Axis lock dilemma

S

Slowstarter

Joined
Mar 21, 2006
Messages
552
I´ve got two mini griptilians. The 556 and the 551 NRA CE (I love them both!). Out of the box the lock was so stiff I could hardley open it one handed. So I adjusted the torx screw and God you have to be careful. A barely visible turn to the left and the knife open and close like there is no tomorow. But the blade wobbles like crazy in any direction. It feels sloppy! A little turn to the right and it won´t open or lock att all. I have to be oh so precious with my torx driver to get it right. But when I get it right (with small small adjustements) it´s perfect. No bladeplay, just a little bit sideplay, and easy to open and close.
But it´s pretty hard to find and maintain that sweetspot. How do you do to keep it perfect all the time? Buy a liner or a lockback?
 
Take the pivot screw out and put some blue loc-tite on it, adjust it to where you like it, let the loc-tite dry, and voila! No more loosening of the pivot with regular openings and closings! You can thank me later! :p
 
Slowstarter said:
But it´s pretty hard to find and maintain that sweetspot. How do you do to keep it perfect all the time? Buy a liner or a lockback?
Click to expand...

The type of the lock has nothing to do with keeping the pivot properly adjusted. If it keeps loosening up do as derrickd803 suggested and use some blue loctite on the pivot screw.
 
Thanks, sounds great. But if I´ll later decide for a faster opening/closing and won´t mind a little wobble... what do I do then?
 
I believe you can just apply heat (like from a hair dryer) to the screw, and loctite should lose its stickiness.
 
You could also try some clear nail polish if you have a significant other. Poor man's loctite.
 
Be sure you clean the screw and the pivot of all oil and grease. Also, once you have the pivot set where you want let the pivot dry for a FULL 24 HOURS, or you will be doing it again! The pivot will loosen up a little with time and use, and become smoother and smoother, and with the pivot designed as it is, you should be able to break the bond and readjust. Of course it will then need to be put through the process of reapplying some loctite.
 
Make sure to use the BLUE loctite. That is the one that can be undone. I've tried the nail polish and that worked well also.
 
I solved that problem on my Grip by taking the knife totally apart. I got my dremel out and put a mirror polish (white rouge) on every surface that in any way experienced friction during the open/close cycle. The results....WOW! I can tighten the pivot screw much tighter and the knife still opens RIGHT NOW. I mean it is ESP lightning fast and is smoothe as butter. It also has near zero slop in the blade because I can run a tighter pivot screw. Another benefit is that it does not need any lubricant which attracts grime fairly quickly causing your knife to "slow down". It took a little bit of time to do but it was technically simple enough for anyone to do. It is also very interesting to see the the inner workings of the knife.
 
bierstadt said:
I solved that problem on my Grip by taking the knife totally apart. I got my dremel out and put a mirror polish (white rouge) on every surface that in any way experienced friction during the open/close cycle. The results....WOW! I can tighten the pivot screw much tighter and the knife still opens RIGHT NOW. I mean it is ESP lightning fast and is smoothe as butter. It also has near zero slop in the blade because I can run a tighter pivot screw. Another benefit is that it does not need any lubricant which attracts grime fairly quickly causing your knife to "slow down". It took a little bit of time to do but it was technically simple enough for anyone to do. It is also very interesting to see the the inner workings of the knife.
Click to expand...

I did basically the same thing using a home made leather wheel and some white rouge on a dremel. I didn't notice all that much difference. Maybe I should use something more aggressive and work down to the white and maybe get better results?
 
I did basically the same thing using a home made leather wheel and some white rouge on a dremel. I didn't notice all that much difference. Maybe I should use something more aggressive and work down to the white and maybe get better results?
Click to expand...

I used the small soft dremel polishing wheel with Ryobi white rouge. I had to reload the wheel often with the compound as it turned black quickly and lost its cutting ability. Like I mentioned, it took a while to get done but each surface was literally like a mirror when I finished. Perhaps you should try the dremel polishing wheel instead of the leather? I don't know if it is necessary to work down to white. At least I didn't. I started and finished with the white.
 
derrickd803 said:
Take the pivot screw out and put some blue loc-tite on it, adjust it to where you like it, let the loc-tite dry, and voila! No more loosening of the pivot with regular openings and closings! You can thank me later! :p
Click to expand...

Just dont do it with nail polish! I found out the hard way...
 
Before you put loctight on you pivot try Teflon Tape. It works great. It won't harden on you, and it holds things nice and snug.
 
Tiny86 said:
Before you put loctight on you pivot try Teflon Tape. It works great. It won't harden on you, and it holds things nice and snug.
Click to expand...


Plumbing tape is for plumbing pipes, very different threads than what you find on a knife. You could end up damaging the threads on a knife because there is not enough space in the threads.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thread_seal_tape
 
rmc85 said:
Just dont do it with nail polish! I found out the hard way...
Click to expand...

Why is that? I have used nail polish quite a few times and the couple years I worked in a bike shop in college that was about all we used. What problem did you end up with?
 
I don't want to step on tiny's toes or doubt knifenut but....
I know that tiny has been doing this for a long time and he knows his knives.
I have never used the tape, I'm a bit too impatient to try that.
Loc-tite after cleaning the pivot and assy very clear of oil works for me on at least a dozen knives. Not too much. Adjust the pivot to the sweet spot. No hurry loc-tite does not dry right away. You can easily break the pivot of the loc-tite in the future if needed with a firm grip (no phun intended) and a good T10 Torx driver. It will still be tighter after because even dried Loc-tite takes up the slack of the loose pivot.

I have found this issue 25% of the time on Grips and always fix it with no problems.
Just my way of doing it. All others I'm sure work as well.
 
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Tiny86 said:
Before you put loctight on you pivot try Teflon Tape. It works great. It won't harden on you, and it holds things nice and snug.
Click to expand...

+1

I've also had great luck with thread tape on BM pivot screws.
The Pivot screws are plenty large enough to handle teflon tape.

I'm getting tired of taking BM knives apart and cleaning out lock-tite,
(from the pivot area), that stuff gets everywhere inside.

Occasionally I'll put a touch of flexible bond glue on clip screws.

-Ron
 
knifenut1013 said:
Plumbing tape is for plumbing pipes, very different threads than what you find on a knife. You could end up damaging the threads on a knife because there is not enough space in the threads.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thread_seal_tape
Click to expand...

How would it damaging the threads? I don't know but my guess is that in order for that to happen the tape would have to be harder then the materiel use to make the pivot screws. Anyway, I have never had a problem with that. Teflon tape is great stuff. Try it, I think you will like it.


JEEZ Doc, did you have to stomp on my toes quit so hard??? Freaking hell man!!
;):D
 
Tiny86 said:
How would it damaging the threads? I don't know but my guess is that in order for that to happen the tape would have to be harder then the materiel use to make the pivot screws. Anyway, I have never had a problem with that. Teflon tape is great stuff. Try it, I think you will like it.
Click to expand...
Well I'm sold. Between you and 440hard (another trusted source.)
What do I have to loose? I just had to stand up and put Teflon tape on my
shopping list. I don't like to get up often.:rolleyes:

Man I'm turning into quite the knife mechanic with your most excellent advice and my new Wiha Torx drivers. Yes that right it's official.
I'm a knife nerd.
 
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