Large Sebenza 21 pivot too tight?

[jlauffer]

Howdy all! I am very new to CRK...got a small 21 off the Exchange a couple months ago and immediately knew I wanted to try a large. Just got one a week ago (also off the Exchange), and the seller said it just came back from the spa and hadn't been used, so I figured it would be perfect.

But the action didn't seem as smooth as my small, so I took it apart, checked everything, and put it back together. What I found is that in order for it to be smooth like my small, I have to leave the pivot screw and stop pin screw loose enough for them to free spin with the sleeve...I can't cinch either one of them down or it's too tight. It's like the bushing is too short, or the washers are too thick, so the scales are clamping down on the washer/blade rather than the bushing.

Not sure if part of the spa treatment is new washers, but if so, do you think it's just a matter of needing some break-in? While waiting to find a 21, I ended up buying an Inkosi (the 21 popped up the next day of course), and it is very smooth like my small 21. I will only keep one, and right now it would be the Inkosi. But if I could get the 21 to be as smooth as my small or the Inkosi, I would probably keep it instead. Thoughts?

 

[WValtakis]

Sounds like the new washers didn't get properly fit to the blade/bushing...you could lap them if you're feeling confident, wouldn't take much.

 

[XL883N]

Pinched washer? Is the blade centered? Did you put it back together like a sandwich or insert the blade into an already assembled handle?

Try taking it apart again and maybe even flip the washers over.

 

[Ajack60]

I’ve got a 21 that was like that. As mentioned, lapping the washers will help. I was surprised at the amount of high/low the washers had. The trick is to do a little at a time to prevent from taking too much off. The other thing is to tighten the stop pin first and then the pivot. Don’t ask why, it works for me.
Chances are that the washers were damaged slightly from someone else and weren’t noticed. CRK won’t necessarily change them out with a spa. It has to be requested at times. When you lap the washers, use a figure 8 method with finger weight pressure.

 

[jumpstat]

If it came from the spa with new washers etc, all it needs is break-in. I remember when I first got my 21L new from a dealer, I had to use 2 hands to operate the blade. It took a week of opening and closing for it to break in. In my opinion, this method of break-in is the way to go.

 

[jlauffer]

Thanks guys! I lapped the washers on a ceramic ultra fine finishing hone (which I think is 1200 grit) and it did make a difference. Can cinch the stop pin screw now, but can't quite cinch the pivot. But I don't want to go too far, so I'll leave it for now and see if it breaks in some.

 

[P2P]

I sent mine into CRK for work. It came back the first time unresolved. Sent it back in, then it finally was good to go. Just like you were saying, either the pivot bushing was too short or the washers were too thick.