Benchmade 710 - loose pivot

Z

Zzzen_Dog

Joined
Aug 19, 2001
Messages
106
Okay, so my Benchmade 710 (EDC) and I took an impromptu dip in the ocean a few months back. Needless to say, the knife was significantly worse off after being soaked in salt water. I took it to the local knife shop for a thorough cleaning (and yes, I know that this voided the warranty).

Here's the problem, ever since the blade has a bit of play in it, both closed and opened. I've tightnened the pivot screw, which corrects the problem temporarily, but within a day or two the screw is loose once again. I also have to be careful not to tighten the screw too much or I can't open the knife easily. The screw can now be adjusted with just thumb pressure.

Any suggestions on correcting this problem? I've read some comments about using something called lock-tight, but I'm not familiar with this product.

I really love this knife, and I am not looking to replace it, any help would be appreciated.

Zzzen_Dog
 
The shop that worked on your knife may not have reassembled it correctly. I'd take it back to them and ask them to try again before I did anything esle.
 
Have you contacted Benchmades customer service department? I hear positive things about them. They may fix it, even though it has been taken apart. All they can do is say no. Give them a shot.
 
Try some Loctite on the pivot screw. You can get some at your local gun shop or even a hardware store. Put a very tiny bit of the blue stuff on the pivot screw and tighten it to the desired tension and let it set for a while. Don't put too much Loctite on the screw or else you'll have a mess and won't be able to open the thing.
 
Since you've already voided the warranty.... get yourself a set of different size torx screwdrivers (a 6,7,8,9 and 10 should do it.) They sell them at Sears and they are only a couple bucks a piece. Then take your 710 apart, paying attention to how it is assembled and clean it properly, lublicate it and then do the loc-tite to the pivot screw. Knife assembly is fairly straightforward so you don't need to be a rocket scientist to maintain you own knives. I take all my knives apart for periodic cleaning and lubing and haven't had a problem yet.
 
Since no one mentioned it, loctite, and fingernail polish are essentially the same thing. Just don't use too much, makes a mess and yer wife might get mad.:D
 
Be forewarned, the 710 can be 70% striped down, but it is very difficult to do 100%. I gave up for fear of damaging it. I was however able to do enough to clean and lube the knife. Sounds like the washers are out of line. If you mess up with the loctite, acetone will remove the super glue and many recommend it as a remover. So you can only try...
 
Thanks for all your comments.

General: I've actually stripped the knife down myself, and as you said, it can only be 70% completed. Something to do with the plastic spacer between the two metal liners. I too, was afraid to go further, for fear of irrepairably damaging it. Wonder if anyone else has experience with this? It would be nice to completely disassemble the knife.

I will try some lock-tite, hopefully that will eleviate the current problem.

Thanks again.

Zzzen_Dog
 
H2O - Since no one mentioned it, loctite, and fingernail polish are essentially the same thing.
Click to expand...

Steady on there, H2O. Loctite compounds are anaerobic adhesives. That basically means that they cure (and fast!) when deprived of air. I'm not saying that nail polish won't work, because I've never tried it.
Another point to be wary of: Don't use the "high strength" type if you ever plan to disassemble your knife again.


(One last thing: Don't try to use Loctite as nail polish - it'll take forever to dry, and is "known to the state of California" as a carcinogen :eek: :barf: )
 
Originally posted by seabell


Another point to be wary of: Don't use the "high strength" type if you ever plan to disassemble your knife again.
Click to expand...

Loctite comes in red and blue (among others). I believe you want blue, which confusingly enough comes in a red tube?!?!:confused: This one is designed to come apart with hand tools, as opposed to the red which will probably require at least power tools... not a pretty thought on a nice knife...

Good luck,
Rob
 
I can only tell you that I bought a "clipless BM 812" and upon recieving it banged off a quick E-mail to benchmade. Within 30 seconds, TODD NOTEBLOOM, a customer service manager was ringing my phone. Todd is a 100% cerified knifeknut, carries a 710 ONLY as his EDC and is very dedicated to seeing that lots of BM's are sold and that customers are HAPPY, he made me VERY HAPPY. So E-mail him and just tell him what happened and what you did to correct it. Void the warranty? I have no idea. Will Todd insure benchmade stands behind their 710? Yeah, he thinks they are great. He also likes/loves other knives but I will not blow his cover, but benchmade pays him well to make sure Benchmade sells!!!! worst case is Todd will sit ya down and with the appropriate Torx screw drivers to use. He will walk you thru a step by step take down and you describe each part's condition as he helps ya reassemble. AND YES he will say USE LOCKTITE!!!! BEST case and in my limited dealing with BM customer service, they will ask for your address, mail you a pre-paid shipping box and take your 710 and fix it or REPLACE it FREE. Will they? But as of late, many of the Knife makers and manufacturer's want business and to get it the customers need to feel important, so go 4 it!!!!!wolf
 
Originally posted by Zzzen_Dog
...it can only be 70% completed. Something to do with the plastic spacer between the two metal liners. I too, was afraid to go further, for fear of irrepairably damaging it.
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I've disassembled my 710(s) and do that on regularly, for cleaning.
That spacer can be removed, w/o any damage to it or the liners.
He only thing I was unable to remove was the axis bar itself(Removable on 940 models).

P.S. And I use blue loctite on all pivot screws, just a drop, enough to prevent loosening, and won't be a prob for next disassembly.
 
Z DOG, like Gator said they can be broken down to the point where lock bar remains in the liner. At that point, you can clean it and lube it.
 
Drill a hole through the pivot screw and run a piece of weed-whacker line through it. The screw won't move, unless you move it. No need for Loctite.
 

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Shane,
OOPS!!! I sure do!!!! TRAVIS, I apologize!!!! I have been in the Garage to long!!! MR. NOTEBLOOM, you are a GREAT BENCHMADE Executive!!!! Keep up the super work. Shane, do I owe ya just one beer or two???
wolf:o
 
Originally posted by wolfmann601
Shane, do I owe ya just one beer or two???
wolf:o
Click to expand...

You'll probably offer me some of that American pee-water that y'all like to call beer, so better make it two! :p :)
 
I got as far as the axis lock bar being in the liner and stopped there. The axis looks quite a complex bit of kit so I did not go any further. A good tip this, if you want a quick clean out of a knife, use hot water at a high setting from a power shower, let dry, then squirt in a bit of WD-40 or GT-85 to flush the area and then use some of the pressurised Finish Line Dry Teflon which will dry to a film of almost pure Teflon. It is great for getting at parts that otherwise need a total strip to get at. I finish a day later with a few drops of Militech-1!:D
 
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