Grating ball detent on Sebenza

S

steelfury

Steel Member
Joined
Sep 23, 2003
Messages
167
Hello all

I recently bought a small used classic sebenza and am having an issue with the ball detent grating against the blade causing the knife to have a 'bumpy' opening and closing. I have cleaned and degreased the pivot and washers and re-lubed with a quality white synthetic grease that i use on all my folding knives, and the blade is very smooth opening with the lock bar pulled away from the blade so I know that the ball detent is causing the problem.

Greasing the ball has not helped much vs dry.

Anyone got any ideas?, thanks
 
I've had that with two of mine. I just keep them clean and it doesn't happen. As soon as some linty, dusty bits of anything get in there it feels like it's grating, or bumpy as you said. The side of the blade on the two that do it look the same as the others that it never happens to, as does the ball. I don't know what the deal is here, but it's worsened by there being any dirt on the tang part of the blade or the ball.

Curious here too, but you're not alone.
 
I havent had my sebenza in a while, but i am wondering exactly when it is bumpy. From closed you should feel the ball leave the detent, then it should ride smoothly in a curve until the ball leaves the tang and you feel the lockbar move over ever so slightly to where the lockbar is touching the side of the blade but not engaged, then fully open the lockbar will lock.

so, is the "bumpiness" when it is riding along the blade when it should be smooth? ...or are you just taking about when it exits the detent and also when it leaves the tang of the blade?
 
Hi thanks for the repiles. Pointed got it right. The bumpiness is when the ball is travelling along the blade where it should be smooth (in theory).

Cleaning does help smooth it out so it is probably small pieces of dirt getting in there.
 
Tonight I spent about five minutes with some 1500 and 2000 then 3000 emery cloth, sanding/polishing the detent ball. Problem gone so far. Will EDC this one for a few days and see if it's a permanent fix, then hit the other problem one if it is.
 
One thing I tried recently was a black moly disulfide gun grease on the ball. This has made it glassy smooth now. The previous white grease may not have offered such good lubrication.

The only downside of greasing it is it will attract more dirt so i'll see how it goes.
 
I have found that a dab of CRK's teflon grease works wonders on the ceramic ball.
 
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