Kershaw Speedsafe

[CelticKnott]

If this would better belong in the Kershaw forum, please feel free to move it...

I ordered a Kershaw Mini Cyclone through a dealer. I've gotten knives from this source before and they are always in great condition. This one was great, but after I first snapped open the knife with the speed safe on, then turned it off to test the on/off feature, the A/O stopped working. I could hear the torsion bar sort of, catching, every time I had the switch 'on', but definitely no assissted opening, and it was especially obvious when I closed the knife that it was broken (there was none of the light resistance I'm accustomed to with the speed safe feature as the blade closes). I was going to just send it to the factory to see if they could replace it, but I figured it wouldn't hurt to open the knife up myself first.

I've never tinkered with a Kershaw speed safe knife's innards before, but when I got it open, I didnt notice any damage or misplaced mechanisms. The torsion bar seemed whole and installed correctly, as did the switch. I took both out and re-installed them, just in case, and now the A/O works just fine and I can toggle it on and off with the switch no problem.

Any guesses as to what the problem was? If it happens again within a reasonable amount of time, I'll probably send it to the factory anyway and just have them replace the torsion bar completely and give the knife a once-over, but I wanted to ask around and see if this is a common problem/fix for the Kershaw A/O system. I have a Leek (which I don't use very often), but have never had an issue with the speed safe.

I also wonder if I should be concerned that this particular knife's A/O is faulty. I don't really want it to crap out on me or open in my pocket or something.

 

[KennyB]

Well, I have a Needs Work and I'm not familiar with the switch you're talking about here...

However I did have one instances where the torsion bar seemed to have "slipped out" at the point where it attaches to the blade. After putting it back in and reassembling it was good as new.

I would try applying some grease to the inside area of the torsion bar. A lot of people have noticed a rattle that the knife can produce when opened, because the torsion bar is free to move--the grease helps keep it in place on the sides. Presuming the torsion bar could be falling out of place, a little grease should be able to hold it into place.

If you do wind up having a problem with the torsion bar, give Kershaw a call and odds are they will send you one for free-I wore mine out and they sent me a new one.

 

[kreole]

I had the torsion bar break on my Leek after three days. The next one I kept count, and it broke before the 100th opening (spread out over a week). Not all of them seem to last as long as they say they're rated for.

If you contact them through their website, they'll get a new one shipped out to you right away (for free).

 

[CelticKnott]

@KennyB, and for clarification for those unfamiliar with the Cyclones: Both the regular and mini Kershaw Cyclones have speedsafe automatic opening technology, but with a toggle switch on the back of the handle that allows you to turn the assist off and make the knife a manual flipper.