Great as well! I hope all is well with You and Yours! God Love and God Bless ALL! YA'LL!!
Nice video, just so happens I am upgrading a Troy to a YHM in a few days. I like how YHM supplies and uses a custom barrel nut. Really a good value considering Troy is more expensive and only uses "existing" standard nuts. YHM is also a true one piece, at least on the actual tube.
WOW DUDE THANK YOU! I swear there is a million videos of this mod but you filmed it beautifully i could understand every step super easily. thanks again definitely Subscribing
Great video, thanks very much. I'm leaning hard towards this exact rail. I really like that it screws onto the barrel nut, instead of other types that simply slip over and then screw or bolt into place. That just seems to me to be a more solid set-up.
Great video man ! some of these "know it all" people in the comments are only pointing out the things you did that they themselves would of done different nonetheless i dont see them up loading video doing it "the perfect way" which makes me wonder why are they even watching this video if they are AR experts
Yeah, I'm more familiar with AKs, so I'm guessing a piece of steel tubing threaded to match the outer and inner threads would have to be installed, or a new one would have to be machined.
please let me know when you find out. Im looking to do the same thing. I wanna keep my front A2 sight post but want to drop in a free float. Im assuming the 7.2 inch is the one I will need for my original 7" non free float stock quadrail. I dont want to buy a gas block either. I want my A2 on there...
Hey guys I was thinking about putting a free float hand guard on my bushmaster after changing out the barrel nut and stuff. I was curious if a jam nut would be needed in conjunction with a Yankee Hill barrel nut. Plan on running the Troy Alpha series hand guard. Thanks!
thx for the video, I am having issues with the timining of my diamond handguard, I installed it like you did and the rails lined up on top, after firing the rail has turned slightly to the right and when you look down the rail from the upper reciever you can see the handguard pitching to the right slightly- did my barrel nut back off a smidge causing the allignment to be off? please advise.. I used 40lbs of torque on the barrel nut and I seasoned the threads 3 times before final lock down..
Not likely the barrel nut, I'm guessing your jam nut loosened. That step where he uses the buffer tube wrench....you'll want to repeat that and make sure that nut is tight. Just a guess.
Great video! I hope you will do more like this. If you ever put on a different flash hider please make a video of it, I had a issue with a peel washer and alignment before.
my new build im using a long quad on it too. my other has a 7" quad. was a low cost build. this one is a little more custom. and about double cost but i like the looks of the long rifle length quad on the carbines.
would the carbine length hand guard fit with the original Iron front sight post? I eventually might get a low profile gas block, but until then would the 7.2" fit with my fixed sight? Thanks
o cool man. nice job. Did you use locktite when you put your A2 post back on? Did you have to buy additional parts or did everything come with the free float rail system you bought? I want to pick up the Troy 7.2 "STRX Alpha Rail in FDE, was curious if and what extra parts I may need for the install. How was putting your front A2/gasblock back on? I have the tools to do everything, Im just nervous about the post.. Any thoughts> thank you for your replys
Nice! Hopefully you'll put another vid of your rig when its completed....or at least this version of completed. We all know they are constant works in progress.
Yes, I know, but it seems like there's so much restriction on what we can/can't do (i.e. 10 round limitation, bullet button, etc.). It just feels as though we live in a state of limited access, in comparison to other states. Makes you a bit envious when looking at some of the 'fun' things that they have in GA.
awesome thanks a lot man. I have vice, armorers wrench and No-mar blocks to hold my upper and lower. Did you have to take your delta ring off and did you reuse your gas tube? Im gonna email troy and ask what is included in the rail system I want. For 160 for 7.2 inch... They had better include the tightener and propietary barrel nut lol. thanks so much again man
Corrosive ammo is no problem i have been using it for twenty years and it is very good ammo'' reasonably priced and all you have to do is clean and oil your SKS on a regular basis after use and I would do that anyway.
This was informative! I have not this tube but the Yankee Hill plain tube that has removable rails and I never could get the Jam nut tight enough to not let the tube rotate after a while. Mine doesn't have the anti-rotation set screws and I got it on sale probably because they were making those. So Now I know to buy a stock wrench for the job haha!
Is that a 16 inch barrel and also that is the rifle length rail correct i was actually going to order the specter length until I ran across the video you couldn't have posted at a better time thanks
hey chad do you have an way of making sure the hand guard rails are propperly allianed with the upper reciver rails? i just installed the same rail on my AR and it looks fine but how do i make sure everything is good?
I saw that too, and also tightened the barrel nut more than the torque value on the stick. probably not a big deal but makes your precision tools not so precision. Great vid.
