Gritty pivot fix?

[solphilos]

Hey guys, I got a Vic Compact in today and it seems I got a lemon. I should probably return it, but wanted to see if I can first try and fix it.

Ignoring the other issues for the time being, the combo opener feels extremely gritty, so much that I can barely open it and the spring is nonfunctional.
I've tried my usual cleaning regimen of soapy water, WD-40 and compressed air. Still nothing.
In the past I've had this issue with other slipjoints and tried 'breaking in' with lots of opening and closing cycles but the spring was worn away so badly that it became very weak with no snap.

Any ideas what causes this?

 

[Hickory n steel]

Hey guys, I got a Vic Compact in today and it seems I got a lemon. I should probably return it, but wanted to see if I can first try and fix it.

Ignoring the other issues for the time being, the combo opener feels extremely gritty, so much that I can barely open it and the spring is nonfunctional.
I've tried my usual cleaning regimen of soapy water, WD-40 and compressed air. Still nothing.
In the past I've had this issue with other slipjoints and tried 'breaking in' with lots of opening and closing cycles but the spring was worn away so badly that it became very weak with no snap.

Any ideas what causes this?

I'm thinking a burr on a hole or two, I'd probably just return it.

 

[solphilos]

I'm thinking a burr on a hole or two, I'd probably just return it.

The more i mess with it the more I think this is the case. There must be a burr somewhere as there has been no improvement no matter how much I flush the pivot.

I'm sending it back for replacement. I've never seen a Victorinox in this condition; poor alignment and loose rivet in the scissors, large gaps in all the springs, blade rub, and the combo tool issue. Its really an odd example as Victorinox has always had the most consistent quality.

 

[arizonaranchman]

Wow yes I'd be sending that one back. Very rare to hear of this, in fact I don't recall ever hearing of it, but I'm sure sometimes it must happen.

 

[Ernie1980]

The are very consistent normally, but I think you got a lemon! Send it back

 

[solphilos]

Wow yes I'd be sending that one back. Very rare to hear of this, in fact I don't recall ever hearing of it, but I'm sure sometimes it must happen.

The are very consistent normally, but I think you got a lemon! Send it back

I've also never heard of these kinds of issues with Victorinox before. I've owned quite a few in my life and the quality was always really consistent. If I didn't receive this from a reputable dealer I'd be tempted to consider it a counterfeit

 

[arizonaranchman]

I've also never heard of these kinds of issues with Victorinox before. I've owned quite a few in my life and the quality was always really consistent. If I didn't receive this from a reputable dealer I'd be tempted to consider it a counterfeit

Excellent point - counterfeit is something to consider (I don't know where the OP got it from, so wondering if this is possible).

 

[Ace Rimmer]

I really have nothing to add other than, "There's something weird going on here!". There was a thread a while back (as I recall) regarding whether anyone has ever seen a problem with a Vic, and I think the general answer was "No". I've seen their "official" factory tour video and at the end you see a lady doing a final wipe-down and cycling all the blades to check function before boxing. (I assume that happens to every knife, not just a QC sample.) If it's a real Vic it's very difficult to see how it got out of the factory like that.

 

[solphilos]

I really have nothing to add other than, "There's something weird going on here!". There was a thread a while back (as I recall) regarding whether anyone has ever seen a problem with a Vic, and I think the general answer was "No". I've seen their "official" factory tour video and at the end you see a lady doing a final wipe-down and cycling all the blades to check function before boxing. (I assume that happens to every knife, not just a QC sample.) If it's a real Vic it's very difficult to see how it got out of the factory like that.

I recently read that thread and I too have watched the tour video. I'm at a loss myself, because even doing a google search for this (a cursory one admittedly) subject I could find nothing about defective Vic's.

Here's a pic of the problem area


At this point the combo tool should be pulled closed by the spring, but as you can see it just sits there waiting for manual assistance.

When the tool is opened to this point there is an audible 'click', and it seems related to the keyring layer which begins to pivot concurrent with the click sound.
There is excessive friction from open to half-stop position, but from half stop to fully open it snaps just fine.
At this point it feels like an over-piened pin or a burr somewhere along the path of the tang of the combo tool.

I've decided to refrain from sending this one back as I'm feeling inspired to do another mod, and I find it hard to disassemble new knives. With this issue it will be a good excuse, and I have to admit that I'm just really curious to solve this mystery.

 

[zolthar]

I've had a knife with gritty action after some sand happened to get into the pivot area. I cleaned it extensively, flushed it, oiled it etc. but it stayed gritty. I thought the sand would have damaged / scratched it resulting in the gritty action, but in a last effort to fix it I used thick ball bearing grease and the grittyness was gone. I don't expect this to be the solution to your problem, but one could try From this I Iearned there can still be some grit even if I cleaned a knife thouroughly and think it to be clean.

Anyhow I am curious what you will find out when you decided to dissemble the knife.