Is this Russian 91% a dud?

[robrrt]

Was about to attempt my first (ever) build, but one of the screws on the platform, although it will turn (barely), it will not loosen or tighten.

 

[WindyCityJoe]

Might be the picture, but that whole post looks whacked. Good luck with it!

 

[VaPreis]

Sometimes those screws come very tight. Make sure the screwdriver fits the head snuggly, and apply some downward pressure as you loosen it. Don't use one of those cruddy little blue screw drivers. Throwing the base in the freezer for a little while before hand might help as well.

BTW, you need to loosen the center pin in the base and straighten out that positive block or you're risking a short.

 

[State O' Flux]

There's nothing wrong with it, other than the positive block and air tube/screw are loose. Remove the 510 post, and while holding the block square to the negative, tighten the air tube a bit. Don't go nuts... you'll damage the insulator.

 

[robrrt]

1) I know about the positive block positioning, guys. Should have straightened it before taking that pic

2) The negative block screw just turns in place, albeit very tightly. The screw head is not stripped.

 

[duc916]

The negative block screw just turns in place, albeit very tightly. The screw head is not stripped.

In that case I'd use a vise-grip to bite into the sides of that screw, then twist and pull. Trash the screw once it's out and chase the threads with a tap before installing a new screw.