Do I have a left handed OTF?

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FiveToes

Joined
May 22, 2019
Messages
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I have a series of Microtech OTFs. All of them deploy and retract with gusto. I recently picked up a Microtech Cypher in the exchange. When it arrived I had a terrible time getting it to deploy or retract. Maybe 1% of the time it would lock open or retracted. I took it home, lubed it, and blew it out per Microtech directions. Afterwards it would only deploy and retract 50% of the time reliably.

I reached out to the seller to see if he was having this issue and he sends me a video of repeatedly deploying and retracting the blade 30+ times with no issues. As I'm watching the video I put the knife in my left hand as I use my mouse to open it again. As a force of habit, I start working the slider and I'll be damned if it works 100% when in my left hand. I switch back to my right and it immediately hangs up. None of my other OTFs exhibit any behavior like this. Has anyone else seen anything like this?
 
unwisefool said:
Was he using it in his left hand in the video?
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Not unless he flipped the video, which I have no reason to think he did. Also, the left handed comment was mostly just tongue in cheek. I've just never seen an OTF have different behavior given the hand using it.
 
FiveToes said:
Not unless he flipped the video, which I have no reason to think he did. Also, the left handed comment was mostly just tongue in cheek. I've just never seen an OTF have different behavior given the hand using it.
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Nah. Do you have access to a sonicator? Get the gunk out of that sucker.
On a side note, My wife used my UTX-85 to slice apples (which it sucks at, btw, given the thick grind) and retracted it and let it side on it's side. It may be that the residue settled to the side because actuation after that seemed to depend partly on the angle at which I held it. It has since been cleaned and fires perfectly again. And I'll not be carrying it when I am going places where I may need to slices apples ;)
 
Try backing out the screws a bit. Sometimes the sears can get wedged by the top of the handle and hang up when they need to engage for lockup. If the screws are tight, the top presses down on the sears.

If backing out the screws helps, you can take the sears out and grind them down a bit so they move more freely inside.

This probably sounds like a really complex process, but it’s actually really simple. It can be done is like 15-20 minutes if you are familiar with OTF knives.
 
chiral.grolim said:
Nah. Do you have access to a sonicator? Get the gunk out of that sucker.
On a side note, My wife used my UTX-85 to slice apples (which it sucks at, btw, given the thick grind) and retracted it and let it side on it's side. It may be that the residue settled to the side because actuation after that seemed to depend partly on the angle at which I held it. It has since been cleaned and fires perfectly again. And I'll not be carrying it when I am going places where I may need to slices apples ;)
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I have an ultrasonic cleaner. I'm assuming that will work, no?

Blues Bender said:
Try backing out the screws a bit. Sometimes the sears can get wedged by the top of the handle and hang up when they need to engage for lockup. If the screws are tight, the top presses down on the sears.

If backing out the screws helps, you can take the sears out and grind them down a bit so they move more freely inside.

This probably sounds like a really complex process, but it’s actually really simple. It can be done is like 15-20 minutes if you are familiar with OTF knives.
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Do you have any references with pics? These Microtechs have proprietary hardware and I don't have a bit that fits them yet. They also void the warranty if you open them up so I hadn't been in a hurry to get one.
 
FiveToes said:
I have an ultrasonic cleaner. I'm assuming that will work, no?
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same thing, yup :thumbsup: When my microtech stopped firing/retracting reliably/easily and a solvent soak didn't do the trick, I used an ultrasonic bath followed by a soak in isopropyl alcohol (really just to rinse away the sonicator fluid) and it was back to firing like new and hasn't gummed up since. Sonication is a reliable way to clean where you can't reach or see.
 
FiveToes said:
Do you have any references with pics? These Microtechs have proprietary hardware and I don't have a bit that fits them yet. They also void the warranty if you open them up so I hadn't been in a hurry to get one.
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If you google "Microtech Ultratech Disassembly" you'll find about 1,000 videos that show how to take these apart. They seem really complex, but they aren't at all. Often times they don't function properly because they are either A) over-oiled or B) just need a bit of TLC.

Yeah, they say disassembly voids the warranty, but that's just because some people will lose parts and expect Microtech to replace them. If you know what you are doing, you'll be fine, the knife won't lose its warranty.
 
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