Great Video, Thanks, After you have had the Yankee hill rail installed, what are your thoughts on it. I see that this video was 2 years ago. Should have plenty of range time on it to comment either way. Love it or hate it? Thanks again
IV, I have the other style of YHM quad rail with the slanted vents, not the diamonds and the barrel nut included actually won't go on far enough to allow the rail and upper to mate up fully. Any suggestions?
Someone might make AK type muzzle breaks for AR, but as far as I am aware typical AK muzzle breaks are a different thread pattern than on AR. I think they are also left handed threads instead of right handed threads.
Always remember to angle your torque wrench 90 degrees to your barrel nut wrench. Otherwise, you are applying much more torque than your wrench is reading due to adding length to the moment arm.
Outstanding tutorial. You paced yourself, did not constantly reposition the assemblies which made for excellent comprehension and moved sequentially throughout the process. For me, one of the BEST teaching videos I have ever watch. Nice job!
I really appreciate the video. I'm very new to the AR platform and want to install a free float rail on my rifle. Excellent job providing me the necessary information. You also did something I don't see often, you handled your gun carefully. I see too many people throw their guns around on videos like they're nothing. I have always taken care of my belongings and appreciate seeing others do the same. Thanks again.
I still watch this video at night just before bed time... its very relaxing .. a grown man's bedtime story ;) ... In all seriousness, thank you Chad for doing this video! I had a similar rail without an instruction manual and this video applied to it - spot on!!
I know this is older, but wanted you to know that you do a good job on your vids. The camera work and the instructions are spot on. Good Job Chad.
Chad, I've been building ARs for awhile and you showed a new way of aligning the handguard to the upper without using my speed square. Thanks for showing an old dog a new trick.
Your video helped me do my first free float hand guard two years ago. Still rock solid!! Still shoots straight as well!
Always great to 'accidentally' run into a video from my favorite channel! :)
Not sure if anyone mention this but when you use a torque wrench and the extension runs up and not 90degrees youll have to calculate the difference. A 10" torque wrench with a 4" extension at about 35ftlb would be an overtorque of about 10ftlb. The longer your torque wrench or shorter your extension youll have a smaller change and vice versa. Let it click once or beep take it off and raise the torque max
The torque range for an ar15 barrel nut is 25-80ftlbs. 45ftlbs is still GTG.
At 25 - 80, who even needs a torque wrench? Mr. Magoo could be GTG on his first try. I wonder if they did that on purpose?
@@chrisduke3251 i only use mine if im helping a friend lol at that range its dummy proof
thank you for staying on topic unlike so many others posting videos. i watched several videos on free floating rail systems and too many were torture just to make it half way through.
Years ago the first ar15 I shot was my dads with a YHM TJ series hand guard. That thing is heavy as hell. Along with the giant scope and floodlight, I was fatigued before the first mag was empty. Informative video, thank you.
Thanks. I just put the A2 post back on and hammered the taper pins back in, that's all that was needed. Everything i needed (except tools) was included to install this thing as intended. I dont know about the troy rail, but as long as you have the barrel nut, a tightening ring, and the rail system you should be fine. Some rails (including YHM) have anti-rotation screws; mine were just flathead screws, very easy. Make sure you have a vise block and an AR15 armorers tool.
Best thing ever when it comes to gas blocks, dimpled barrels. Makes it nice and simple.
THESE are the type if videos I miss from you guys!! Great video - great content. No need for gun gripes, zombies, politics, etc. just give me good gunsmithing vids
Great video! Been rocking the rifle length diamond quad rail on my AR for about a year - don't regret it at all. My rifle is a 20" AR with a bipod on the end, so this works well. EXTREMELY well made!
Great video, very informative. Another helpful tip when setting the gas block is to measure the distance from the barrel shoulder to the gas hole and ensure this is equal to what the edge of the gas block to the gas hole is as well. This is the number one issue with short stroking rifles. If these are aligned then they will rarely short stroke.
If you have trouble with short stroking, take the old triangle or round hand guard cap and fashion a spacer to place between the gas block and shoulder on barrel. Check the gas tube total length at marker line on upper receiver after install. This fix should line gas port with hole on gas block eliminating the short stroking.
If you read the instructions that come with the forend, it tells you to install the set screws to hold the rail in place. The screws also align the flat top perfectly. THEN, you tighten the jam nut( with the proper YHM wrench. Only 30 bucks). There's a lot of people making videos, but not a lot doing it correctly...
i put a yhm free float tube on my ar a couple years back and i love it. i have noticed that the jam nut can loosen up during firing. if i did it again i would use locktite on that too.
If you buy an AAC barrel the included gas block is set up for both set screws and a roll pin and the barrel is machined to accept both.
very well done. This channel is proving to be one of the best gun channels on youtube. Not sure why I didn't find it sooner.
dude i luv that diamond free float hand guard, and nice handi work using that pin in the new gas block
I have no weapon and still watch their channel. The stuff's really interesting.
