A question for long term Zero Tolerance owners.

[Therom]

Torsion bars and springs in general don't deserve the bad reputation some are making to them
Some may have issues, for sure, but from the knives I had I never had issues with my speedsafe, axis or backlock (which also has a kind of bar inside) knives
At least in the last 7-8 years


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[Aldebaran]

Torsion bars and springs in general don't deserve the bad reputation some are making to them
Some may have issues, for sure, but from the knives I had I never had issues with my speedsafe, axis or backlock (which also has a kind of bar inside) knives
At least in the last 7-8 years

So because you haven't had a problem, nobody else's problems count? Really?

 

[Therom]

So because you haven't had a problem, nobody else's problems count? Really?

No but it works the other way round
Because people may have experienced problems doesn't mean the technology is crap

Maybe I have a wrong interpretation but it seems that there is not a majority of problems or at least nothing that shall be a blocking point for purchasing a speed assist or axis lock knife

It remember me a topic on bearing vs washer that was more about pathos than reason


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[TheEdge01]

The Omega spring replacement every few months seems a little extreme to me. I have knives with Axis locks that are older than some of the people on this forum and they have original springs. I've had a couple of knives with not a lot of kick on the torsion spring, so I got replacements. After that, I had zero issues. I would make it a practice to send my knife in unless it needed a lot of work.

It does seem extreme, I contacted them before I purchased my first Benchmade knife. It concerned me because I have never spent that much on a knife before and I wanted to find out how well the springs held up. Of course, they told me different situations that can lead up to spring failure and that some springs can last 10 years and others can break before then. Anyway, they ended up telling me to send it in every few months.

 

[Sonnydaze]

Hey guys, I recently bought my first Zero Tolerance, a 0566 Black Wash. I am just curious about how well the torsion bar holds up. Zero Tolerance says they test them up to 10000 openings. Should I just have it replaced every so often or wait until it breaks? I prefer to keep it assisted. How long have you guys went without having to replace your torsion bar?

If ZT tests them, without failure, to 10,000 openings, then it seems reasonable that the failure rate is perhaps not greater than one failure for every five knives in 15,000 openings. Just WHAT do you want?

 

[MarkN86]

The AO is a neat system and is pretty reliable. My beef with it is that the blade will not stay closed on some models if that torsion bar is not there. I had one fail at work once and had to carry it around like that until I could take it to my vehicle. It's pure cheapness/laziness not to drill a ball detent hole.

Does the 566 have a ball detent hole? If so it's not a concern. It's still a great flipper.

And on that note are newer models ball detent holes being drilled on the Kershaws?

 

[yoz's friend]

i have a zt 0301 i bought in 2007. i use it as a hammer,pry bar, throwing knife carry it on the 3 knife rotation since new. wear it to the atlantic ocean about 2-3 times a week. when it get clogged up feeling i hit it with brake cleaner and then wd40. it fire fast as ever. fired it thousand times at lest.

 

[Brusiedmeat]

i have a zt 0301 i bought in 2007. i use it as a hammer,pry bar, throwing knife carry it on the 3 knife rotation since new. wear it to the atlantic ocean about 2-3 times a week. when it get clogged up feeling i hit it with brake cleaner and then wd40. it fire fast as ever. fired it thousand times at lest.

Looks like you have had some success here with brake cleaner, an awesome cleaning agent, but can do damage to plastic, rubber, and possibly corrosive to some of the steels used in knives. But if one had to go this way I would probably go with carb cleaner that was more friendly with plastic/rubber. 4d-w40 is a degreaser/cleaner as well, so I would not recommend this on a ball bearing knife, unless using it as cleaner. I usually just them apart and clean and polish/lube as needed. The hot water and little bit of soap does wonders as well and even better if you can give a quick air blast in the pivot with compressed air.

 

[yoz's friend]

actually i use bothe carb or brake cleaner what ever i have i the shop. and then i rinse it out with wd40. been doing this for years with my zt and my cold steel voyager. just use the wd on my 0900.

 

[Basp2005]

I have Kershaws and ZT's, never had a speed safe assist break. Although my 0350 is de-assisted and I like it much better that way.

 

[Aldebaran]

No but it works the other way round
Because people may have experienced problems doesn't mean the technology is crap;

I didn't say the technology was crap. I said the implementation was bad. I don't mind sparring over points but please at least try to not make straw man arguments.

Maybe I have a wrong interpretation but it seems that there is not a majority of problems or at least nothing that shall be a blocking point for purchasing a speed assist or axis lock knife

Everyone has their opinion and yours is as important as anyone's. I don't know if the majority have a problem, or if only a minority speak up. All I know is that I have two knives from KAI and both have had torsion spring failures where I felt it should not have happened This is my opinion and data point among others. Nothing more, nothing less.

It remember me a topic on bearing vs washer that was more about pathos than reason

I also seem to remember that I admitted my possible prejudice against bearings without direct experience with bearing pivot knives. I have purchased two and am evaluating my opinion against reality. The difference here? I have actual experience with two KAI knives and their sprimgs failing in what I consider to be in an unreasonable amount of use. I also have experience in designing and analyzing springs and their failure modes. I can't say that I am in the same situation as my other post about ball bearing pivots. How in @#$% does my post on bearings have anything to do with ZT knives and my direct experience with their spring failures?

I can admit when I am wrong or might be wrong. I guess honesty is not regarded highly by some people.

 

[Therom]

I guess honesty is not regarded highly by some people.

Maybe our perception are also biased on internet forums in genral where problems are over-represented.

I am sad for your torsion bar breaking.
I have own 3 ZT0350 and never had an issue.
Maybe the torsion bar is in default on yours, but I would also check the tolerance on the frame.
If the torsion bar break regularly after being replaced on a particular knife, a root cause may also be the position of the holes fixing the torsion bar. If they are missplaced or faulted this may generate additionnal constraints on the bar.

If you are in the US maybe can you arrange with ZT to have your knife returned and inspected.

 

[Lapedog]

Saying someone is using a strawman argument is the ultimate strawman argument these days.