Griptilian with a gap between the washer and blade

FLymon

FLymon

Gold Member
Joined
Aug 23, 2006
Messages
5,013
So I buy a Griptilian a few months ago, and no matter how I try to tune the pivot I can't find that sweet spot that gives you a free swinging blade with no play. Upon close inspection I notice the washers are not laying flat against the blades. There is a visible gap between the blade/washer, and the washer/liner on both washers, but only between the pivot and the stop pin. Like the stop pin is too wide so when you tighten the pivot the liners look more like this, \/ rather than this, ||.

So I send it off to Benchmade explaining what I found, two weeks later I get it back saying they replaced the liners, stop pin, washers, and screws. Well, what I get back is better. No gap between the washers and liners, but still showing a gap between the washers and blade.
Here are two photos showing the gaps the best I could (I couldn't get one pic showing both at the same time without holding the knife too far from the camera):

7841942932_5e0861903d_b.jpg

7841943136_e5263a4771_b.jpg


This is my second or third Grip, and i don't know how many Axis lock knives I have owned, and I don't remember seeing this before. Anyone else have this issue? Obviously I can try warranty repair again, but maybe there is a trick to fix this? I have tried all the screw loosening and re-tightening tricks I know to try and center a blade, but none of that has helped at all.
 
That is strange: it indeed looks like either washers or the blade itself is thinner than they should be by design... I guess a simple fix would be to add thin washer or find a set of thicker ones . That would not explain the phenomena though, only help to improve the performance.
How old is the knife?
 
My 940 has this exact same problem, only mine also causes the blade to stiffen and loosen, even with loctite.
 
FLymon said:
So I buy a Griptilian a few months ago, and no matter how I try to tune the pivot I can't find that sweet spot that gives you a free swinging blade with no play. Upon close inspection I notice the washers are not laying flat against the blades. There is a visible gap between the blade/washer, and the washer/liner on both washers, but only between the pivot and the stop pin. Like the stop pin is too wide so when you tighten the pivot the liners look more like this, \/ rather than this, ||.

So I send it off to Benchmade explaining what I found, two weeks later I get it back saying they replaced the liners, stop pin, washers, and screws. Well, what I get back is better. No gap between the washers and liners, but still showing a gap between the washers and blade.
Here are two photos showing the gaps the best I could (I couldn't get one pic showing both at the same time without holding the knife too far from the camera):

7841942932_5e0861903d_b.jpg

7841943136_e5263a4771_b.jpg


This is my second or third Grip, and i don't know how many Axis lock knives I have owned, and I don't remember seeing this before. Anyone else have this issue? Obviously I can try warranty repair again, but maybe there is a trick to fix this? I have tried all the screw loosening and re-tightening tricks I know to try and center a blade, but none of that has helped at all.
Click to expand...
I'd send it back to BM with those pics.
 
FLymon said:
So I buy a Griptilian a few months ago, and no matter how I try to tune the pivot I can't find that sweet spot that gives you a free swinging blade with no play. Upon close inspection I notice the washers are not laying flat against the blades. There is a visible gap between the blade/washer, and the washer/liner on both washers, but only between the pivot and the stop pin. Like the stop pin is too wide so when you tighten the pivot the liners look more like this, \/ rather than this, ||.

So I send it off to Benchmade explaining what I found, two weeks later I get it back saying they replaced the liners, stop pin, washers, and screws. Well, what I get back is better. No gap between the washers and liners, but still showing a gap between the washers and blade.
Here are two photos showing the gaps the best I could (I couldn't get one pic showing both at the same time without holding the knife too far from the camera):

7841942932_5e0861903d_b.jpg

7841943136_e5263a4771_b.jpg


This is my second or third Grip, and i don't know how many Axis lock knives I have owned, and I don't remember seeing this before. Anyone else have this issue? Obviously I can try warranty repair again, but maybe there is a trick to fix this? I have tried all the screw loosening and re-tightening tricks I know to try and center a blade, but none of that has helped at all.
Click to expand...

Looks like the washers aren't ground flat, which is just completely unacceptable. I'd recommend sending it back and calling them about it first as well. But yeah, they need to make this right.

Also this thread might get some attention from Jimmy at Benchmade (@Benchmade ) if it were moved to the Benchmade forum.
 
