Axis lock--clicking sound when blade is half opened?

S

str8flexed

Joined
Sep 16, 2007
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107
I just got a new Benchmade w/ the Axis lock. Nice knife. However, if I open the blade it makes a small clicking noise before the blade is fully locked--when it is about 90 degrees with the body of the knife. Is this normal?

It is the 525 (Mini-Presidio) btw.
 
I just got a Hardtail - and my axis lock does not make a clicking noise when the blade is 90 degrees to the frame. Can you see the lock pin riding against the tang of the blade? What is is hitting on to make that noise?
 
No it is not normal as none of mine do it. Can you tell where it is coming from or what is causing it to happen?

How loud is it? Barely audible or as loud as when the blade locks into place?

Does it look like the blade is making contact with anything in the handle?

If you don't see anything and it's not very loud I would guess it will probably go away as it breaks in.
 
I can see the pin riding against the tang. Nothing is hitting each other there. I think it sounds like it's the omega spring inside making some sort of clicking noise. Not as loud as when it locks into place, but more of a softer high pitched click (kind of like a keyboard button click, but a little softer).

It's actually when the blade is about 45 degrees open. And it looks like it's right when the axis pin is switching directions to go upward again when it clicks. (Starting with the blade closed, and slowly opening it, the axis pin moves downward, then at 45 degrees it starts moving upwards again, and at this change of direction it clicks.)
 
I had a grip that had a slight tick when I bought it, after some use and break in it went away. It could just need to be flicked around for a day or two. Or it could an omega spring that isn't seated correctly and when it is at it's fully compressed stage it may be shifting somewhat. It probably just needs to see some use so everything can work its way in.
 
I might try to take it apart (shh). I just need some smaller torx screws. Either way, I'll probably keep it. Thanks for the replies guys.
 
str8flexed said:
I might try to take it apart (shh). I just need some smaller torx screws. Either way, I'll probably keep it. Thanks for the replies guys.
Click to expand...

I'd use for a while before plunging into taking it apart. If it persists then you may want to do a little disassembly and lube it some. On paper taking it apart will void your warranty, but I've never heard where Benchmade actually carried through with that.
 
Before taking it apart you might just want to blast some lube down in there around the lock. A little lube never hurt anything and it might fix it.
 
Some do click, nature of the beast. It's either the sound of the springs tapping against the liner/scales or the holes the spring ends fit into.
 
All of mine do. I dont care.

I usually hold the bar back and flip them open anyway.
 
Thanks guys for the replies. I'll just accept it as it is. I just wanted to make sure there was nothing "wrong" with it. :-D
 
Just to add to what the others said, my 525 clicks also when opening. Hasn't failed in years, makes the same sound every time.
 
Out of the 4 Axis locks I own none make any noise except when locking the blade open. But it does appear as if its common by the replies in this thread.
 
My 940D2CF clicks. My 940Ti-01 clicks. My 710HS clicks. My 705-401 clicked. My 805D2 AFCK clicked. But they all click at the exact point where the blade overcomes the spring action that holds it closed (or at the point where it engages), not at 90 degrees (I assume by 90 degrees you mean at a perpendicular to the handles).

Fresh lube gets rid of the click, but the click returns quickly, even though the pivot is lubed perfectly well. Nature of the beast. If yours is clicking differently than all the AXIS locks I've had, then something does seem wrong.
 
The only axis Ive bad that does it is the exact knife as the OPs... Minu Presidio Ultra... I think it si the Omega springs... it happens just as the axis bar travels over the bump htat keeps the knife closed... not a big deal.... seems to me that the bump on this one is larger than the Grips and 940 I've had... I LOVE it because the closed retention is much better than any other axis I've owned.
 
I think that people are talking about two different clicking sounds. the two clicks when you open the knife, and the five or six when opening the knife. My 930 kulgera would click 5 or 6 times when opening, I got rid of it with some fresh lube. But both my Presidio ultra and my Kulgera click twice when opening, its normal.
 
My BM930 makes the sound when it changes travel direction on the blade too. If you open it really slowly and watch, you should be able to see that it clicks right when it passes that little bump in the blade that tensions the springs. I figure that there's just a small amount of space between the lock-bar and the blade that causes it to lose contact for just a moment like a bike going over a ramp would. If you watch the lock-bar stud very closely while doing this opening and closing on mine, you can see it jump forward as it goes over the crest of that hump.

If you take a needle, you can put it on the side of the omega springs that are exposed and push them to the side a little. If they're broken, then they should be able to be moved really easily, and should kind of "rotate" around the lock-bar instead of move straight back.

The only other thing in that portion of my knife I've found that makes noise is the rails cut for the lock-bar if you use your own springs and don't "tuck them in" right. The sides of the spring can kind of clip the cut-outs in the liners as they pass. You'd be able to feel this in the action though, and from my experience it makes an inconsistent sound, whereas the lock-bar click is a very consistent little "tick".

In any case, the "tick" on the lock-bar has never bothered me, but considering I've broken two AXIS springs then maybe it is a problem? It was there with the original springs, and persisted with custom ones though... Still I'm thinking it's just the way that that little "hump" is machined into the blade that leaves some of them with more clearance than they should have, and makes a little "click" as the lock-bar passes over the top.
 
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