Can Anybody Clean Up Buggered Pivot Body Threads For Me? (FIXED!!)

Q

qqqqqqqman

Joined
Apr 1, 2005
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70
I have an unused Kizer Megatherium with buggered threads in the pivot body….the pivot screw will only go 2 turns in.

I went to 2 hardware stores and no one had anything that fit to re-tap (or clean) the pivot body threads. As such, the knife sits disassembled.

Kizer sent me a NEW pivot body, but the knife blade will not center, even when fully tightened…both the blade and the pivot have a little play with the new pivot. It’s almost like the new pivot body is a hair too long? So, I’m relegated to trying to get the original pivot body cleaned up, if possible.

Anybody with leads to DIY fixing the threads….or know how to fix these pivot body threads themselves? Or know a knifemaker who has knowledge/tools?

Thanks for ANY HELP!!
 
I have a Buddy who's a Mechanical Engineer/Machinist. He's helped me with so many broken things (*trucks, tractors, implements, gun parts, etc.), I can't even keep count anymore. I don't know if this is even a good recommendation, but maybe someone can confirm or refute.

I think, if you found a machine shop near you, someone could run a tap down the pivot body...and probably for just a few bucks, if that. A lot of those guys, because of their jobs and skillsets, are mechanics, welders, etc.


Good luck.
 
I believe that it is Metric thread , if you can find right tap you can easy restore thread on pivot .Start taping from other side not from damaged one .
 
Male or Female threads are buggered up? Pics?

I use these thread files on male threads, just gotta make sure the pitch is correct.

Thread File here
 
bermo said:
Male or Female threads are buggered up? Pics?

I use these thread files on male threads, just gotta make sure the pitch is correct.

Thread File here
Click to expand...

ferider said:
Probably metric. Find out the size, and buy a tap online.
Click to expand...

OrangeBlueOrangeBlue said:
OP, if you have trouble finding out the pitch/size, take the pivot screw to a hardware store and find a bolt that fits the threads.
Click to expand...


Female threads of the pivot body.

Yeah, went to Home Depot and DeNault’s….they said it was metric, but didn’t have the correct size, so they couldn’t figure out the pitch, either.

Will finding a “tap” work….someone else told me I had to find “chaser tap” to prevent enlarging damage?

.
 
Natlek said:
I believe that it is Metric thread , if you can find right tap you can easy restore thread on pivot .Start taping from other side not from damaged one .
Click to expand...

Determining PITCH seems to be the problem…..basic hardware stores don’t have the right size taps to try fit.

There is only ONE SIDE available to start the tap….other side is closed.

.
 
qqqqqqqman said:
Female threads of the pivot body.

Yeah, went to Home Depot and DeNault’s….they said it was metric, but didn’t have the correct size, so they couldn’t figure out the pitch, either.

Will finding a “tap” work….someone else told me I had to find “chaser tap” to prevent enlarging damage?

.
Click to expand...
For smaller hardware, might have more luck at a hobby shop. Or just go to a machine shop and ask them to fix it...
 
qqqqqqqman said:
Female threads of the pivot body.

Yeah, went to Home Depot and DeNault’s….they said it was metric, but didn’t have the correct size, so they couldn’t figure out the pitch, either.

Will finding a “tap” work….someone else told me I had to find “chaser tap” to prevent enlarging damage?

.
Click to expand...

If you measure the outer diameter of the pivot screw and count the threads per inch, you can look it up.
 
If you can't find the proper tap at McMaster-Carr, you probably won't find it. They have screw/thread identifiers, too. They are a little pricy, and shipping is not cheap either. But if you really need it....

https://www.mcmaster.com


Edit: Oh yeah, places like Summit Racing also carry thread chasers, but I don't know if they will have the size you need.
 
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I would chase it with a form tap, they don't remove any metal so are safer to chase with. Do you have any idea how hard the pivot body is?

Pictures would help. You may be better off making the new pivot body work vs fixing the old one.
 
