Help With New ZT 561

E

eneyman

Joined
Dec 11, 2009
Messages
701
Hey guys, just got my 561 and have a few issues with the knife. I wanted to ask if I got a defective unit or something. The knife pretty much won't flip, and I get a huge amount of resistance, the flipper simply feels locked. When I do get the knife open, the frame lock is damn near impossible to unlock, and I have to use both hands putting a crazy amount of force to shift it. I notice there is also a very large gap for the frame lock cutout whereas most 560/1 I've seen have almost no gap in the cutout and are close to flush. I've oiled the pivot and also loosened the pivot screw but still have the same issues. I've included a pic to show the large space. Did I get a dud, because my hands are torn up from trying to operate the knife thus far.. and should I just get in touch with KAI right away for a replacement?

mine happens to be serial 0410

Thanks for any help

55p9u8.jpg
 
The lock bar gap is because you have a low serial number. They changed mid production to the hair line gap.

Regarding the strength of the lockbar, there are a few at-home remedies you can try.

1) Put some pencil lead on tang of the blade (the part that locks up with the lock bar). This should help break it in so that it doesn't lock up so tight.

2) Remove the pocket clip and see if it is still really hard to open. If removing the pocket clip helps, try bending the clip just a bit. The pocket clip can apply pressure to the lock back, making it harder to open. You also want to make sure that when you try to open the knife, you are not pressing on the lock bar with your fingers.

3) Send into ZT warranty.
 
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Hey Ore, I just removed the pocket clip completely, attempted to flip it by not even touching the frame side and holding the knife by the edges and the flipper will still not engage.. I also tried pencil lead on the tang and it damn difficult to both open and close. Just sent a email to KAI, would definitely want a new batch version replacement. Both my thumbs are blistered at the moment so I need a break.
 
eneyman said:
Hey Ore, I just removed the pocket clip completely, attempted to flip it by not even touching the frame side and holding the knife by the edges and the flipper will still not engage.. I also tried pencil lead on the tang and it damn difficult to both open and close. Just sent a email to KAI, would definitely want a new batch version replacement. Both my thumbs are blistered at the moment so I need a break.
Click to expand...

I had the same problems with my 560 also. What I did were remove all the old grease/oil from the bearings and pivot and regreased them. Also, the tip of my lockbar was not very smooth and was only contacting the tang of the blade at a certain spot so I took my sharpmaker stones and smoothed them both out. Now my 560 flips like a champ.

Edit: KAI customer service seems to be very slow, at least email-wise. Still waiting for a reply on my uneven scales.
 
Ore_Ele said:
The lock bar gap is because you have a low serial number. They changed mid production to the hair line gap.

Regarding the strength of the lockbar, there are a few at-home remedies you can try.

1) Put some pencil lead on tang of the blade (the part that locks up with the lock bar). This should help break it in so that it doesn't lock up so tight.

2) Remove the pocket clip and see if it is still really hard to open. If removing the pocket clip helps, try bending the clip just a bit. The pocket clip can apply pressure to the lock back, making it harder to open. You also want to make sure that when you try to open the knife, you are not pressing on the lock bar with your fingers.

3) Send into ZT warranty.
Click to expand...

- my 561 has the thin lock bar cut sn# 0084.
Sounds like they put too much tension on the lockbar. Should be an easy fix
 
eneyman said:
........Both my thumbs are blistered at the moment so I need a break.
Click to expand...

I had the same problem with my thumbs going raw and the lockbar being very hard to disengage, but after I put some pencil lead on the lockbar and blade tang(as Ore_Ele suggested), the problem went away.

Btw, using the pencil lead was also suggested to me by KAI CS.
 
Well I simply sent it in to KAI warranty after speaking to a phone rep. I stuck with the opening/closing routine after applying some pencil but my thumbs were both getting butchered and the ease of opening/closing was not changing. I hope they can resolve it, but I also noted that I would like them to replace it if possible with a newer batch version. Everything I hear about KAI customer service is solid so I hope it's handled well.
 
Mine has the same cut-out as the one in the OP and my serial is in the high 900s. Although I have no problems with mine.
 
A sharpie will last longer and do a better job than pencil lead. I've used it several times before.

Custom knifemaker RJ Martin came up with the idea of using a sharpie on the tang.

My 561 #0018 came with a narrow gap and was good right out of the box.
 
Is it me, or does the lock bar stabilizer look off center? There seems to be a gap from the handle part, while the lock bar part is right against it.
 
Yes Ore I noticed that when I had it as well. I just want to post this comparison picture of another persons 0561, not my pic, but this example with the thin/flush frame cutout also has an even lock bar stabilizer cutout/machine work

bfhuvb.jpg
 
thats strange that some early serials have the thin cutout, and some later one have the thicker cutout. figured the thin cut would only be on the later ones. My 560 is #1267 and it has the thin cut which i prefer just for aesthetics. Mine was perfect as far as detent, lockup, lockbar never sticks, I'm very happy with mine.
 
That's weird you guys have numbers in the 400's and still have the large cutout. One of my 056x has a number in the 200's and has the laser cutout.

OT. I would definately just call KAI. They'll take care of you if you think it's a defect unit.
 
They probably simply had a bunch of these frames left over from the original run and figured to use them up instead of scraping a bunch of Ti frames. I think it would have been better suited for a special limited run since everyone is used to the small lockbar cut and expects it. But who knows. Maybe they are having an issue with them and decided to go back to the larger cut.
 
well guys, an update. I got my zt 0561 back today from warranty and while the detent when using the flipper in traditional downward pull is still "tight", using my index or even thumb and holding the knife a bit sideways deploys the blade with authority. In addition it is lighting fast to simply use the thumb stud with my left thumb/hand. The unlockable frame issue I had when it was new has been 100% solved, it is VERY easy to unlock now and I now have a 100% functioning knife. For a time reference, I sent my knife in on 5/2 via priority mail and received it back today 5/9 via UPS at the end of the day.

Thanks KAI for taking care of it quickly and I now have my first ZT and a nice user.

2mfubd.jpg
 
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