M1 Carbine, gas piston help.

[A.J. Holst]

Nut removed, can't get the piston out. It moves freely, looks like a retaining  ring is holding it in.

(Bolt re-assembled with tool, worth the money!)

Got my parts.

Some are historically preserved in cosmoline,  best way to clean? 

Aside from making sure the stripped bolt is spotless, any thing else I should address?

Would I be well served to hit the gas nut with some of kind of penetrating fluid?

I'm digging the skills and knowledge I'm learning working on this project

Edited August 26, 2016 by Gotthegoods

[Ted S.]

For cosmoline I take all the metal parts apart, coat them liberally in oil, put them in a plastic bag for a few days, wipe down and repeat as necessary.

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[A.J. Holst]

Bump for help

[Grayfox54]

The gas piston is probably being held by a ring of carbon fouling. Hit it with a good spray cleaner like Gun Scrubber or brake cleaner. Let it soak for a while. In severe cases you may have to use a small tool to scrape the ring out. 

When you put the piston nut back, be sure to peen the edge of the gas chamber at one of the nut openings to prevent it from working loose. It doesn't take much.