Help with my Gen 1 ZT 0550

W

Willbuyone

Joined
Dec 10, 2012
Messages
99
Just received my ZT 0550. I am having a very difficult time flipping the blade open with my thumb. Is there some way to adjust the tension on the blade so that it will
be easier to start opening? Does it need breaking in?
 
Take it apart and clean it, add a drop or two of oil when re-assembling. Or, just loosen the pivot slightly and see if it helps. How are you trying to flip it open? Try pushing the studs toward the pivot rather than straight up if you arent already.
 
Does it open and close easily once you've overcome the detent or is it tight all through the range of opening and closing?
 
I just got my 2nd gen 0550 and it's the same way. I think it just needs to be broken in a little but yeah, that detent is ridiculously strong.
 
Well I did not know what it was called, but it is the detent that I am having difficulty overcoming. Does the detent get broken in with use?
 
Willbuyone said:
It is easy once it overcomes the detent. It is just hard at first say 1/4 of an inch.
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I would give it some time to break in. Also, if you're a righty make sure you are not putting a lot of pressure on the lockbar when trying to open. I was guilty of this when I first got mine.
 
daveb068 said:
I would give it some time to break in. Also, if you're a righty make sure you are not putting a lot of pressure on the lockbar when trying to open. I was guilty of this when I first got mine.
Click to expand...

This is exactly what I was going to say. You might not think it but you could be putting pressure on the lock bar making it much harder to open. Make sure your fingers are clear of the lock bar and keep flicking. It should smooth out. After a month or so then you can take it apart clean and lube if you still feel you need to. Trust me, it happens to a lot of people, once you get the right technique down you'll see.
 
Thank you all for your feedback. I will keep working with it. I will not kive up on it I love this knife!!
 
trust me it WILL break in... Mine was like that too...now it opens like a dream. Also, do not push out (to the side) like you would a spyderco. Advice: do not put your thumb on the stud, put it on the blade, underneath the stud, and push straight up against the side of the stud. Trust me, once you get it, it will be easy
 
you also need to push thumb stud toward the top of knife rather than straight away from knife like you would normally.
 
Another tip: watch where your fingers are so that they do not put too much pressure on the lock bar. I had this problem when I first got mine.
 
daveb068 said:
I would give it some time to break in. Also, if you're a righty make sure you are not putting a lot of pressure on the lockbar when trying to open. I was guilty of this when I first got mine.
Click to expand...

^^^^^ This. I experienced this when I first got mine as well (Gen 2, but aside from the clip, essentially the same). I found my index finger was pushing against the top of the lockbar (right where the detent ball is). The added pressure kept me from being able to overcome the detent. I just shifted my index finger up a little (resting it against the back of the pivot screw, off the lockbar), and problem solved.
 
that's why I always say to open it with the left hand if you are having a problem opening it normally. if it opens fine using the left, then it's not the knife and you have to examine how you are gripping with your right.
 
kershawguy said:
you also need to push thumb stud toward the top of knife rather than straight away from knife like you would normally.
Click to expand...

This was key with my 550's. Push the thumb stud almost parallel with the knife handle or in a slight arc. I was very frustrated with mine until I watched a few yootoobe videos on how others were opening theirs. It literally solved my problem instantly....
 
daveb068 said:
I would give it some time to break in. Also, if you're a righty make sure you are not putting a lot of pressure on the lockbar when trying to open. I was guilty of this when I first got mine.
Click to expand...

bad_juju said:
This is exactly what I was going to say. You might not think it but you could be putting pressure on the lock bar making it much harder to open. Make sure your fingers are clear of the lock bar and keep flicking. It should smooth out. After a month or so then you can take it apart clean and lube if you still feel you need to. Trust me, it happens to a lot of people, once you get the right technique down you'll see.
Click to expand...

gooeytek said:
try using your left hand to flick it open.
Click to expand...

viper89 said:
Another tip: watch where your fingers are so that they do not put too much pressure on the lock bar. I had this problem when I first got mine.
Click to expand...

flarp said:
^^^^^ This. I experienced this when I first got mine as well (Gen 2, but aside from the clip, essentially the same). I found my index finger was pushing against the top of the lockbar (right where the detent ball is). The added pressure kept me from being able to overcome the detent. I just shifted my index finger up a little (resting it against the back of the pivot screw, off the lockbar), and problem solved.
Click to expand...

kershawguy said:
you also need to push thumb stud toward the top of knife rather than straight away from knife like you would normally.
Click to expand...

^This is all pretty much the best advice you can get. If you keep this all in mind, it won't be long until you get used to avoiding it.

I'm a lefty, but in terms of how to deploy with the studs, here's some help:

[video=youtube;81MlIACmh_M]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81MlIACmh_M[/video]
 
Ok once agian thanks for all the help! The video helped and I think I am getting the hang of it. What a great knife!
 
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