help fix my southard's flipping action

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Apr 18, 2013
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My Spyderco Southard is "seizing" when I flip. I've had this one for over a year now, maybe 1.5 years. It suddenly lost it's smoothness. The best description I can think of is it seizes up after opening 1/3 of the way.

I've opened it and cleaned it. But that didn't fix anything. What should I do next? What type of lube should I try on the bearings and on the detent?

Thanks!
 
wiredbeans said:
Warn out washers? Did you use / play with it a lot? Or recently change scale?
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The Southard runs on bearings. To the OP send it in to Spyderco and they should be able to straighten it out for you. Their customer service is top notch.
 
Try a drop of lubricant on the detent bearing. My southard had the same issue a year ago. It was interesting how much a couple drops of nano-oil 5wt on the detent improved the action, like a brand new knife.
 
Indignation said:
Try a drop of lubricant on the detent bearing. My southard had the same issue a year ago. It was interesting how much a couple drops of nano-oil 5wt on the detent improved the action, like a brand new knife.
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^^this worked perfectly. I first tested by turning the blade while lifting the lockbar off the blade. It moved smoothly so that means the pivot is fine. I dropped some penetrating oil on the detent ball and viola it is fixed!

Thanks for help guys!
 
bf has the most helpful community.

I'm still puzzled why other framelocks and linerlocks I own don't have this problem.
 
Hmm, both my southards feel clunky now too, to the point I stopped carrying them.

Will they still service if I attempted a cleaning on the bearings?
 
HwangJino said:
Hmm, both my southards feel clunky now too, to the point I stopped carrying them.

Will they still service if I attempted a cleaning on the bearings?
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I used a syringe to apply the oil so i didn't have to disassemble the knife. the detent soaked over night and it is almost as smooth as new, maybe 90%?

bpeezer said:
Buy enough, you'll see that problem again :)
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Yeah but it could be the fruit juice that accidentally got on the detent ball. :p
 
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