help with ZT 0452 - does lockbar naturally ...

sliceofaloha

sliceofaloha

Joined
Oct 4, 2018
Messages
753
Not a flipper guy here, but bought this one. It looks like the blade is off center possibly due to the lockbar pushing it. Does that make any sense?
 
Yes, it's typical for centering to be affected by lockbar pressure. Usually pivot tension adjustment will compensate fully for that, without unduly affecting the action. Try that first.
 
cool buddy! thanks for the help. incremental discoveries... i'm not that mechanically inclined so appreciate the knowledge.
 
vanadium said:
Yes, it's typical for centering to be affected by lockbar pressure. Usually pivot tension adjustment will compensate fully for that, without unduly affecting the action. Try that first.
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You can't be more wrong. Never heard or saw a blade being off centered due to the lockbar pressure.
 
vanadium said:
Then why do you think the blade cants over to the show side when the pivot is loose?
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nwmetalbug said:
Sure it will be if the pivot is loose it will push it over
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OK both of you guys got me. Sure if the pivot is loose (or removed), the blade will be pushed by the lockbar to the other side. Everyone knows it I guess and it should NOT be an off centering issue. Plus, the OP did not say the pivot is loose.
 
sharp_edge said:
OK both of you guys got me. Sure if the pivot is loose (or removed), the blade will be pushed by the lockbar to the other side. Everyone knows it I guess and it should NOT be an off centering issue. Plus, the OP did not say the pivot is loose.
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You can take a well-centered folder, back off the pivot screw 1/8th turn, and watch the blade go out of center, away from the lock bar. That pivot won't feel "loose", and you might still have perfect lockup with no play, but it's still looser than needed for blade centering. "Loose" is not an either-or thing on most folders.
 
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sliceofaloha said:
Not a flipper guy here, but bought this one. It looks like the blade is off center possibly due to the lockbar pushing it. Does that make any sense?
Click to expand...


With the blade closed, does the blade have excessive side to side play ? If it does, then yes the pivot may be too loose. It's not that the lock bar is pushing it over, but the pivot needs to be tight for it to center.
How much is it off center ???? A pic would help
 
Ajack60 said:
With the blade closed, does the blade have excessive side to side play ? If it does, then yes the pivot may be too loose.
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There's no need for him to diagnose whether the pivot feels loose, before he tries tightening it a bit. I have an XM-18 right here that isn't well centered, and the pivot felt tight. I just tightened the pivot a hair and it went on center.
Ajack60 said:
It's not that the lock bar is pushing it over, but the pivot needs to be tight for it to center.
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If a lack of pivot tension causes the blade to go off center, that can only be due to some asymmetry. That asymmetry is either lateral load from the lock bar, or some accidental asymmetry in the construction of the pivot or frame. It's very rarely the latter on a quality knife. Is there a third choice?
 
sharp_edge said:
You can't be more wrong. Never heard or saw a blade being off centered due to the lockbar pressure.
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Uhhh... I have. On plenty of folders. They don't even feel loose when adjusted that way.

In fact, right now I could go grab some from my collection that do this. I just did ano work on a WE 608 that does it, for example.
 
vanadium said:
There's no need for him to diagnose whether the pivot feels loose, before he tries tightening it a bit. I have an XM-18 right here that isn't well centered, and the pivot felt tight. I just tightened the pivot a hair and it went on center.

For me, it's the easiest way to check whether the pivot needs to be adjusted before breaking out tools. Absolutely agree that sometimes it only takes a smidgen to center it up. Since it was mentioned that the OP isn't much of a flipper guy, then he may not have the tools. I have to use two torx tools on mine.

If a lack of pivot tension causes the blade to go off center, that can only be due to some asymmetry. That asymmetry is either lateral load from the lock bar, or some accidental asymmetry in the construction of the pivot or frame. It's very rarely the latter on a quality knife. Is there a third choice?
Click to expand...

Well, if I had to guess, I would think that the lack of tight tolerance's would attribute to the blade being off center. The lock bar tension should not be a factor when a knife is closed. I've had the pivot completely out of my Shirogorov and the blade stayed centered. I've had the same experience on my Sebenza 25, but it's on washers.
 
Thanks everyone, new from smoky mtn. Here's what I am dealing with:

QAP07gY.jpg
 
Since you are still posting on this problem I guess you arent comfortable working on knives so would send it back for a replacement or refund.
 
Try tightening the pivot use a hair, should center up nicely and still flip well.

All of my frame locks do this.
 
Not at all comfortable... tried to replace screws on a benchmade with some anodized titanium ones and it was stripping like i was throwing 20s at it (hat tip tp mr shabazz). I did send it to BM and they replaced them. I may try a slight twist to see what happens. Do I need to have a torx bit in each side? Thanks all.
 
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