Gritty feeling detent

NjHart

NjHart

Joined
Jan 4, 2013
Messages
715
First off I should mention, I adore my 560cbcf. I've been carrying and using it daily and it is fantastic. It's far lighter and more pocketable than I expected, it's gorgeous, and I think I'm now obsesses with s110v. The razor sharp toothiness of the s110v is ridiculously functional. It'll actually be difficult for me to look at many steels the same way after such amazing experiences with this one already.

All of that being said, since I've been using it everywhere and for everything, it's gotten a little gritty on the opening. Is there a quick and easy way to clean it up? Is spraying a little rem oil in there a good idea for a temporary fix? I need to do something to clean it up and would appreciate any tips and tricks!

EDIT:

So apparently after some playing around I've discovered it's just the detent. The bearings are great, but the detent is very gritty feeling and had made the knife pretty much impossible to flip. I don't mind working through this if it's something that goes away. I know a few other people have had this issue- does just opening and closing work through it or do I need to do something special?
 
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I clean my 0561 thoroughly about once a month (sometimes longer). Otherwise, a can of air and rem oil is just fine.
 
Usually a disassemble and a good wiping down of the bearing washers does the trick. Also, you could wipe down the tang side of the blade with a dry cloth and make sure there are not any gritty substances along the line where the detent ball travels to the hole on the blade. It has worked for me with my 056x's. I'm sure a lot of people use oil for their bearing knives, but I've found that all my Kai knives with KVT have only needed a good wiping down and a slight blow with a can of air or an air compressor.
 
I might disassemble and wipe everything clean once every 6 months, otherwise I just blow it out about once a week. I no longer oil the pivot as I find it to be just as smooth dry and the oil just attracted dirt and lint to gunk it up. Mine is carried on a farm and every night I empty straw and hay dust out of my pockets to give you an idea of the environment it stands up to with my low maintenance. I spend much more time sharpening it than I do cleaning it.
 
BrentD86 said:
I might disassemble and wipe everything clean once every 6 months, otherwise I just blow it out about once a week. I no longer oil the pivot as I find it to be just as smooth dry and the oil just attracted dirt and lint to gunk it up. Mine is carried on a farm and every night I empty straw and hay dust out of my pockets to give you an idea of the environment it stands up to with my low maintenance. I spend much more time sharpening it than I do cleaning it.
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That's good to hear. My 560 will be going through pretty much the exact same stuff. I just figured out (mostly by paying attention) that it's the detent that is feeling a little gritty. The washers and pivot are perfect.
 
If contaminants got in your ball detent travel path, you should probably clean it out a bit. I keep a spot of oil in the detent hole in the blade for smoothness and to prevent the wear a little bit, so any kind of abrasive contaminant should likely be kept out. You can keep it dry, and it will smooth out on its own, if you don't want to use any kind of oil or grease that may attract more contaminants given your specific use environment. Personally, I don't mind the pocket lint that gets in mine since it doesn't do anything. However if you're around harsher stuff, a good cleaning and keeping it dry would likely be best.
 
I put an infinitesimal drop of Tuf Glide directly on the detente ball every once in awhile and it's like glass (or ice).
 
I was initially concerned something was on the path, but after two meticulous cleanings (in the off chance I somehow missed something the first time) I don't feel any difference. I've used a little light oil, but 10-15 openings earlier its back to gritty. I'm going to continue opening and playing with it and hope for some improvement. If it doesn't improve I'll call Kai soon as I actually get my voice back. I hope it sorts it's self out. Everything else about the knife is perfect, but this is effecting my use at the moment.
 
NjHart said:
I was initially concerned something was on the path, but after two meticulous cleanings (in the off chance I somehow missed something the first time) I don't feel any difference. I've used a little light oil, but 10-15 openings earlier its back to gritty. I'm going to continue opening and playing with it and hope for some improvement. If it doesn't improve I'll call Kai soon as I actually get my voice back. I hope it sorts it's self out. Everything else about the knife is perfect, but this is effecting my use at the moment.
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Well, I sent mine back to Kai and it came back without the gritty sound but as soon as I cleaned it and put my preferred grease on it the grit was back. So I figured maybe the grease I was using wasn't as good as I thought (it was for guns, really) so I got some Tuff Glide, and that's been great. I hear Nano Oil is pretty good too, but haven't tried it.
 
The type of oil can indeed affect how that interface feels. I've tried different oils, and very few really work. I usually use Tri-Flow, but Nano Oil (as mentioned above) does have a good reputation. What I find also works is a tiny glob of Super Lube in the blade hole, so that the detent picks it up when you close the knife. It's a PTFE lubricant, as is Tri-Flow.
 
I also prefer a PTFE lubricant. I use just a dab in the blade hole as well, its a good plan and keeps gritty feeling out
 
Ill try to make my way to Home Depot or Walmart and pick some up! Does a little last quite awhile?
 
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