Delica 4 Tip Down Carry (righty)

D

Dry-cell

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Jul 27, 2014
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So, I decided to change my Delica 4 pocket clip from "tip up", to "tip down" carry. When I did so I noticed that opening up the blade was stiffer and dropping the blade down with momentum was the same as well. So I loosened up the screws a small amount at a time and it started to get better. Mind you, I hadn't over tightened the screws to begin with, or so I thought anyway. I'm a bit worried now that the screws may have bit into the pivot washers causing the not so smooth opening and crushing them. I didn't think something like this was possible just by changing the pocket clip position. There is no way of knowing if damage has been done withing taking the knife apart. I will not do that of course.

Anyway, I'm able to slide the pocket clip side to side ever so slightly, I never noticed this happening when the clip was in tip up position, is this normal?.

By the way, I used a "Picquic Stubby" multi-bit screwdriver with Mastercraft S2 Tool Steel, T6 Torx screwdriver bit. I had also read Spyderco's "Edge-U-Cation" about "Changing the Position of Your Pocket Clip", it was in front of me while doing this procedure.
 
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Yes, the screws are thinner than the holes in the pocket clip causing the clips to be able to go back and forth when not tight all the way. All my knives do it. As far as the knife being too tight and pushing on a washer, your theory may be correct but if it opens and closes as it used to now, no harm.
 
I decided to remove the clip entirely, I normally carry it in a medium Victorinox belt pouch anyway. Not having the clip on the knife gives me better grip and keeping it in a pouch keeps it somewhat lint free.
I have a small tube of blue loctite which I could have used on the screws to keep them from unscrewing over time. I just hope I didn't damage the washer in any way around the pivot area by moving the blade while it was a bit stiff, even though it wouldn't effect the smoothness. The crushing would be on the outer part of the washer, it's just the not knowing what bothers me.

Spyderco's "Edge-U-Cation" article about "Changing the Position of Your Pocket Clip" notes that they don't apply thread locking compound to the screws, here's a quote...
Because Spyderco provides our customers with the option of configuring their knives to meet their personal preferences, we do not apply thread-locking compound (i.e. "Loctite®") to our clip screws at the factory.
Click to expand...
When I removed the screws from the clip, there clearly was blue loctite on them. For future reference, what's the best way to remove the traces of the old thread locking compound before applying a small dab of the fresh stuff?.

Edit: With the clip removed I used my 30x26 Jewelers Loupe to examine the washer through the three empty screw holes, there's no visual damage I can see, only a bit of dirt. Am I the only one who thinks that these four way positional clips are just entry way's for dirt to accumulate in you knives?. :p
 
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I disassemble any knife I buy, Polish the washers, clean the pivot area and blade and reassemble with loctite. As long as you put it back together properly, they won't know. The "no disassembly policy" is because people can't get them back together and they send a parts bag under warranty back to spyderco and expect free labor
 
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