Kershaw Cyclone Discontinued?

Also instead of starting another new thread I'll just add this question here...

It seems like many online dealers are out of a lot of Benchmade models. I've been looking at Griptilians lately. What is going on?
 
complicated stuff regarding benchmade changing their distribution. I don't really know the details, but the end result is mostly negative for us.
 
autoopen said:
Is it true the Kershaw Cyclone has been discontinued and if so why?
Click to expand...

There was a serious flaw with the selectable AO that could cause the selector spring to bend and take a set. It didn't happen on all of them, but frequently enough that it was a problem.
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
There was a serious flaw with the selectable AO that could cause the selector spring to bend and take a set. It didn't happen on all of them, but frequently enough that it was a problem.
Click to expand...

Can you point to where you read this information please?
I'd like to read that myself.

mike
 
2brothers said:
Can you point to where you read this information please?
I'd like to read that myself.

mike
Click to expand...

It's my best guess, honestly, as this was my experience with many of the ones that we had in our shop. I'm not sure if you're quite familiar with how the selectable AO worked, but here's a quick diagram of how it works, in cutaway view.

CycloneAOschematic.jpg


Basically because the selection spring, which was a straight spring with nearly all its material ground away at its center, was supposed to support the torsion bar during tensioning, sometimes the force (it it was one with a strong torsion bar and weak selection spring) would cause the selection spring to buckle and take a set. :eek:

When you would go to close the knife to tension the AO, you'd feel it build up and then you'd hear *SNAP* and the tension would be gone. You'd then get the same result every time thereafter unless you disassembled the knife (as I've done many times by now with these) and rebent the selection spring so it was straight again. But the average knife user isn't going to know how to take the thing apart, nor are they going to feel so inclined. They're most likely just going to send the thing back to Kershaw for warranty work. :o

As you can see, it's a rather flawed design. I was honestly very surprised when I first saw how it worked. It's a shame, too, since I love the model. :)
 
Sure, I know how it all works.
I was just asking where you heard that the knife was discontinued for THAT reason.
autoopen asked "why?" and you answered with "the selectable AO feature" as the reason.
I thought you had read it posted somewhere. Thanks.

mike
 
That was probably at least a motivator as far as I can see. It's not like they needed to make room for upcoming models this year or anything. I was actually kind of surprised by how few new additions there were this year at SHOT. :o

There was another thread a while back asking the same question and a lot of folks didn't understand the mechanism, so I figured the diagram would help some people in case they need to fix such an issue themselves, as it's pretty easy. Of course, I should have looked at who I was quoting before making the assumption, as I can't imagine a member of the Kershaw Mafia to not know the model inside and out. :D
 
I'm glad you posted the picture because I had no idea what type of mechanism was used. :)
Is there an easy way to just remove the AO switch and maybe put a more solid, longer bar in to make them permanently AO? I assume someone has made some type of mod like this...
 
All you'd have to do to make it permanently AO is find a piece of metal rod at the hobby shop that's of equal diameter to the selection spring. Cut to length, drop it in, and you're done. Using a solid bar, it won't buckle the way the original selection spring could. You just can't use the switch if you mod it that way, since there's no longer a spring to push. :)
 
I just received the '09 catalogue and I guess they are going to still continue with the black oxide tanto version of the cyclone. At least it's still showing in their lineup.
 
And so the problems continue with the Cyclone. Possible that Wal-Mart sells it and has it as a catalog item for the year. As to why it was discontinued is impossible to say because Kershaw says nothing. Who can blame them on this one? Everyone not under a Kershaw haze knows that the darn switch breaks and breaks a lot. Say what you will, gang up on me if you must (we have all seen it before).:rolleyes: COMMON SENSE is all that is needed.

Tighten down the torx screw at the little wheel. Not to much, don’t want to strip it. Do this with the blade open and in the on or off position that you want. Probably on because that knife rocks with the AO both the big boy and the mini. This will keep the wheel/switch tight and not move so as not to break it. Which is what WILL happen otherwise. But KSI’s warranty is rock solid. There are plenty out there for sale so buy up.:thumbup:
Good Luck.
C1
 
Condition 1 said:
Possible that Wal-Mart sells it and has it as a catalog item for the year.
Click to expand...
Wal-Mart does not sell the Cyclone.
As to why it was discontinued is impossible to say because Kershaw says nothing. Who can blame them on this one? Everyone not under a Kershaw haze knows that the darn switch breaks and breaks a lot. Say what you will, gang up on me if you must (we have all seen it before).:rolleyes: COMMON SENSE is all that is needed.
Click to expand...
I'll say something, I work at Kershaw, and we've not had a warranty issue on the Cyclone as you describe. Do you know something more than I?

The Cyclones (other than the Tanto) were all disco'd due to poor sales. I'd imagine the tanto version will be gone in 2010.

Sorry Mike, the tanto Blur is the Wal-Mart hot seller.;)
 
I have had troubles with my mini cyclone, though I do like it. When I first got it there was no A/O at all, the seller replaced it with a working model, as I said I do like it, I EDC'd it quite a bit, but after several months no A/O again. I suppose I can send it for as replacement torsion bar (thanks for the diagram by the way) or if there were a step by step somewhere I could replace it myself.

By the by, don't want to open a can of worms here if there is one but is there a story behind Kershaw's sub-forum disappearing? Did it just go to another forum? I hope there's not bad blood.
 
i like the cyclone model. i have had no problems with them. even in the off position, it opens smoothly as a flipper.
 
IMO it opens OKAY as a flipper, not great. It doesn't flip anything like the JYD, which is DESIGNED to flip.
 
Thomas W said:
Wal-Mart does not sell the Cyclone.
I'll say something, I work at Kershaw, and we've not had a warranty issue on the Cyclone as you describe. Do you know something more than I?

The Cyclones (other than the Tanto) were all disco'd due to poor sales. I'd imagine the tanto version will be gone in 2010.

Sorry Mike, the tanto Blur is the Wal-Mart hot seller.;)
Click to expand...
Thomas, If you’re not aware that the on/off switch on the Cyclone is problematic and breaks often then, yes I know something more than you.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top