I have the same problem with one of my Mini-Griptilians, it causes side-to-side bladeplay. Local BM service replaced the washers, but the problem still exists.
The second BM556 that I have is perfect. The difference is... the blade thickness. The perfect one's blade is slightly thicker. But I gave up and haven't discussed it with BM service - I live in Europe and I don't want to sent the knife to the USA and I believe they will not send me a spare blade.
 
Interesting, i haven't seen that yet, but i see what you're talking about. And with them replacing everything but the blade pretty much, i wonder if it's the blades not ground evenly at the pivot area?
 
It's the stop pin. It's a tiiiny bit to long.

Had the same problem on mine. I took it apart and very carfully filed it down. Not a easy mod but it's doable.

EDIT: It's more likely the blade thickness, but the mod will fix the problem if you are unable/unwilling to send the knife in.
 
Last edited:
353 said:
It's the stop pin. It's a tiiiny bit to long.

Had the same problem on mine. I took it apart and very carfully filed it down. Not a easy mod but it's doable.
Click to expand...
I had 3 mini grips, 2 were perfect, 1 like the OP's. I took them all apart, and measured everything, the liners, washers, stop pin, blade, etc. All measured the same except the blade. Like cali, the troubled knife had a slightly thinner blade than the other 2.

Did you measure your parts compared to a known good knife? I suspect you just compensated for a thin blade, which is fine.
 
jpm2 said:
I had 3 mini grips, 2 were perfect, 1 like the OP's. I took them all apart, and measured everything, the liners, washers, stop pin, blade, etc. All measured the same except the blade. Like cali, the troubled knife had a slightly thinner blade than the other 2.

Did you measure your parts compared to a known good knife? I suspect you just compensated for a thin blade, which is fine.
Click to expand...

You are probably right. It could be the blade.

But filing down the edges that rest against the liners on the stop pin fixed it.

I actually took a tiny bit to much so now I have a little rattling.. :oops:

But there is no more bladeplay, so I'm overall happy with the mod.
 
I saw a vid where the guy said it was because the stop pin is not seated all the way. Squeezing the liners together where the stop pin is will pop it in.
 
Well, this seems to be a common problem with benchmade. I ordered another 940 from bladehq and it has the same problem. I'm sending it back and will try to get another one. Is it to hard for them to make a proper knife worth 180 dollars?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mo2
Antonio K. said:
Well, this seems to be a common problem with benchmade. I ordered another 940 from bladehq and it has the same problem. I'm sending it back and will try to get another one. Is it to hard for them to make a proper knife worth 180 dollars?
Click to expand...
You can leave a note with your purchase to have them check for blade play(or in this case a gap).

Best thing to do is to send it to BM, or return it if possible. Returning it to the retailer for a new one will yield a better turnaround time. IMO, BM's are worth the quirkiness. Find one good one and you're set for a while. I do agree they should do better though.

Btw, hope the OP hasn't been waiting five years for a reply!
 
Cow51 said:
You can leave a note with your purchase to have them check for blade play(or in this case a gap).

Best thing to do is to send it to BM, or return it if possible. Returning it to the retailer for a new one will yield a better turnaround time. IMO, BM's are worth the quirkiness. Find one good one and you're set for a while. I do agree they should do better though.

Btw, hope the OP hasn't been waiting five years for a reply!
Click to expand...

Yea! Hopefully he got it resolved! I called bladehq today and they emailed me a shipping label and said they'll give me a "gift card" that I can use to buy the knife again. They also said to order it over the phone that way I can get them to pick it out as I speak to them! Hopefully I get a good one this time.
 
Then it is the stop pin or the washers.

It's a pretty easy fix if you just have a drill, calipers, a clamp or two to make the drill stationary and a small file.

Measure the thickness of liners, washers and blade put together. Then measure the liners with the stop pin in between. The two should ideally be the same in a perfect world.. But in this case(and my case) they are not.

Now you secure the stop pin into the drill and set it at low speed. Very carefully shave off some of the material, on the shoulders only(the surface resting against the liners), of the pin. Then go back to measure.

After some back and forth you should get there soon enough, just be carefull not to take to much of, you'll end up with a pin rattling BM.

Now your knife is rock solid, no play.. :cool::thumbsup:
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top