Functional question

[Ringwraith53]

I have a case 6202 1/2 slipjoint that I have carried for a while and it has developed a gap between one of the springs and the liner. So two questions come up.

1) Is this a Functional problem?

2) If it is, is there a way to fix it?

 

[waynorth]

Are your rivets "sinking", in the surface of the bolsters?

 

[afishhunter]

To fix, you can try squeezing together with a padded pair of pliers, one jaw covering the offside pin, the other missing the pin on the side the gap is on, and then peen the pin.
Alternately, you might be able to send it to Case for repair. I've heard some have had a good experience with Case's Customer Service and Warranty Department.
Unless the blade has developed some play, I would not worry too much about it, but that is just me.

 

[jc57]

If it has developed a gap where there was none, it may mean your pivot pin is loosening. If you just now noticed a gap, and it has had it all along, then nothing to be worried about. Some of mine have liner gaps and it doesn't affect them at all.

 

[White Crown]

Pliers may work, if not my preferred method uses a bench vice:
-OPEN both blades and using a using a pad material that doesn't compress easily (a piece of paper folded over several times works) pinch the bolsters only very firmly in the vice.
-Check walk and talk and the gap and such and perhaps clamp it again a time or two. Your pivot pin should be protruding enough to catch a fingernail.
-use a hammer (small ball peen preferred) to peen/flare the pivot pin to prevent the liners from separating again, blades still open and be careful.
-the rest is refinishing with sandpaper/steel wool/Drexel buffing to your hearts desire.
-alternatively you could sandwich it in a phone book, whack it good with a hammer, sand 400/600 grit, polish with steel wool, and it'll look decent.

This isn't unusual to happen, either your pivot pin worked loose a little or the brass liner material wore away slightly over time from the blade opening and closing. Good luck!

P.s. If you try any of this with the blades closed you risk pinching the ends of the bolsters so the blades won't open and you'll have a real pain in the rear on your hands. Again-be careful.

 

[traumkommode]

I've fixed loose pivots and stuff like this to several degrees. Used to be, I'd lay it on a piece of wood, give it a whack with a rubber mallet, then tap the pivot pin a little with a ball peen hammer, then buff it down level on the bolster with a spin-y headlight restoration buffer that affixes to a regular power drill.

Now I just tap with the rubber mallet and I don't worry about the slight 1/4 of a millimeter of pivot that may stick out a little.

But, like Charlie asked, if the pivot pin has sunken in the bolsters, it probably needs a new pivot.