Bladeplay in BM 735 Ares

Django606

Django606

Gold Member
Joined
Jul 22, 2005
Messages
1,184
I got an Ares a few weeks ago, with virtually no flaws, smooth action, and perfect grinds. I soon noticed that it had some side to side blade play and a little vertical bladeplay. I've read a few reviews of the knife on this forum and every one said "Rock solid lockup with no bladeplay." The bladeplay goes away as soon as I tighten the pivot, but the knife is almost unusable (really hard to open and close) when I tighten it enough to get rid of all the bladeplay. My question is, is there something else I can do besides tightening the pivot to keep the smooth action (flickability as well) and get rid of the play at the same time? If not, will I just have to find the balance between the two and live with it?

This really disappoints me, because when everything about a knife is perfect, and you want to say it has rock solid lockup, you can't. :(
 
Well, you could try a thicker washer or change of washer material.

I can't recall if the Ares knives I've handled had bronze washers (bushings) or not, but sometimes a change to them makes a knife tighter.
 
Mine has nylon washers. I was thinking of calling BM and having them send me a pair of bronze washers. Do you think they would want me to send in the knife for them to replace the washers, or do you think they would just send them to me?

Thanks for the reply.
 
Probably. Benchmade is really quite possessive on the warranty front.

Email them to verify first, then if you need to mail it off, decide if its worth it to you to not have it for a month.

You can also take one of the bushing out and drop by a hardware/electrical parts store and see if they have any that will do. A little smaller outside diameter is okay, but inside diameter should be the same.

Could also give Knifekits.com an email to see what they would suggest.
 
Did you get it NIB? Some of the Axis folders I've had have needed a break-in period (maybe 300 flick openings) before they really locked up good and tight, my Ares included.

Love that knife. :thumbup:
 
Yes, I bought the knife NIB. I would've thought flicking the knife would make the bladeplay worse, but you probably know better than I do. I have flicked it probably 100-150 times or more. But I'll keep doing it, thanks for the response.
 
Sorry for the double post, but I just wanted to let you guys know that the vertical bladeplay is gone, I think because I followed through with Bucky's suggestion (thanks). The side to side play is still there, and really obvious, so I'm hoping Benchmade will send me the washers instead of me having to send them my Ares for a month:eek:
 
As much as i hate to say it, you are going to have to send it in friend.

Plus, when you talk to them, list all your concerns on a piece of paper aswell in the box you send it in.

Send it off quick, so you have it for the rest of the summer.


WR
 
Hmmm, that's too bad... I don't think Benchmade will just send you the washers, because their warrantee is void if the knife is disassembled by the user. You might want to check out knifekits.com to see about getting some washers yourself.
 
I think that is what I will do. http://knifekits.com/store/s-pages/kk_store_1mainframe.htm?kk_products_parts_main.htm~smain The third over seem to be the right size (3/16), right? At $1.89 a set, that would be much better than sending my knife to BM for a month. Hopefully the knife will be smoother and have no blade play as well.

Thanks for the suggestions.

edit: whoops, the link doesn't really lead right to the PB washers, but scroll down a bit and you can find them.
 
Yeah, I was definitely going to get PB. I guess I didn't make that clear in my post. The 3/16" inch is the only one on that site that looks like the ones found in my Ares, so I'll order those.
 
If you do that route, when you re-assemble, tighten and the screws in stages, keep checking blade alignment and handle alignment untill they are uniformly tight.

This will help assure a centered blade and keep the axis and the ramps in check. then tighten the pivot is how i do mine.

Sorry, probably goes without saying, but i had to.

Peace

WR
 
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