M4 Dust Cover Won't Stay Closed

[Cokeman]

I have two M4 AEGs (a new ICS-128 and a 3 month old Aftermath Knight CQB). Both have the same problem with the dust covers not staying closed (the problem is worse on the new ICS-128 - even looking at it can cause it to flip open and firing the gun will open it).

I've implemented a temporary solution by replacing the little spring with a piece of silicone (from a silicone silly band), as shown in the attached picture. Now the dust cover stays closed until I pull on the handle.

Does anybody have a better solution? Or am I the only one with this problem?

[Darklen]

You're missing the lock from the dust cover. If you want it to stay closed you'll either have to reverse the spring (meaning you'll have to pry and hold it open when you need to adjust your hopup) or replace the dust cover.

[ebfud]

during use the cover would need to be open for casings to eject but if you want it closed all the time turn the little springs around so that they hold it closed. one minute to late lol

[Styrak]

Yup, just reverse the spring so it's sprung closed instead of sprung open.

[Cokeman]

Originally Posted by Darklen

You're missing the lock from the dust cover. If you want it to stay closed you'll either have to reverse the spring (meaning you'll have to pry and hold it open when you need to adjust your hopup) or replace the dust cover.

The lock (at least I think this is what you are referring to) was removed so that I could show you that I had replaced the spring with the little piece of blue silicone band. So, after the picture was taken, I re-installed the lock and the dust cover remains closed unless I pull the handle back to release it. So, with this fix, I don't need to reverse the main dust cover spring to keep it closed.

Sorry, but reversing the main spring doesn't seem like a very good solution as it makes it more difficult to adjust the hopup.

[R.I.T.Z]

wait, so you have all the parts, and your dust cover is working as it should....
I dont see the problem here.
the only way to have the dust cover stay closed is either reverse the spring, or dont pull the charging handle....

[pipefitter316]

Originally Posted by Styrak

Yup, just reverse the spring so it's sprung closed instead of sprung open.

easy as pie , thats what i did no more problems

[Cokeman]

Originally Posted by R.I.T.Z

wait, so you have all the parts, and your dust cover is working as it should....
I dont see the problem here.
the only way to have the dust cover stay closed is either reverse the spring, or dont pull the charging handle....

The problem is that I had to replace the little spring with a piece of blue rubber band. Yes, it is really a verry verry little problem... guess I'm just being nit picky (or anal).

[Rooster]

My ICS m4 does the same thing, it's damn annoying. I want that sucker to stay closed until I pull the charging handle. Never thought about replacing the spring with a piece of rubber though.. was it an easy job?

[BloodSport]

So rather then having to hold open your dust cover to adjust the hopup, you'd rather have a blue rubber band on your gun?

spring reversal works great, full function and no issues. Heck I do it even when the locks dont break for just in case.

[Cokeman]

Originally Posted by Rooster

My ICS m4 does the same thing, it's damn annoying. I want that sucker to stay closed until I pull the charging handle. Never thought about replacing the spring with a piece of rubber though.. was it an easy job?

Yeah, its a real easy job. There is a tiny philips head screw on the underside of the dust cover. Remove it and the top latch cover comes off. Inside, you will find a little spring, which will pop off quite easily (couldn't find mine after the third time it popped out of my hand, so that is when I tried the silicone silly band).

Originally Posted by BloodSport

So rather then having to hold open your dust cover to adjust the hopup, you'd rather have a blue rubber band on your gun?

spring reversal works great, full function and no issues. Heck I do it even when the locks dont break for just in case.

Well, the little piece of blue band is hidden, so you can't see it. So, I guess I like my solution better than to reverse the spring to hold the dust cover closed.

[CerberusNet]

I think this would be concidered Solved..Great ideas from peers that I know to be very effective. I personally prefer the reversed spring to the brightly colored rubber.