:-( Crap in a can!! Need opinions. Leatherman Sidekick. Great tool/low cost. One prob

[bored2deth]

Heya peoples,

Well, I'm sure some of you recall the review I left on the Sidekick--I still say it's a fantastic tool for it's price. Only problems I have with it:blade-play on large blade, well..either it's too loose or too tight..there doesn't seem to be an inbetween lol. Also, somehow or other, the main blade's frame-lock bar has cracked. At first I thought it was a scrach. I took my LED Mag to it and got a good clear peek at it. Pressed in the lock to release...and it's definently a crack. Am I mad? Disappointed? Will I continue to have faith in and buy from LM? No, no, and I most certainly will. I probaby pressed the lock a couple dozen times trying to see for certain if it was a crack, it's still held up. Sure, it's cracked and doesn't lock up as solidly as it did. It still stays tight when open, and I don't think the lock will break off..not enough space inbetween the lock and the tool's wall. I'm debating on wether just leaving it alone and continuing to use it (and buy a Wave or Surge) or to send it in for replacement (with a note to leave me the plain and serrated blades). What do you guys think? Send it in? Keep it? Scrap for parts? I'm sure LM will be glad to replace it, but I'm not sure also how much it will cost to send it in (postage, safety envelope, insurance, etc.) Cost 20 bucks to send a package earlier this year and that's HALF the price of the Sidekick itself!!

*

Well.. (Yes, the lock bar is definently cracked. Got my fingernail stuck in it!) Lol.. Out of curiosity, I pressed the lock repeatedly, over three hundred times, and that little sucker still pops back--crack and all--pretty tough, still functions (though not at 100%) even when damaged. I'm impressed, Leatherman. Beats the hell out of all the other brands I've tried. Also, Leatherman should really do something about the bladeplay, I'm betting that has something to do with it in some way.

 

[matt1987]

I say send it in by first class usps. If you're in the US it'll only cost around $5-6. They'll probably fix the blade play too.

 

[Mud Shrimp Moe]

I'd send it in. Can't imagine how the lock could have cracked. Not that I don't believe you. I do. Just can't figure out how that's even possible, even on a really badly made MT (which the Sidekick is not), short of horrible abuse.

 

[bored2deth]

I'm not sure how on earth it cracked, but it did.. :-( I looked at it one night, while polishing rust off the large blade..it looked like a scratch. After pressing the lock down and shining a light on it though, it was clearly a crack. I was never hard on it, short of peeling apples and oranges, shaving soft wood. Cutting ropes and strings. It was likely just a defect in the metal, maybe it was too hard? I'm sure the company will take care of it. It was a gift from my wife on our honeymoon...so it means alot to me. I'm going to ask them if I can have a replacement after I send it in, and ask if they can send the old one back to me with it.

 

[bernard_s3]

I'm not sure how on earth it cracked, but it did.. :-( I looked at it one night, while polishing rust off the large blade..it looked like a scratch. After pressing the lock down and shining a light on it though, it was clearly a crack. I was never hard on it, short of peeling apples and oranges, shaving soft wood. Cutting ropes and strings. It was likely just a defect in the metal, maybe it was too hard? I'm sure the company will take care of it. It was a gift from my wife on our honeymoon...so it means alot to me. I'm going to ask them if I can have a replacement after I send it in, and ask if they can send the old one back to me with it.

Doubt they'll send you a new tool, as well as your old one back. There is a box you can check on the form if the tool has sentimental value. They'll try to fix it, but if they can't, they'll just send it back "as is".

http://www.leatherman.com/about/pdfs/LeathermanWarrantyReturn.pdf