Detent on flipper too strong. Any advice?

The knife in question doesn't have IKBS, it has KVT. Very difference since there is a nylon carrier for the washers. This issue if one can call it that is not exactly an issue. Take the knife apart and bend the lock bar outwards a little. That should "fix" things. If the knife is brand new, then you should expect it to be tight. Anyone that spends upwards of $25 on a knife should have this in mind, as you are buying something outside the scope of the normal person. You are in essence buying a boutique piece. KAI went back and forth like Goldilocks with this stuff when the 0560 was released, one segment cried that the flipper were too loose, another cried the detent was too strong, yet another had the nerve to say it was just right.

The solution is, find a local store that has this item in stock, ask to see all the examples and hand pick the one you want and feels right to you. If that is not possible, then do as one guy did and buy 6-8 of each knife, inspect them all and send back the ones that you don't like. Be prepared for a hefty restocking fee. If that is not an option, simply call the store you are buying from and ask the person to test the knife, ask them about a soft detent and explain that is what you are searching for. Unfortunately, when it comes to things like this, it's impossible to make everyone happy. Damned if you do and damned if you don't.
 
I had someone send me a 0450 to fix for the detent problem. I have a 0454 and it's a perfect flipper,the 0450 had what I considered too small a flipper tab considering the handles were very thin height wise. You almost always end up putting some pressure on the lockbar. I chamfered the edge of the detent hole, put some nano, applied pressure to the lockbar and manually opened and closed til it smoothed out. If you are going to do that, be very careful and do not go to much at one time.

Or just send it back to ZT.
 
RevDevil said:
The knife in question doesn't have IKBS, it has KVT. Very difference since there is a nylon carrier for the washers. This issue if one can call it that is not exactly an issue. Take the knife apart and bend the lock bar outwards a little. That should "fix" things. If the knife is brand new, then you should expect it to be tight. Anyone that spends upwards of $25 on a knife should have this in mind, as you are buying something outside the scope of the normal person. You are in essence buying a boutique piece. KAI went back and forth like Goldilocks with this stuff when the 0560 was released, one segment cried that the flipper were too loose, another cried the detent was too strong, yet another had the nerve to say it was just right.

The solution is, find a local store that has this item in stock, ask to see all the examples and hand pick the one you want and feels right to you. If that is not possible, then do as one guy did and buy 6-8 of each knife, inspect them all and send back the ones that you don't like. Be prepared for a hefty restocking fee. If that is not an option, simply call the store you are buying from and ask the person to test the knife, ask them about a soft detent and explain that is what you are searching for. Unfortunately, when it comes to things like this, it's impossible to make everyone happy. Damned if you do and damned if you don't.
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The detent on my 0561 was so tight when I got it that it would actually bruise my finger after about 10-15 flips, I almost sent it back but read the forums and most said it would break in (I prefer the tighter detent, hate Hinderer flippers) so I fought through it for a about a week and it got much smoother and is still strong but now one of my favorites. As was also mentioned previously, I would much rather have a "break in" period and then a strong flipper versus a weak detent that turns into a flipper that you can just wrist flick right out of the handle w/o even touching the flipper or thumb studs.
 
I've been flipping it for about a week now, using my left hand when my right index finger got too sore. It didn't seem to improve at all for several days, then suddenly started to smooth out quickly in the last couple of days. It's now right where I like it & isn't the slightest bit uncomfortable or hard on my finger. Thanks to everyone who offered advice & I hope this helps others who have a similar issue.
 
flatface77 said:
I've been flipping it for about a week now, using my left hand when my right index finger got too sore. It didn't seem to improve at all for several days, then suddenly started to smooth out quickly in the last couple of days. It's now right where I like it & isn't the slightest bit uncomfortable or hard on my finger. Thanks to everyone who offered advice & I hope this helps others who have a similar issue.
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Haha I knew this would happen. Went through the same thing. You just gotta stick with it, and once it breaks in...it's like the sun just came out and all is right in the world.

Seriously, the 0452CF is one of the BEST production flippers out right now. Love that Sinkevich!
 
I just got mine in the mail yesterday and same problem. I tried nano oil but to no avail. The thing just won't fire regularly and
I'm sending it back for repair or replacement. I think - with mine at least - that this is a quality control issue because if someone
from the factor had tried it before it shipped it would not have shipped.
 
101N said:
I just got mine in the mail yesterday and same problem. I tried nano oil but to no avail. The thing just won't fire regularly and
I'm sending it back for repair or replacement. I think - with mine at least - that this is a quality control issue because if someone
from the factor had tried it before it shipped it would not have shipped.
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Are you putting pressure on the lockbar? Is this your first KVT flipper?
 
