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Thread: Zenith MKE MP5 cocking handle / tube issue (rattling) UPDATED 7/30/2017

  1. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by kaltesherz View Post
    When you say "entire thing rebuilt", you just mean the cocking tube assembly right?
    At a minimum cocking tube cut and removed from firearm and a new cocking tube rewelded in place which may or may not line up correctly when the front sight assembly is installed. HKs aren't ARs, you can't simply knock out pins and put in a new one.

    When these are fabricated typically the cocking tube, barrel and barrel trunnion are lined up with the receiver in a factory press and the welds and trunnion pins installed in the same process. That is why when HK clone makers who don't have HK tooling and presses build parts kit guns there is typically a lot of spec errors encountered because you can't just throw these parts in a vice and start welding.

    Even if they got everything right, the cost to correctly refinish the firearm would make it prohibitive.

    Now I understand your sensibilities might be somewhat offended. If I purchased a Swiss made SIG carbine and it had a significant defect that should never have passed QC and somebody on the internet directed me to an auto parts store with what sounds like a "bubba fix" I'd probably be a little WTF too.

    But if you send it back to MKE they aren't going to chop and remanufacture the firearm, or at least I hope not because if they didn't get it right the first time, I don't have a lot of faith in a after the fact correction which will likely be executed on a workshop bench. They are probably going to just send you another one which may have the same defect to a greater or lesser extent and could additionally have completely different problems.

    Quite honestly if I made a rubber O ring that precisely fit the gap in your cocking tube and sold it in a little plastic ziplock bag bearing the MKE logo, I could probably sell those O rings for $20 each and everyone would be talking about what a wonderful upgrade they are and people would argue how it makes the guns more "tactical" and all of that.

    Or you could do the same thing for yourself for about $2. Back when I used to actually work on HK clones like Special Weapons I did that fix all the time. One thing I noticed was if I told the owner I installed a custom buffer the owner would be thrilled with the results and would look at me like I solved the mysteries of the universe and some couldn't believe it was only going to cost them $15. But if I told them I cut some automotive vacuum tubing to size in order to shim up the gap and that is how I fixed it some of them acted like I wrapped their gun with duct tape to solve a loose handguard issue and they were annoyed that I'd charge them $15 for something they could have done at home.

    My advice is before you spend any real money, get a length of vacuum tube from your local auto parts store, do the fix and then see if you are satisfied with the result. If not you can simply grab some needlenose pliers and remove it. It is in no way a permanent alteration of the firearm.
    It's hard to be a ACLU hating, philosophically Libertarian, socially liberal, fiscally conservative, scientifically grounded, agnostic, porn admiring gun owner who believes in self determination.

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  2. #12
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    Thanks, I really appreciate the help- I'll try it.

    Otherwise I'm very happy with the gun- 100% reliable w/ FMJ and JHP, even using cheap mags, straight sights, excellent finish, and decent trigger.
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  3. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by kaltesherz View Post
    Thanks, I really appreciate the help- I'll try it.

    Otherwise I'm very happy with the gun- 100% reliable w/ FMJ and JHP, even using cheap mags, straight sights, excellent finish, and decent trigger.
    It's a factory contract gun that is built on HK tooling. But we know some manufacturers (Turkey, Pakistan, Mexico, etc.) sometimes run a sloppy QC and they aren't really worried if there is play in the cocking tube. Other than that they are decent, reliable guns. Not quite German QC, but better than US clones.
    It's hard to be a ACLU hating, philosophically Libertarian, socially liberal, fiscally conservative, scientifically grounded, agnostic, porn admiring gun owner who believes in self determination.

    Chuck, we miss ya man.

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  4. #14
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    I ended up sending it back to Zenith recently. It was easy to get a UPS tag from them and get it back out to them, and they had it back to me a few days later. Charging handle completely fixed- no rattle at all. PERFECT.

    So kudos to them for making it right.
    PRAISE THE FALLEN
    SSG Kevin Roberts KIA 7-May-08
    1Lt Nick Dewhirst KIA 20-July-08
    Cpl Charles Gaffney KIA 24-Dec-08
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  5. #15
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    Do you know what they did to solve the issue?

  6. #16
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    Turns out after another 10 mags the rattle returned. I'm just used to it. My MKE MP5K (AP5-P) is still tight, but it's still kinda new-ish.
    PRAISE THE FALLEN
    SSG Kevin Roberts KIA 7-May-08
    1Lt Nick Dewhirst KIA 20-July-08
    Cpl Charles Gaffney KIA 24-Dec-08
    Spc Peter Courcy KIA 10-Feb-09
    PFC Jason Watson KIA 10-Feb-09

  7. #17
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    So, fixed, now not fixed.

    Any idea what they did to “fix it” when you sent it back?
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  8. #18
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    No idea. Seems like the rattle to some extent is just normal in HK roller delayed systems- some worse than others.
    PRAISE THE FALLEN
    SSG Kevin Roberts KIA 7-May-08
    1Lt Nick Dewhirst KIA 20-July-08
    Cpl Charles Gaffney KIA 24-Dec-08
    Spc Peter Courcy KIA 10-Feb-09
    PFC Jason Watson KIA 10-Feb-09

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