Detent Balls

D

djdawg

Joined
Mar 11, 2007
Messages
523
I have a question ..............Is there anything that one can do at home to weaken a detent ??
I have a flipper and the detent is slightly strong and I,d like to ease it up.
Anyone have an answer to this ??
Thanks .......dj
 
Ive recently read that they were made this way (to be strong)
I just wanted to lighten it up a little.
 
Not to derail the thread, but I have the opposite problem I have a 0566 that I de-assisted, and would really like a stiffer detent/bigger detent ball. Any idea how difficult it would be to locate a new detent ball and swap it out?
 
The easiest way is to cycle the knife with pressure on the lock bar. Just press firmly on the lock bar and work it just past the detent. A dozen or so times with moderate pressure can usually recreate a few weeks worth of EDC. Be mindful that this method is really easy to go too far and make the detent weak.

As for strengthening the detent, you have 2 options. First you can try bending the lock bar in a little to increase the pressure on the detent hole (sometimes the lock is just too weak to properly utilize the detent). Otherwise you would have to send it in to be replaced, but since it is an assist model they generally don't work on the detents, so you are left with drilling the hole. A machine shop ought to be able to help via a drill press, knowhow, and most likely tiny bits to drill the hole. Take note that drilling the hole is a massive risk, and will most likely void your warranty, and can easily ruin the knife.
 
I had a knife that the detent was too strong, and I was able to very carefully press the detent ball into the lockbar a tiny bit.

You will have to be VERY careful, but setting the detent ball into the lockbar a bit further helped on that one knife for me.

best

mqqn
 
Just a thought, haven't tried it myself, but maybe fill the detent hole in the blade with some JB Weld or other epoxy. If you want to be able to remove the epoxy, use one that can be removed with solvent.
 
Are you sure you are not touching the lockbar as you're trying to open the knife? ZT flippers can be especially difficult to open it if this is the case.
 
Take off the lockbar insert and bend the lockbar out a little at a time until your desired tension is achieved....take out too much and it won't be as snappy.
 
My 0801 also has a very strong detent. Flips open great but requires strategy to close it one-handed.
I also de-assisted my 0566 but it has a reasonable detent. Not real strong, but if I push-button the flipper, it snaps out just fine. The lockbar on mine is pretty stiff, though, and that might be part of the equation.
 
Airlsee said:
Not to derail the thread, but I have the opposite problem I have a 0566 that I de-assisted, and would really like a stiffer detent/bigger detent ball. Any idea how difficult it would be to locate a new detent ball and swap it out?
Click to expand...

First you need to see how your detent is right now.
When the knife is closed, does the lock bar touch the blade? See below: you can see how the lock bar is 'sucked' into the blade. This knife has an excellent detent.. (Stop pin obscures the blade contact, but it's a reference of where to look)




If not, it means your detent hole has been drilled out improperly and you need to increase it's size/depth just a little to get that ball to really fall in and hold.

I suggest a quick trip to youtube for a thorough explanation.
You will need to dis-assemble your knife, get the correct size carbide bit, and not over-do it!
 
Last edited:
djdawg said:
I have a question ..............Is there anything that one can do at home to weaken a detent ??
I have a flipper and the detent is slightly strong and I,d like to ease it up.
Anyone have an answer to this ??
Thanks .......dj
Click to expand...

Just a suggestion, and as long as your detent ball is not ceramic, you can ever so gently sand it down, checking constantly to see how the detent changes....
Also, bending out the lock bar a bit (mentioned below) is a great way to do it, but as your lock bar wears in and begins to move over, you will be back to the same place.
 
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