HELP- am I just spoiled by my ZT?

weech3

weech3

Joined
Jan 12, 2013
Messages
478
SitRep- I had a Blur that I thought was great, solid lockup and all. I got a zt0550 that I've been edc'ing for approximately 1mo. I picked up my Blur today and noticed it has both vertical and horizontal play; not much, maybe 1mm each direction. The play comes without any real effort and is just enough to bug the hell out of me.

The Blur is a non-blem, so warranty repair is an option; however I cannot describe how much I absolutely HATE sending gear off to be worked on. I usually do my own smith work on guns, but I've never done anything more than swap out minor parts for repair on knives. I cannot quite get the pivot set to the optimal flipping "sweet spot" without any horizontal play. Also, I don't even know how to address the vertical play on my own; perhaps bending the lockbar over more, though I wonder if I should really attempt that.

All in all... is my Blur even in need of repair? I'm not sure if I'm fairly comparing it to my 550 with 0 amount of play.

That said, what I'm actually asking is: 1) Am I just being paranoid? 2) If I'm not being paranoid and my Blur has play in all directions, then can I repair it on my own? 3) If I can repair my Blur, if need be, HOW?

If you have blur's-like most in the kershaw/zt forum do...please advise.

Thank You in advance!
 
Don't want to sound insulting at all. Have you checked to be sure that all the body screws are tight as well? If that isn't the problem, and you are comfortable with it, try disassembling it. Sometimes just taking it apart, making sure there is no dirt or anything that could be making something off. My blem Blur has no problems in the blade play department.
 
Steel-Not insulting. I have all of the screws tight. I'm comfortable stripping her down; I've had to swap torsion bars already. I might tear her down and rebuild tomorrow, per your suggestion, just to check. It can't hurt.

However, even if that might somehow solve the pivot/horizontal play, the vertical play issue is still at hand. I'm starting to think I might just have to send her in...it's depressing. I really do HATE sending my gear to some stranger. Any further advice is more than welcome.
 
weech3 said:
Steel-Not insulting. I have all of the screws tight. I'm comfortable stripping her down; I've had to swap torsion bars already. I might tear her down and rebuild tomorrow, per your suggestion, just to check. It can't hurt.

However, even if that might somehow solve the pivot/horizontal play, the vertical play issue is still at hand. I'm starting to think I might just have to send her in...it's depressing. I really do HATE sending my gear to some stranger. Any further advice is more than welcome.
Click to expand...

It shouldn't hurt much to bend the lock bar over a tad. That may eliminate the vertical play issue.
 
Your not doing any spine whacks are you? I can muscle in side to side play in a lot of knifes that I consider to lock up to be rock solid. So you've probably just been spoiled by the awesomeness of your ZT.
But idk how you have vert play, what percentage is your lock up?
 
My Blurs are all as solid as my ZTs, if none of the suggestions in here work I'd send it back and let Kershaw fix it.
 
Check the stop pin and thoroughly clean the pivot and washers, maybe even polish the washers and pivot area.
 
weech3 said:
However, even if that might somehow solve the pivot/horizontal play, the vertical play issue is still at hand. I'm starting to think I might just have to send her in...it's depressing. I really do HATE sending my gear to some stranger. Any further advice is more than welcome.
Click to expand...

I haven't encountered any play in any of my Blurs, even the one I've been using every day for the last two months. Not a bit, certainly no vertical movement at all. Lock bar or stop pin must be off in some way. The lock up on Blurs is pretty solid all around.

Also... "some stranger"? Well, I guess unless you know everyone at Kershaw personally, they're technically strangers. However you're a stranger to them as well, and they're comfortable accepting random packages from you should you send them something to repair. The pendulum of concern swings both ways. :)
 
Hey guys, I've been out on tour for the weekend. I got back and promptly went to messing with my blur again.

Whateatsrabbits...I don't do any of the spine whacking; I figure I don't need to abuse my tools any more than necessary. Also, I think you're dead on, in that I'm probably just muscling the side to side play.

However- I just noticed something about the vertical play. I don't know how I missed it prior to now. The vertical play is due to the lockbar slipping around on the lock face of the blade. Litterally, if you just shake the knife, the blade will wobble slightly, and the lockbar will slide back to the point that if you keep wobbling the blade the lockbar will slide off until the knife closes by itself. All I can figure is that the angle of the lockup is too steep. (maybe?) Anyway, if the lockbar is already slipping by itself, will it do any good for me to try to adjust it (bend it more)? If I do force it a bit over it locks up like a rock, but it won't go by itself, I have to open the knife and then manually push it across the lockface.

I guess my question now is:
Should I adjust the lockbar myself? Will it help in the long run if I do so? And if so, how do I bend it so that it will retain that pre-sprung tension to cross the lockface by itself...such as - should I heat the lockbar as I bend it, or over bend it and leave it with a splint overnight, or what? Again, any and all help and advice is much appreciated.

Sticktodrum- I'm assuming you're a musician; as such, all that I can really relate would be the feeling of letting someone else play on your setup...especially someone you don't know. Like a Marine with his rifle, my gear is my own. I understand that "they" (whomever may receive my equipment for repair) don't know me either...that's actually what conscerns me. I understand that you might not get where I'm coming from, a lot of people don't. I simply prefer doing things myself, especially when it involves something that I rely on, be that a weapon, knife, vehicle, anything really.

Never-the-less, thanks to all for the input.
 
I have never tried bending a lock bar, that would void the warranty I think. I think your best bet is to contact KAI customer support.
 
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