Thanks Chad, appreciate the comments and reply on the wrench.
I did it all today, works perfect. It is just about a perfect fit, maybe a 1/10th of an inch between the gas block and the hand-guard. but it DOES fit, and it looks quite nice I must say.
I got the same rail and I had no idea how this thing came off, but now I do. Thanx, great video
i dont have any guns cos im 15 and in the uk but i watch all of these videos and love them all, an i think i speak for most guns enthusiasts in the uk
I didn't know the castle nut part of the armorers tool would work on the jam nut. Thanks a lot. Just saved me some cashola
I tapped mine tight with a delrin punch and didnt booger it up..
Loctite is necessary for the assembly of engines, so no ,heat will not hurt it. It is specifically designed for resistance to heat and constant exposure to oil.
Thanks!!
Great Video!!
You are helping a LOT! of people out by making these video's..
I honestly Love the Mall Ninja stuff but this "How Too" Video's are Great as well!
I hope all is well with You and Yours!
God Love and God Bless ALL! YA'LL!!
Thanks for nice slow and clean demo. Helped me answer a stupid question.
Nice video, just so happens I am upgrading a Troy to a YHM in a few days. I like how YHM supplies and uses a custom barrel nut. Really a good value considering Troy is more expensive and only uses "existing" standard nuts. YHM is also a true one piece, at least on the actual tube.
Well done very clear and well focused. Good production. More of these please!
second that one!!!! I wanna see more of eric and chad doing restore projects and customizing
WOW DUDE THANK YOU! I swear there is a million videos of this mod but you filmed it beautifully i could understand every step super easily. thanks again definitely Subscribing
Great video, thanks very much. I'm leaning hard towards this exact rail. I really like that it screws onto the barrel nut, instead of other types that simply slip over and then screw or bolt into place. That just seems to me to be a more solid set-up.
I like the videos with Chad in them. Thanks for all the good work you do!
you have to be approved so its rare depending on the county however you can open carry rifles and shotguns only
Great video man ! some of these "know it all" people in the comments are only pointing out the things you did that they themselves would of done different nonetheless i dont see them up loading video doing it "the perfect way" which makes me wonder why are they even watching this video if they are AR experts
Yeah, I'm more familiar with AKs, so I'm guessing a piece of steel tubing threaded to match the outer and inner threads would have to be installed, or a new one would have to be machined.
Question about the loctite... doesn't it break down under heat? Isn't there a lot of heat right there at the base of the barrel?
please let me know when you find out. Im looking to do the same thing. I wanna keep my front A2 sight post but want to drop in a free float. Im assuming the 7.2 inch is the one I will need for my original 7" non free float stock quadrail. I dont want to buy a gas block either. I want my A2 on there...
Two questions sir, 1. What is the length of your barrel? and 2. What length rail did you get? Thank you for the video and your answer!
Excellent video , i have aways wondered how much work goes into changing the rails on AR's
Good job, who makes that barrel wrench?
Great video.
On an unrelated note, do you not like backup irons? Or is there a reason you don't run them?
Hey guys I was thinking about putting a free float hand guard on my bushmaster after changing out the barrel nut and stuff. I was curious if a jam nut would be needed in conjunction with a Yankee Hill barrel nut. Plan on running the Troy Alpha series hand guard. Thanks!
thx for the video, I am having issues with the timining of my diamond handguard, I installed it like you did and the rails lined up on top, after firing the rail has turned slightly to the right and when you look down the rail from the upper reciever you can see the handguard pitching to the right slightly- did my barrel nut back off a smidge causing the allignment to be off? please advise.. I used 40lbs of torque on the barrel nut and I seasoned the threads 3 times before final lock down..
Not likely the barrel nut, I'm guessing your jam nut loosened. That step where he uses the buffer tube wrench....you'll want to repeat that and make sure that nut is tight. Just a guess.
Are you going to use rail covers on thr float tube or is the corners smothe enough to hold without it biting your paws?
thanks for this vid, i always wondered how exactly free floats stayed on. cant wait for the range vid!
Great video! I hope you will do more like this. If you ever put on a different flash hider please make a video of it, I had a issue with a peel washer and alignment before.
Nice video! My AR came with this exact rail system on it and I totally DIG it!
my new build im using a long quad on it too. my other has a 7" quad. was a low cost build. this one is a little more custom. and about double cost but i like the looks of the long rifle length quad on the carbines.
would the carbine length hand guard fit with the original Iron front sight post? I eventually might get a low profile gas block, but until then would the 7.2" fit with my fixed sight? Thanks
o cool man. nice job. Did you use locktite when you put your A2 post back on? Did you have to buy additional parts or did everything come with the free float rail system you bought? I want to pick up the Troy 7.2 "STRX Alpha Rail in FDE, was curious if and what extra parts I may need for the install. How was putting your front A2/gasblock back on? I have the tools to do everything, Im just nervous about the post.. Any thoughts> thank you for your replys
Nice! Hopefully you'll put another vid of your rig when its completed....or at least this version of completed. We all know they are constant works in progress.
