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alexmin

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Nov 16, 2005
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I made a hole for detent ball in the blade a little too big. Blade, when it's closed, rocks a little bit back and forth.
Can this be fixed?
The blade is 154 CPM not heat treated yet.

I am thinking about enlarging and tapping the hole and putting a SS threaded rod then drilling a new smaller hole.

Thanks,
Alex
 
Hi Alex, the detent hole in the balde should be undersized and then chamfered until the blade snaps into place. This way you can through drill the hole and not worry about the ball falling through it if it comes loose from the liner. If it's possible to get the detent out and you've got enough room, I would put a larger detent ball in the liner.
 
I can try, but won't a bigger ball stick out too much?
Currently the ball sticks out for thickness of my bronze washers.
 
you ll have to tap the ball in more thats all
trick i saw was to sit a washer around the detent ball and tap till it is flush with the washer
 
Alex if the blade isn't hardened, simply drill say a 1/8" hole through and rivet in a piece comperable mtal and start a;ll over again. If the blade is hardened just go to a carbide bit. Hope this helps. Ps the drill bit size to use for a 1/16 ball is a NO53 Hope this helps. Frank
 
I have some more questions for you guys.

1. Other than 1/16" balls I have 3/32" balls. My liner 0.05" thick and I wonder if it'll hold much larger ball like 3/32"?
2. What is "compatible steel" with CPM 154? Will be any SS fine?
3. What is material detent balls are made of? I found two types Hardened SS and chromed ball bearing steel? I wonder what's better for our needs.

Thanks,
Alex
 
Chrome steel (not chromed steel) is harder and will wear better than the stainless ball. It will take longer to flatten out.

If it were me, I'd try a larger ball. Stuck out the same distance it is wider at the tangents, it may work with the oversized detent.

If you press in a new piece of steel into the blade for a new detent, it needs to harden too, otherwise the ball will wear a track in it. If it is a different type of steel than the blade it may dimensionally change relative to the blade after HT, ruining the press fit.

Any little imperfection between the two pieces will be felt. If it were me, and the larger detent ball didn't work, I'd make a new blade.
 
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