OrangeBlueOrangeBlue said:
For smaller hardware, might have more luck at a hobby shop. Or just go to a machine shop and ask them to fix it...
Click to expand...

ferider said:
If you measure the outer diameter of the pivot screw and count the threads per inch, you can look it up.
Click to expand...

Triple_D said:
If you can't find the proper tap at McMaster-Carr, you probably won't find it. They have screw/thread identifiers, too. They are a little pricy, and shipping is not cheap either. But if you really need it....

https://www.mcmaster.com


Edit: Oh yeah, places like Summit Racing also carry thread chasers, but I don't know if they will have the size you need.
Click to expand...

bermo said:
If you run in a bind PM me, I can probably clean those up if you don't mind mailing them to me.

Millwright / Machinist by trade, I've seen some nuts.

And bolts.:)
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Diemaker said:
I would chase it with a form tap, they don't remove any metal so are safer to chase with. Do you have any idea how hard the pivot body is?

Pictures would help. You may be better off making the new pivot body work vs fixing the old one.
Click to expand...


You guys are awesome!! Many ideas here that could get me started……

BUT, I’m going to hit you up “bermo” ☝️…..I don’t want to screw it up worse 😰

.
 
qqqqqqqman said:
I have an unused Kizer Megatherium with buggered threads in the pivot body….the pivot screw will only go 2 turns in.

I went to 2 hardware stores and no one had anything that fit to re-tap (or clean) the pivot body threads. As such, the knife sits disassembled.

Kizer sent me a NEW pivot body, but the knife blade will not center, even when fully tightened…both the blade and the pivot have a little play with the new pivot. It’s almost like the new pivot body is a hair too long? So, I’m relegated to trying to get the original pivot body cleaned up, if possible.

Anybody with leads to DIY fixing the threads….or know how to fix these pivot body threads themselves? Or know a knifemaker who has knowledge/tools?

Thanks for ANY HELP!!
Click to expand...
What caused this issue? I’m thinking it’s either cross threaded, or there’s ancient thread lock gummed up. Personally I’d use a sharp angled dental pick and just follow the threads down to feel what I can feel/ potentially clean up possible thread lock. The replacement pivot, if thought to be too long, could be sanded down a bit.

If you want the best possible outcome, and cleaning doesn’t work, you’ll have to re tap. The pain in the neck will be finding the size. It’ll be more than likely metric, and more than likely hard to find😂 I hope I helped a little bit:) you can DM me on Instagram if you need someone to troubleshoot with. Good luck!
 
Clindbo said:
What caused this issue? I’m thinking it’s either cross threaded, or there’s ancient thread lock gummed up. Personally I’d use a sharp angled dental pick and just follow the threads down to feel what I can feel/ potentially clean up possible thread lock. The replacement pivot, if thought to be too long, could be sanded down a bit.

If you want the best possible outcome, and cleaning doesn’t work, you’ll have to re tap. The pain in the neck will be finding the size. It’ll be more than likely metric, and more than likely hard to find😂 I hope I helped a little bit:) you can DM me on Instagram if you need someone to troubleshoot with. Good luck!
Click to expand...


Dunno…..when. I started disassembling, the pivot screw was very tight. As the pivot is NOT D-shaped, two Torx drivers are needed to screw/unscrew….so it was a little more difficult than with a D-shaped pivot anyway. Finally got it unscrewed. After disassembling and oiling, the screw wouldn’t go back in. It’s hard to see inside the pivot body, but I think I can see damaged threads.

Yeah, maybe finding a sharp pick could work…..and I’m a dentist, LOL 😅
 
THANKS TO ALL…..I FIXED IT!

Borrowed a friend’s calipers and found the new pivot sent to me by Kizer was indeed too long. I wouldn’t know if the internal body threads would be cut deep enough for the screw to go deeper UNTIL I shortened the pivot body……so, I just Dremeled the body to the correct length and the screw was indeed accommodated by enough threads to go deeper into the body.

Knife back together…..blade centered. Fuggin’A YAY!

Thanks for the offer, bermo….appreciated!
 
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