Emerson mini commander squeak

N

njblows

Joined
Feb 28, 2013
Messages
114
Hi guys just picked up a used 2014 mini commander and it sounds like a rusty screen door being opened and closed. I did some searches and read and may need to be broken in or cleaned, but since this is a few years old and looks a bit used it seems well broken in. I tried cleaning it and using all different types of lube. None of them worked, does anyone have any idea how to make this awful sound go away?:eek:
 
I've only ever owned three Emersons, but I too have noticed 'the squeak' on occasion--particularly when they sit unused for a while. I'm guessing it's the synthetic (Nylatron) washers, but I could be wrong. Anyway, working in a couple drops of mineral oil usually does the trick.

-Brett
 
@njblows; Is it a coated blade? I've had something similar and it was coming from the coating wearing off. Needed to clean the detent ball and the groove it rides in. Drop a bit of oil into the groove and see if it still happens?
Matt
 
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Yeah. The coated blades sound like my grandmas screen door when breaking in. I usually wear them in a while before disassembly cleaning and lube. Emersons especially the coated blade ones need a little TLC. Give it some time. You may grow attached to it.
 
The noise is most likely coming from the detent ball on the lockbar. As it rides along the blade it hums. When you open the knife place your thumb anywhere on the lockbar, if thats the problem your finger will stop the vibration and you will not hear the noise. I used 1000 grit wet/ dry sand paper on my detent ball to solve this problem i had.
 
^^ This was the issue in a previous thread some months ago about this same thing. Turned out to be the detent ball on the lockbar.
 
yep had various emersons do this. didnt matter if coated blades or steel only. was detent ball and it does wear in and squeak goes away but takes awhile. isnt gone after a couple days, etc.
 
115Italian said:
The noise is most likely coming from the detent ball on the lockbar. As it rides along the blade it hums. When you open the knife place your thumb anywhere on the lockbar, if thats the problem your finger will stop the vibration and you will not hear the noise. I used 1000 grit wet/ dry sand paper on my detent ball to solve this problem i had.
Click to expand...

dalefuller said:
^^ This was the issue in a previous thread some months ago about this same thing. Turned out to be the detent ball on the lockbar.
Click to expand...

jbmonkey said:
yep had various emersons do this. didnt matter if coated blades or steel only. was detent ball and it does wear in and squeak goes away but takes awhile. isnt gone after a couple days, etc.
Click to expand...

Ah, makes complete sense. Thanks folks! :thumbup::)

-Brett
 
Thanks for the help, you guys are right looks like the detent ball on the lock bar side is causing the noise. I have some frog lube coming I saw that the Emerson rep had suggested it I'll also try sanding down the pivot. If these fixes do not work I'll promptly send it to Lycosa :p
 
Thanks, nj, but you will love how your Emerson breaks in... all by it's self.
 
I have multiple Emersons with no squeak, but a Commander that did. I couldn't get the squeak to go away after multiple tries. However, I finally disassembled it, and put it back together the proper way (as if the blade had become uncentered...I think the instructions are in the sticky here). On the blade around the pivot, the pivot itself and where the liner-lock contacts the blade, I used a good thick grease. I want to say the one I have is called Moly Grease, it's a black grease sold in tubes at Harbor Freight for a pretty inexpensive price. That completely solved the problem, and it hasn't come back now after a year or so of use. Hope this helps!
 
Just one of the loveable idiosyncrasies of owning an Emerson.
 
Navitimer said:
I have multiple Emersons with no squeak, but a Commander that did. I couldn't get the squeak to go away after multiple tries. However, I finally disassembled it, and put it back together the proper way (as if the blade had become uncentered...I think the instructions are in the sticky here). On the blade around the pivot, the pivot itself and where the liner-lock contacts the blade, I used a good thick grease. I want to say the one I have is called Moly Grease, it's a black grease sold in tubes at Harbor Freight for a pretty inexpensive price. That completely solved the problem, and it hasn't come back now after a year or so of use. Hope this helps!
Click to expand...

I tried sanding the pivot, did nothing to help to noise. Took Navitimers suggestion and used super grease everywhere and the sound went away! :thumbup: Thanks for the tip!
 
I have a Spyderco that still squeaks, despite my efforts. The detent is the problem, as the squeak stops when the liner is depressed, but sanding and lube did nothing, so I threw in the towel and learned to live with it.

Kinda a unique personality quirk of that knife. It's odd, cuz sometimes it goes away, then returns, depending on its mood lol.

Fun.
 
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