Help with an off centered sebenza please

B

badplayer35

Joined
Feb 26, 2013
Messages
12
I have an off centered small sebenza, skewed towards the lock side and rubbing (just barely) against the frame. I’ve disassembled and reassembled the knife, tried various orientations of the washers and bushing, all without success. Assembly is correct - this is one of many sebenzas which I rotate, carry, use, and clean and I know what a wrongly assembled knife feels like. Blade HQ purchased so I know it isn’t a fake.

I know I can send it back to CRK but I’m overseas and this will cost time and money. Does anyone have any ideas that I can try please? Will it make sense to swap washers or pivot pins with other sebenzas? Given the sebenza's pivot construction, why would off centering even happen - warped blade or frame?

If I do have to send it back, do I just Fedex the package to CRK? I’ve written CRK for help a week ago and sadly, I have not gotten any reply.

Thanks so much in advance!
 
Try again.
Look at the instructions, maybe vid's. Take your time.
It can be tricky to put the washers in the correct position.
A drop of oil can help to fix them while putting the knife together again.
all the best
red mag
 
Thank you Sirs - I tried again (and again) but no, the blade remains off centered. The blade is always at the exact same position, same degree of off centered-ness and just slightly rubbing against the frame. It makes a very quick rasping sound when I open and close. Other than that, the action is as smooth the other sebenzas I've accumulated over the years.

Thanks again and any other ideas would be most welcome!
 
I have no idea if this would work on a Sebenza, but if you go over to the Hinderer forum they have a stickie on blade centering you could try. I have used the method on a few knives with pretty good success.
 
Try what Peter said above. It could be the washers. I do not doubt you are putting it together correctly. If it still doesn't work it may be time to send it in. CRK will defintely take care of you.
 
Unlike the other brand mentioned above, with multiple stand offs, which they offer in various material to serve the boutique crowd. IMO, highly doubt all those stand offs were surface ground/machined to ensure parallelism from batch to batch. Historically, that brand is known to require tweaks/adjustments, if smoother operation is expected.

OP:

Do you have precision tools you can use? Pivot, stop pin and stand off bushing on CRK should be close to the same thickness? Blade flat? Blade pivot hole perpendicular? Can you do the dimensional verification check?

After all Mr. Reeve was a Tool & Die Maker! These close tolerance offer by CRK affords easy reassembly, by simply snugged the three points and without tweaking for the smoothness it is known for.

Good luck!
 
Was the knife centered at any point? It is possible that you got one that someone jacked with. If it was centered when you got it, it can be centered again! I have had the same problem, and it almost always is an issue with a washer moving between the bushing and the frame. There are lots of videos, try watching one of them for help. Whatever you do, don't try to fix it while frustrated! You could end up stripping screws or worse, ask me how I know this:rolleyes:
 
Thank you Peter and Humint - if you mean the paper shim, yes I have tried that to no success (works for my XM18 all the time). I have also tried other techniques posted in the forums such as tightening the blade at a 90 degree angle, etc.

Hi Ernie 1980 - honestly, I cannot recall checking if the blade was actually centered when it arrived. This knife has the snake wood inlays, was not meant to be a user (for a while at least) and remained in my closet all this time. I've become so accustomed to perfect centering on the sebenza, whether new or upon reassembly, and I probably assumed that this would be the same.

Hi Victorf - no precision tools but I suspect that something is off with the frame, the blade. or the stand off. After disassembly / re assembly (probably 20+ times) - the degree of off centering appears exactly the same at each time. I assume that if this was a pinched washer, I should see variations on the blade position at re-assembly (is this right?).

Anyway, still waiting on CRKs reply - I will probably send it back as soon as I hear from them. Or should I just pack up this knife and ship it?

Thank you for all your ideas!
 
Have you watch Jdavis's ytube on adjusting CRK for early lock up? It is possible probably due to tolerance among the drilled holes, collectively to enable enough movement, shift between lock and presentation side. Maybe worth a try? At least you can easily find out if mounting holes between two halves are accurate or otherwise.
 
