Broken Yugo SKS

[JoeR]

My sons Yugo SKS has a broken part, it won't allow the clip to snap in anymore, I asked the guy he bought it from at the show who is a gunsmith and he said t oreplace the whole trigger assembly and that would be the easiest way to do it. Looking in my Numrich book I'm not sure I follow his train of thought.  He acted like he wasn't interested in looking at it, wish he would have just said so, he's hosting a show next month, I think we need to take it with us and let him pass judgement then. I bought 2 guns from him today so I don't feel bad just asking him to look at it for maybe 30 seconds. I hate buying and replacing parts on anything when it's guess work. I'll look into some more and maybe it will make sense.

If any of you have had an SKS that the clip wouldn't stay in because of a broken part, please let me know.  I know, me descriptions are as bad as my camera work!   

Thanks
Joe

[Target]

Sounds like the spring in the magazine release button/lever/latch what ever you wanna call it was damaged or came undone, definitely not in need of a WHOLE trigger group replacement. Take out the trigger group and take some pictures of the latch area and lets see what the problem is.

If he doesnt wanna help you out, dont bother with him, I find its easiest to just avoid those kinds of people.

[entropy]

  The guy he bought it from is lazy and doesn't want to work on it. Your description is too vauge to descirbe the correct solution immediately, but Target is on the right track; the most common fix is replacing the spring. I'd try that first. Go to egunparts.com, and look at the schematic of the SKS, you'll be able to figure out what and how to replace it from there, as well as order the part from them.

[Ironnewt]

Seems like your 'dealer' is just out to make as much money as possible. I realize that things break/wear out and need more than a tweaking sometimes but from what you describe a minor adjustment/replacement may be all that's needed. Personally I say screw that 'dealer' take your money elsewhere unless he changes his tune.

[youmightbearedneck]

At the risk of sounding obnoxious, the only clip an SKS has would be a stripper clip. The part I assume you're referring to is the magazine.
That being said, I'm not sure I understand the "snap in" part of your question, due to the fact that a Yugo SKS (and 90% of other SKS's) has a fixed magazine that really only gets opened while cleaning or to facilitate dumping the unfired rounds to unload the rifle.
Unless, of course, your SKS has had some modifications that allow it to use a removable magazine of one type or another.
If this is the case, then you should be sure that it was done in compliance with 18 USC 922r so you don't get jammed up over something you didn't do, or didn't know about.
THEN you can fix what's broken...

922 (r)
The Imported Parts Law(1990)
178.39 otherwise known as 922(r) 10 Foreign parts law on semiauto Rifles & Shotguns
http://www.atf.treas.gov/regulations/27cfr178.html
Sec. 178.39 Assembly of semiautomatic rifles or shotguns.
(a) No person shall assemble a semiautomatic rifle or any shotgun using more than 10 of the imported parts listed in paragraph (c) of this section if the assembled firearm is prohibited from importation under section 925(d)(3) as not being particularly suitable for or readily adaptable to sporting purposes.
(b) The provisions of this section shall not apply to:
(1) The assembly of such rifle or shotgun for sale or distribution
by a licensed manufacturer to the United States or any department or agency thereof or to any State or any department, agency, or political subdivision thereof; or
(2) The assembly of such rifle or shotgun for the purposes of
testing or experimentation authorized by the Director under the
provisions of Sec. 178.151; or
(3) The repair of any rifle or shotgun which had been imported into or assembled in the United States prior to November 30, 1990, or the replacement of any part of such firearm.
(c) For purposes of this section, the term imported parts are:

(1) Frames, receivers, receiver castings, forgings or stampings
(2) Barrels
(3) Barrel extensions
(4) Mounting blocks (trunions)
(5) Muzzle attachments
(6) Bolts
(7) Bolt carriers
(8 ) Operating rods
(9) Gas pistons
(10) Trigger housings
(11) Triggers
(12) Hammers
(13) Sears
(14) Disconnectors
(15) Buttstocks
(16) Pistol grips
(17) Forearms, handguards
(18) Magazine bodies
(19) Followers
(20) Floorplates

I'd say #36 is causing your problem.
http://www.e-gunparts.com/schemzoom.asp?schem=2620z59-66