XM8 Disassembly DEATH TO 56k... eventually
 

I cant sleep, and its 5:00 in the morning.. Im bored out of my mind and i cant sleep. I decided to make a thread showing how to disassemble a Matrix Metal Gearbox XM8. I'll add the step by step once i get the images loaded

Okay here we go.

Here is my xm8. I took off the piece of crap scope, and im getting a rail to mount my rds onto.
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...pgrades004.jpg

First off you can either take off the front or the stock. I chose to take off the front. You need to remove two pins, one by the carrying handle, and the other.. that huge silver thing.

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...pgrades006.jpg
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...pgrades007.jpg
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...pgrades008.jpg

Next is the stock. for this gun it is attached by one big pin

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...pgrades009.jpg
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...pgrades011.jpg
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...pgrades012.jpg

Now that the stock and the front grip is off, we need to take one pin out of the gun. It is right under the carry handle.


http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...pgrades014.jpg


Then you pull up slightly, and pull away from the gun

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...pgrades016.jpg
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...pgrades017.jpg

Now to remove the hopup. This hopup is attached by two screws and should be able to wobble enough to get it out. This is how the directions said to do it, and i tried it. seemed like it put too much stress on the gun, and i'm going to try to find a better way of taking it off short of taking out the gearbox too.

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...pgrades018.jpg

Now in the front of the body, there is a screw attached to a nut. you remove these, and now the barrel can move pretty freely. twist the barrel so the thing hanging down can get past, and you can remove the barrel. you can choose to try to remove the hopup now, but if your going to take out the gearbox, its much easier later.

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...pgrades020.jpg
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...pgrades022.jpg

The barrel might be stuck inside the hopup, but it should come loose pretty easy

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...pgrades024.jpg
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...pgrades025.jpg
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...pgrades026.jpg

This time i took out the hopup before the gearbox,

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...pgrades027.jpg
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...pgrades028.jpg

Now we have the grip/handle and the gearbox.

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...pgrades030.jpg

In order to get the gearbox out, you need to unscrew a hex screw from the base of the handle. i used a 5/32" allen wrench

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...pgrades031.jpg
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...pgrades033.jpg
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...pgrades034.jpg

I found that it is easiest to get the gearbox out by pushing through the handle, (where you just took off that black end thing) and it should pop right out.

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...pgrades035.jpg

Now for the gearbox.

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...pgrades036.jpg



First i took off the motor

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...pgrades039.jpg

Here is a picture of the screws that came out of the gearbox

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...pgrades038.jpg

Here is a picture of the safety

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...pgrades043.jpg

Opened up gearbox

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...pgrades044.jpg

Other half

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...pgrades046.jpg

NOTE: WHEN YOU PUT THE GEARBOX BACK IN, CHECK THAT THE SAFETY LINES UP. THE PLASTIC SELECTOR ON THE LEFT SIDE IS FRAGILE.

I had a ton of trouble trying to get the trigger back on because you had to keep part of a spring through a hole, get the trigger into a hole, and while doing that attach another part onto the trigger, the part that pushes the thing forward that completes the circuit. I didn't get a good shot of it, but it is that grey thing behind the trigger.

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...pgrades045.jpg

If i did anything wrong that might endanger someone elses gun, dont be shy :P

Great procedure! I always thought the scope slid over the carry handle. I was very surprised when I removed the scope to reveal a big empty void. Many thanks for putting this guide together.