The oil won't do much until the tension gets worked out. I had to flip it for days before it started to smooth out. Once it did, it improved quickly & is perfect for me right now. I can't say much about yours without handling it, but mine was definitely too stiff by any reasonable standard & broke in just how I wanted it to with a little work. Consider flipping it on the way to & from work every day for a week & whenever you're just sitting there.
 
I appreciate your advice. I'll put my son on it because I've blistered both index fingers trying to work it in. If this is a known issue-
as it is with Les Baer 1911s - you'd think ZT would mention it prior to purchase.

Not my first flipper, but way definitely the tightest I've ever handled.

(I was ready to box it up and send it back, this is day two. But, upon reading this
I'm going to blister the fingers a little more before I give up. Seems to be loosing
up a bit.)
 
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101N said:
I appreciate your advice. I'll put my son on it because I've blistered both index fingers trying to work it in. If this is a known issue-
as it is with Les Baer 1911s - you'd think ZT would mention it prior to purchase.

Not my first flipper, but way definitely the tightest I've ever handled.

(I was ready to box it up and send it back, this is day two. But, upon reading this
I'm going to blister the fingers a little more before I give up. Seems to be loosing
up a bit.)
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Just try to remember not to push in on the flipper but pull back in line with te length of e handle and use a light touch with the fingers that hold the knife. If possible try also to keep your fingers off the lockbar.
 
One more thing to add here. This should've been obvious, but wasn't. Try backing off the tension on the pivot screw, & gradually tighten it back until you get no blade play. Then try it out & tune it to your taste.

I took mine apart & lubed everything up. When I put it all back together I noticed that you could tighten the pivot screw down a lot past the point that side-to-side play disappears before opening the blade becomes difficult (I wish all folders had pivot pins this nice). There is a lot of zero-play space to play with there before it gets too tight to open.

I applied blue loctite, got it to where it was just a bit too tight, backed off a slight bit, flipped it a few times to see if it felt right, & let it sit for a day for the loctite to cure.
The next day after work, I tried it & it felt just a little too tight & hard to flip. This can only be the extra tension I added by tightening the pivot screw down well after it no longer showed any blade play. I loosened the pivot screw the slightest bit, flipped it a handful of times, & it's back to perfect.
 
Time for an update.

So I've had the knife about 10 days, and I'm eating crow. You guys were right about taking the time and breaking it in.
My son, daughter, and I have been taking turns breaking it in. It is becoming like butter. Mind you though, the day it
came it took two hands to open the blade.

This isn't my most expensive knife but it is certainly my favorite now. It is going to effect future purchases as well. I'm
pretty sure there will be a Sinkovich or Shirogorov in my future now.

Thanks for the tips.
 
My second 0452CF came in today & the action is just right on this one right out of the box. That's quite a bit of variance from one knife to the next.

I can't shake the detent loose when it's closed no matter how hard I try but the blade flips open & locks on even the weakest of openings. I'm pretty sure this was the balance they were aiming at. Gonna be fun to see what it's like when this one smooths out even more.
 
flatface77 said:
My second 0452CF came in today & the action is just right on this one right out of the box. That's quite a bit of variance from one knife to the next.

I can't shake the detent loose when it's closed no matter how hard I try but the blade flips open & locks on even the weakest of openings. I'm pretty sure this was the balance they were aiming at. Gonna be fun to see what it's like when this one smooths out even more.
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Looks like you're really digging this design :thumbup:

Good for you, man!
 
On my ZT0452CF, I polished up the lockbar and insert so that any titanium and steel that touches the side of the blade is as smooth as glass. No more grindyness from the lockbar/insert when the detent ball falls off the blade. I also willfully broke in the detent so that it is very easy to deploy and close even if there's a bit of pressure on the lockbar. I feel that the smoothness of my ZT0452 is brag worthy. I can open it using pushbutton action, even with my fingertips on the lockbar.
 
Thank you all for the responses! This forum is an awesome place. You’ve given me some perspective on my dilemma (damn good one to have). Judging by the responses I’ll have to check out Koenig. Might just further complicate things. Is it just me, or does everyone “have to have them all”. This is going to be a slippery slope I can tell..
 
I just got one today & have noticed the same thing.One thing I noticed is it's easy to open left-handed,which doesn't do me any good cause I'm right-handed. If I open it right-handed it flips smoothly as long as my fingers aren't putting pressure on the framelock. I've had other framelocks like this. You just have to adjust your grip. Overall it's a beautiful knife.
 
It's packed up & ready to ship to Kia. I'm a little peeved I have to pay shipping both ways on a brand new knife for servicing.
 
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