Adjusting a ball detent in a production folder?

T

TD22057

Joined
Oct 30, 2007
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83
I just picked up a nice Benchmade 670-701 (limited edition damasteel) with a liner lock. The action is incredibly stiff and if I tighten the pivot to eliminate any side to side play, it's really difficult to open. However, if I check it when the knife is open for the little arc before the blade hits the ball detent, it's nice and smooth and about the friction I would expect. I can really feel (and hear) the ball detent dragging on the blade as I open it.

This leads me to believe that the ball detent is too proud of the liner lock spring and needs to be sunk down more. I realize I could just sent this in but I generally like to mess with things like this myself. Is there any reason (besides warranty concerns) that I shouldn't use a washer as a spacer and a punch to drive the ball in further? I'm also considering doing the same with a steel block and using my vice to slowly press it in further.

Thanks,
Ted
 
In case anyone cares, I decided to go ahead and try adjusting the ball detent. Measured it with micrometer and used a punch to sink it 0.005" further in the liner. The knife is now smooth as silk with just the right amount of friction on the blade.
 
Glad it worked out,that is often the case with prodution folders where the ball is set by machine.
Stan
 
Not sure I understand. Here's what I imagine:

Say the ball is .01 proud. You find a .005 washer with a little tiny hole so that the punch will span the hole. Then you tap the ball in until the punch hits the washer, so the ball is now .005 lower.

Is that remotely like what you did?
 
wsfarrell said:
Not sure I understand. Here's what I imagine:

Say the ball is .01 proud. You find a .005 washer with a little tiny hole so that the punch will span the hole. Then you tap the ball in until the punch hits the washer, so the ball is now .005 lower.

Is that remotely like what you did?
Click to expand...

Yes. Of course I couldn't find shims that are the right thickness so I just used a punch to tap the ball until it moved. Start softly and check each hit with calipers until I got 0.005" movement. 0.005" was purely a guess on my part but happened to work perfectly - which I'm sure is because of my own incredible intuition ;) ;)
 
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