0560 detent. Can a weaker one be made more strong?

PURPLEDC · Apr 1, 2012

Ive never tried to make a detent stronger. But my question is that with so many people talking about their 0560's being hard to open Im wondering if KAI can make mine harder to flip. The detent on mine I guess is what most of the haters would call perfect. It requires very little to open the blade and its just enough to have the blade lock up. But I see others in youtube videos where the blade is faster. So Im guessing its the lack of the detent from hell. So maybe Thomas can answer. If I send my knife in can you guys make the detent stronger? If not its cool I like it as is and Ill just get another.

Thomas W · Apr 1, 2012

PURPLEDC said:
But my question is that with so many people talking about their 0560's being hard to open...

Let's not overstate here. The percentage of folks we've heard from on the heavy detent is very small.

Im wondering if KAI can make mine harder to flip. The detent on mine I guess is what most of the haters would call perfect. It requires very little to open the blade and its just enough to have the blade lock up. But I see others in youtube videos where the blade is faster. So Im guessing its the lack of the detent from hell.

I posted this a few days ago.

Thomas W said:
Every 0560/61 is going to be unique and at the same time differ themselves from their "twins". How each individual prefers their set-up is not always how their knife will show up. Tweaking to taste can be dangerous for those that are inexperienced, and sending in and trusting we know your "feel" will be touchy.

Together we'll all do our very best to dial in our 0560/61 to the best of our abilities.

If I send my knife in can you guys make the detent stronger?

If you feel the detent is too light, thus susceptible to accidental opening send her in.

PURPLEDC · Apr 1, 2012

Thanks Thomas. I feel the need to apologize. I know that the number of people having issue with this knife is small and Im sorry for implying otherwise. I forget that if I dont choose my words carefully that it may give new comers the wrong impression. My knife is in fact perfect. Im not going to send it back as like you say there is no risk of it opening in my pocket. I guess my post was a poor attempt at trying to get people who feel the strong detent is "wrong" to accept that its actually better to have a strong detent than a weak one. Im loving my 0560 and I doubt I would be able to send it back even if there was NO detent. I just couldnt bare to part with it.

jimmer_5 · Apr 2, 2012

Purple,

No need for apologies, as a matter of fact I've been enjoying your posts lately. To answer your question, a little background will help. There are three important factors governing detent strength:

1. The height of the detent ball - The detent ball is pressed into a hole in the lockbar. How deep it is pressed into that hole helps determine how strong the detent will be - a deeper ball makes for softer detent, while a shallower ball will stick up higher and cause a stronger detent.

2. The position of the detent hole - The detent ball interacts with the edge of this hole to create what we feel as "detent". The depending on position, the ball can fall into the hole deeper and cause a stronger detent.

3. The strength of the bend in the lockbar - Bending the lockbar further creates more pressure in the lockup as well as more pressure in the detent. Bending it less has the opposite effect in both cases.

All of these factors play their part in detent strength, and tiny variations in tolerance can impact the feel significantly. Some variation in feel is inevitable, despite the precise tolerances we hold our parts to.

The answer to your question is, yes, we can adjust the detent for you if necessary. I can't officially recommend that you do it yourself though.

jfever311 · Jun 30, 2012

Search function scores again!!

The 0560 I just purchased suffers from a very weak detent. So much that I have to keep the pivot tightened down enough that the blade cannot swing freely, otherwise the blade can deploy at will. I would really like a stronger detent so that I could have the pivot a hair looser. I also agree that a stronger detent actually aids in deploying the blade via the flipper. I'll be calling you guys on Monday to discuss further.

dogboye · Jun 30, 2012

I must be lucky, and I don't mean this to sound snotty... But my 560 arrived as perfect as any knife I've ever bought. I can't believe that even a Sbenza could be any better.

SCAR face · Jun 30, 2012

Mine has a very strong detent. I couldn't open it when I have a finger rest anywhere on the upper half of the the lock bar, even with slightest pressure, left or right hand.

