can someone with ZT 03xx and 0350 post pics of torsion bar?

[harkamus]

My ZT 0350's torsion bar snapped 2 months ago. I requested parts 3 times, the first two which never got delivered. I got parts in yesterday, but my observation tells me the torsion bar they shipped was too large. I believe they sent me an 03xx torsion bar, because when I did manage to get it in (after I had to get stitches because the tension was so tight and the knife slipped), it didn't seat properly in the machined groove of the stainless steel liner (non-locking side).

I've since gotten another spring in the mail, which is again, the same size that's too large.

So, I just wanted to confirm whether or not they use two different size springs for the 03xx (the framelock version) series and the 0350 (the liner lock version).

Can someone with both knives or that has access to both knives, post pics of the torsion bars side by side?

I'd greatly appreciate it. Otherwise, I'm just gonna use the 0350 without a torsion because that thing isn't going in...unless they kept sending me the wrong bars. I remember when I cleaned my 0350 a couple months back, I had to use very little force to put the torsion bar in place. If memory serves me right, the bar was also shorter.

EDIT: Before anyone asks about the knife incident - here's a link to another thread I posted. No pics. http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?p=7767830#post7767830

 

[Phillip Dobson]

I know that the spring should not be in tension when the blade is open.

That said, there have been design changes to the 0350 that might be causing you a problem. Some of the 0350s have a recess for the torsion bar milled into the g10 slab and the steel liner. Some have a recess only in the G10 slab. It's some weirdness I thought I'd point out.

I've converted a few AO knives to manual and I've been happy with the results.

 

[harkamus]

I know that the spring should not be in tension when the blade is open.

That said, there have been design changes to the 0350 that might be causing you a problem. Some of the 0350s have a recess for the torsion bar milled into the g10 slab and the steel liner. Some have a recess only in the G10 slab. It's some weirdness I thought I'd point out.

I've converted a few AO knives to manual and I've been happy with the results.

Figured as much. Thanks for the confirmation. I didn't think my memory was failing that bad. I'm only 25! The spring was under so much tension it required two people to put in.

Also, I totally forgot about the design changes. You did mention that when I was getting my custom scales made from you.

Do you remember if the spring sizes were different for the 03xx and 0350? EDIT: And what's the process you go by for converting AO to manual? ATM, I guess mine's manual simply because it has no torsion bar. Do you do other modifications? I can't open the knife without wrist action.

 

[Phillip Dobson]

I haven't played with at 030x (yet), so I don't know about its torsion bar. I assume it's different.

When I convert an AO to manual, I remove the torsion bar and add a ball detent mechanism (look at any manual frame/liner lock knfe). This is so the blade securely clicks into place when closed. To do this, you drill a hole in the blade at the end of the ball's path. Drilling in hardened steel is best done with a carbide bit and plenty of fluid.

The flipper is still not as smooth as on a knife designed to be a manual flipper. The flippers on most AO knives are short and do not provide enough leverage for good flipping action. For this reason, I only like to convert knives with alternative thumbstud opening.