Can't tighten pivot screw or sebenza is too hard to open

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matto6

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Jan 30, 2017
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I have a new Small Sebenza 31 and it's tight as hell. I've been breaking it in for 3 days now and I thought it was getting better, but I realize it was only better because the pivot screw wasn't fully tightened.

When I tighten the pivot screw snug (not crank hard - just snug) the knife is thoroughly unpleasant to open. If I keep the pivot screw loose the blade action is lovely (not loose, but smooth and usable). This suggests that the sleeve is a little too short? It's letting things get too close together when tightening the pivot screw?

I guess I'll call CRK Monday and send it back. But I'm curios to year others thoughts.

I've disassembled twice and cleaned / lubed. But if I tighten the screw afterwards, it's really unpleasant to open the knife.
 
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willy88 willy88 initiated discussion on this topic in post 1588 of the lock rock thread. He had some success by polishing the washers. If this is the same Sebenza 31 with the lock rock that you reported, I would definitely send it back in. Perhaps both problems have the same solution. Who knows?
 
It will break in. Perhaps some more time. If it’s really causing you trouble or basically unusable then agree on sending it in

I have a small 21 that is tight as a drum. It has broken in nicely. The lock bar is very strong so the detent ball provides lots of tension on the blade for opening of closing.
 
when they are too tight there is an abundance of washer material. if you feel it with a fine sandpaper or DMT 8k stones you can try to touch up the washers very gradually. the problem is solved
 
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matto6 said:
When I tighten the pivot screw snug (not crank hard - just snug) the knife is thoroughly unpleasant to open.
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This is for every PB-washer based RIL framelock that I’ve ever adjusted (more than 50?): don’t adjust the pivot “snug”. Go “snug”, and then go ca. 1/8th turn back. The measure for correct pivot adjustment is blade centering and no play. Use blue loctite. Let it cure for 48h. Hope this helps.
 
What you need to do is get a digital caliper. Measure your blade thickness and each washer. You can either measure all three separate or measure them on the blade. Measure the bushing… if the bushing is at least equal to or more than the bushing your bushing isn’t too small. If the bushing is less than the washers and blade together the yes, you’ll get pinch. If you want to fix it yourself get some very fine, let’s say 2000 grit sandpaper and run the washer with your finger in a figure 8 pattern keeping consistent pressure. Do that say 6 times and check measurements. You want it close to even with the bushing or have the bushing a 1/64000 larger so you can lock it all down, get a smooth action and not have any play.

I had the opposite issue of you. I had to remove material from my bushing. I did the same as I’m advising you to do except from my bushing. I honestly don’t think CRK could have done any better of a job than I did. I just took my time.
 
3 days is hardly enough unless you've opened and closed it 1 000 times. Take it apart and put it back together again I find that always does the trick. Make sure the shiny side of the washers is facing the blade while your at it that makes a big difference.
 
I had the exact same issue with my small 31. I did some polishing of the washers with wet/dry 1000-1200-1500-2000-2500 sandpaper and a pasted strop and that took care of it! As mentioned above, take your time and be careful not to remove too much material.
 
Loosen all three screws. Snug the two body screws first, then snug pivot last, and just finger tight. Should be about right.
 
I keep my 21s snug as snug can get, no problems and they free fall. Must be another issue with the 31.
 
My large 31 was the same when I first got it. I thought it was the washers at first, but then realized it was just too much tension on the lock bar. If I pushed it over enough to relieve pressure from the detent, the blade moved freely. If it's your first CRK it also takes a bit to get used to the thumbstud and the best angle to push.
 
SuzukiGS750EZ said:
With the pivot bushing, theoretically you should be able to tighten it with an impact wrench and it should stay free moving.
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This is what people always said but with such tight tolerance if that little bushing is even a tiny bit too short you can’t do this. One of my Sebenza 21 from 2016 that gets carried all the time is like this. I can only snug it or else it is too tight to open. One of these days when I finally send it in for a pro tune and sharpen maybe they will notice it when they put it together and put a different bushing in or something so it’s not so finicky.
 
I never have put it on though it might be helpful. Only once I think I felt the screw start to click as it had backed itself out a bit and was jiggling around. So I snugged it up and it was okay. It hasn’t been a big enough issue to send it in just for that but I do have to dial it in more than I would expect with all the pivot bushing lore. Haha. That said, it is still my favorite knife ever. Like I said I ought to send it in for a bit of love anyways so maybe they can tune it better.
 
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