What a great video Chad! These video's are the reason I subscribed to you guys! Hope you all have a great 4th of july!
Lovin the new vids! Keep up the good work!
Great video, very clear instructions, easy to follow.. thanks for all your efforts.. you got a new subscriber ;)
Yes, I know, but it seems like there's so much restriction on what we can/can't do (i.e. 10 round limitation, bullet button, etc.). It just feels as though we live in a state of limited access, in comparison to other states. Makes you a bit envious when looking at some of the 'fun' things that they have in GA.
why did you decide to change it from the troy? and how do you like the YHM now?
awesome thanks a lot man. I have vice, armorers wrench and No-mar blocks to hold my upper and lower. Did you have to take your delta ring off and did you reuse your gas tube? Im gonna email troy and ask what is included in the rail system I want. For 160 for 7.2 inch... They had better include the tightener and propietary barrel nut lol. thanks so much again man
Sweet rail man. That looks badass for sure!!!
Corrosive ammo is no problem i have been using it for twenty years and it is very good ammo'' reasonably priced and all you have to do is clean and oil your SKS on a regular basis after use and I would do that anyway.
So you can go from a carbine length handguard to a mid length?
This was informative! I have not this tube but the Yankee Hill plain tube that has removable rails and I never could get the Jam nut tight enough to not let the tube rotate after a while. Mine doesn't have the anti-rotation set screws and I got it on sale probably because they were making those. So Now I know to buy a stock wrench for the job haha!
I have a spikes rail and want to replace it with a yankee hill like yours. Will the same wrench work on both nuts?
Is that a 16 inch barrel and also that is the rifle length rail correct i was actually going to order the specter length until I ran across the video you couldn't have posted at a better time thanks
Was there a problem with the troy rail?
hey chad do you have an way of making sure the hand guard rails are propperly allianed with the upper reciver rails? i just installed the same rail on my AR and it looks fine but how do i make sure everything is good?
Do you what to sell your old one? If so will it fit a S&W M&P 15 OR 55.6 ? Also how much thanks nice job
Awesome video dude.
Many thanks for your time.
Anybody else notice that he used the torque wrench to loosen his old barrel nut?
Yeah, you work with what you have on your bench sometimes! ☺️
I saw that too, and also tightened the barrel nut more than the torque value on the stick. probably not a big deal but makes your precision tools not so precision. Great vid.
No it was two different wrenches. The first one was just a standard socket ratchet the second one was the torque wrench.
How long is the handguard? 12”?
Great Video, Thanks, After you have had the Yankee hill rail installed, what are your thoughts on it. I see that this video was 2 years ago. Should have plenty of range time on it to comment either way. Love it or hate it? Thanks again
it is a torque wrench he said he set it to 25 ft/lbs do you know of any regular ratchet wrench that you can set the torque on?
Very informative with excellent editing. Thanks.
Right up there with Ammosmiths, great vid!
good vid thx. watched to see what to use to tighten that retaining ring. yhm is good stuff.
Watching this is in 2024 makes me realize how handguard technology has vastly improved.
IV, I have the other style of YHM quad rail with the slanted vents, not the diamonds and the barrel nut included actually won't go on far enough to allow the rail and upper to mate up fully.
Any suggestions?
Does California have concealed carry?
What do have on your rifle from A to Z.
What kind of barrel wrench did you use
What brand name on the low profile gas block?
great video, lots of steps well explained that you might find useful for other projects too, thank you
Real nice job on the video. You cleared a lot of my questions up.
What branch of the military were you in? If Army, what was your MOS? I was 11b/B4...
Could I do this without the vice or is that necessary?
Someone might make AK type muzzle breaks for AR, but as far as I am aware typical AK muzzle breaks are a different thread pattern than on AR. I think they are also left handed threads instead of right handed threads.
Very informative AND relaxing video.
Looks sharp man! Im thinking about a free float system. 1 to 10 what do you rate your YHM?
Can't believe no one asked this but what scope mount are you using? pretty cool how you're able to quick release and take it off of the rail.
I have no AR but it was fun watching this.
Great video
The AR15 is Barbie for men! Lol
Any feedback on why you changed the gas block from variable to fixed and why the new rail system?
I'm trying to get my barrel nut off ppl are telling me heat what do you recommend???
Is there any need to check for head space???
No. Headspace is set when they cut the chamber. Putting on a new barrel nut will not effect headspace.
I love free-float quad rails.
If you use the tool 90 degrees to the wrench itself then the torque will read accurately.
what length is the rails? And do u still have it?