Hinderer Half Track Gen 1

[Will B Hard]

I just purchased a Gen 1 half track sold as BNIB and not impressed with the flipping action. This knife is fitted with teflon washers at present. I opened the knife and checked for dirt or any imperfections and all looks good. After i assembled the action is exactly the same as when i received. It seems bearings cannot be fitted to this model so i am just checking if bronze washers may be available to fix this issue or have i screwed up here and should have purchased the Gen 2 with the tri way pivot.

Please note this is my first ever Hinderer so my knowledge is limited.

 

[KAEDC]

Teflon does require some break in, and in my experience Hinderers smooth out nicely. I have not had issues with my Hinderers on teflon. Swapping to PB might improve things a bit, but personally I like teflon, so I have never done so.

But if you are looking for the fastest, most "snappy" flipper, then yes get a triway. The latest generations have better detents which are really the crux of super snappy flippers.

 

[Will B Hard]

I am not after super fast but this blade is very tight, after i tighen the pivot screw to center the blade its way to tight and when i back of the screw just slighty the blade will hit the liner.

I have around 18 discontinued Zt knives with most running on PB and they are spot on. Rick charges big coin for his kit so i was expecting way better than this, or it may be i got a knife with a issue

 

[sharp_edge]

My experience with xm-18 shows that PB washers do not result in noticeably improved action over teflon washers.

Knives running on washers can be very smooth too. It is just that they are much trickier to tune to the sweet spot: smooth while no blade play, than those on bearings.

Flipping action has more to do with the detent than the pivot washers or bearings.

 

[KAEDC]

I would hit up Hinderer, it will smooth out, but it shouldn't contact the liner as easily as you are claiming. I only have a Gen2 Halftrack, but I have never had an XM or FireTac on teflon (have owned about a dozen now), that contacted that easily. However I don't care about prefect centering either, so I tune mine to where I like the action, and as long as the centering is 80% or better, I'm ok with that.

 

[Will B Hard]

My experience with xm-18 shows that PB washers do not result in noticeably improved action over teflon washers.

Knives running on washers can be very smooth too. It is just that they are much trickier to tune to the sweet spot: smooth while no blade play, than those on bearings.

Flipping action has more to do with the detent than the pivot washers or bearings.

Do you know if the screw on the detent can be adjusted ?

 

[sharp_edge]

Do you know if the screw on the detent can be adjusted ?

Sorry I never owned a halftrack so I don't know what the screw on detent is about. Most often the detent strength is adjusted by bending the lockbar.

Blade centering should be easy to correct. There are many threads with instructions on how to do it.

I suggest to disassemble and reassemble the knife carefully, making sure every part including the stop pin is in proper position.

 

[photoman12001]

I've got Gen 1 and Gen 2 Half Tracks. The flipping action on the Gen 1s is generally not great. You have to do it just right or use a little wrist to get it fully open. However, the pivot tightness/centering issue you're describing doesn't sound normal. I'd contact Hinderer and have them look at it.

I'd highly recommend checking out a Gen 2. I like pre-Triway XMs, Eklipses, and MP-1s but I feel the Triway Half Track is much better than the Gen 1.

These are my Gen 2s.

The only Gen 1 I still have is this one with the horse head. I just keep it for display.