I tried to bend the lock bar back to release the pressure, only to ended up with not so positive lock up with no improvement on detent pressure. I also tried to loosen up the pivot screw a bit. It does help with ease up the opening, just like those VIDs we've seen on YouTube, but the blade becomes decentered.

It is definitely not a good feeling when you have to part with a brand new knife you just bought, but they are my last hope. Plus, sooner you send it in, sooner you'll get it back( hopefully the way you want it).

RevDevil · Jun 30, 2012

SCAR face said:
Mine has a very strong detent. I couldn't open it when I have a finger rest anywhere on the upper half of the the lock bar, even with slightest pressure, left or right hand.

I tried to bend the lock bar back to release the pressure, only to ended up with not so positive lock up with no improvement on detent pressure. I also tried to loosen up the pivot screw a bit. It does help with ease up the opening, just like those VIDs we've seen on YouTube, but the blade becomes decentered.

It is definitely not a good feeling when you have to part with a brand new knife you just bought, but they are my last hope. Plus, sooner you send it in, sooner you'll get it back( hopefully the way you want it).

This knife cannot really be adjust by the pivot. If you tighten it down all the way, it will still be the same as if it is loosened a full turn. Tighten the pivot all the way.
Bending the lockbar is always a risky proposition because you might ruin the lock up leading to a v unsafe knife. keep in mind, new knives have to be broken in to some degree. 9 out of 10 times the cause is bad technique, not a defective knife. YMMV

SCAR face · Jul 1, 2012

Mine was different. It can go from not moving freely to hanging on its own weight with just quarter of a turn on pivot screw.

About the lock bar, ..yea.. I found that out the hard way. What can I do, I was extremely desperate! I spent most oft waking hours try to "wear" it in, waking up, driving to and from work, while I'm at work. Heck.., I even do it while feeding my baby! By the end of the forth day my fingers just couldn't take it anymore and it still wouldn't budge. In the end, the knife won.. I sent it back.

Sorry for hijacking the thread. Now back to the OP please.

jfever311 · Jul 1, 2012

Yeah, thats how mine is. If I were to tighten the pivot all the way down the blade will not even deploy without opening in like a lockback. A full turn will have it so loose that the blade develops side play and the knife feels like it's about to fall apart. From what you guys are saying, this is not the norm. This being the case, would it be a advise of you guys to send it in to get checked out?

mkelsey6 · Jul 1, 2012

jfever311 said:
Yeah, thats how mine is. If I were to tighten the pivot all the way down the blade will not even deploy without opening in like a lockback. A full turn will have it so loose that the blade develops side play and the knife feels like it's about to fall apart. From what you guys are saying, this is not the norm. This being the case, would it be a advise of you guys to send it in to get checked out?

I would send it in and let ZT fix it up.

nwmetalbug · Jul 1, 2012

My 0560 was a little stiff and no matter how many times I opened it to break it in it wasnt getting any better. I noticed the pocket clip was tight as heck carrying it so decided to bend it out just a little. Cant believe how smooth it is now it made all the differance its smooth as glass now. The clip was depressing the lock bar just enough to cause friction.

jfever311 · Jul 1, 2012

I just tried the very opposite. TIghtened the pocket clip up in that position, but it did not help.

SCAR face · Jul 1, 2012

nwmetalbug said:
My 0560 was a little stiff and no matter how many times I opened it to break it in it wasnt getting any better. I noticed the pocket clip was tight as heck carrying it so decided to bend it out just a little. Cant believe how smooth it is now it made all the differance its smooth as glass now. The clip was depressing the lock bar just enough to cause friction.

Oh yea.. I totally forgot this!

I had to do the same thing too. The clip actually causes enough pressure on the lock bar. No wonder why real Hinderers have pocket clip rest on lock bar disk..

tradestar · Jul 1, 2012

I guess my detent is a little on the weaker side, but that is how I like my KVT beauty. It just glides out. When you choke down towards the butt of the knife it flies out pretty good. I like the fact that it feels different from my ZT SA knifes that open the same every time, which is awesome. But the KVT flipper gives you that choice of smooth glide or faster deployment, depending on your hand position on the handle.