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Thank you Victorf - tried that as well to no success. I've tried that technique to modify CRK's late lock up but I've never gotten it to work. Have you had any luck moving the lock up with this technique?

Anyway I will send the seb back - reading about the excellent service, I'm confident things will turn out right.
 
Sorry to hear, the problem is not solved yet.
Only time I had trouble, was when I did not tightening the screw that holds the stop pin properly.
all the best
red mag
 
The guy behind the counter of my local shop had me to look at his personal large 21 when I was in there the other weekend because it was off center and very very tight when opening or closing. Upon taking it apart, one of the washers was boogered up badly around the inner diameter where it appeared he used something such as a nail or something similar to stick down in the pivot hole to line up his washers.

Upon reassembly somehow the centering went back to pretty much normal, but it still remained extremely tight. Shows us just how tight the tolerances are on CRKs. Their customer service is outstanding and will definitely take care of you.
 
The jdavis method should not "work" given the base design of the sebenza. He used to be on here as crimsontideshooter. My personal experience often did not line up with his theories or "test"results.
 
brownshoe said:
The jdavis method should not "work" given the base design of the sebenza. He used to be on here as crimsontideshooter. My personal experience often did not line up with his theories or "test"results.
Click to expand...

Just an suggestion for the OP to try, in response to OP's not having any precision tools to establish as found readings on his CRK's components, to establish an educated base line.

Standard machining practice for drill hole is +.032", provide built in clearance fit, between commercial fastener. In such case, presuming CRK drilled their knife scales to that standard, then there will be clearance for lateral movement or adjustment. Maybe, for some reason, Mr. jdavis's knife was gifted with those clearances.

Loads of ytube video expert personality shares the same trait, all have something to say, right or wrong. Only if they knew, there are actual experts in every field - watching - with delights! :)

I am a newbie here, thank you for bringing to light jdavis's forum name. I appreciate your input, helping me to learning something new everyday. Right on!
 
victorf said:
Just an suggestion for the OP to try, in response to OP's not having any precision tools to establish as found readings on his CRK's components, to establish an educated base line.

Standard machining practice for drill hole is +.032", provide built in clearance fit, between commercial fastener. In such case, presuming CRK drilled their knife scales to that standard, then there will be clearance for lateral movement or adjustment. Maybe, for some reason, Mr. jdavis's knife was gifted with those clearances.

Loads of ytube video expert personality shares the same trait, all have something to say, right or wrong. Only if they knew, there are actual experts in every field - watching - with delights! :)

I am a newbie here, thank you for bringing to light jdavis's forum name. I appreciate your input, helping me to learning something new everyday. Right on!
Click to expand...

Hi Victorf - i did try this method but no success, the blade remained off center and in the same position (skewed to the non-locking side) as all other methods. Also on the Jdavis technique - I tried this with other sebenzas but have never had any luck adjusting the late lock up. I am not sure if it works.

For other brands, the most successful method I have experienced is the one with the paper shim explained in the Hinderer sub forum.

Thank you again for your ideas and suggestions.

Regards
 
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badplayer35 said:
I have an off centered small sebenza, skewed towards the lock side and rubbing (just barely) against the frame. Ive disassembled and reassembled the knife, tried various orientations of the washers and bushing, all without success. Assembly is correct - this is one of many sebenzas which I rotate, carry, use, and clean and I know what a wrongly assembled knife feels like. Blade HQ purchased so I know it isnt a fake.

I know I can send it back to CRK but Im overseas and this will cost time and money. Does anyone have any ideas that I can try please? Will it make sense to swap washers or pivot pins with other sebenzas? Given the sebenza's pivot construction, why would off centering even happen - warped blade or frame?

If I do have to send it back, do I just Fedex the package to CRK? Ive written CRK for help a week ago and sadly, I have not gotten any reply.

Thanks so much in advance!
Click to expand...
At the same problem just loosen everything reassemble the blade and make sure the right screws are in the right place
 
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