Lil'Temp troubles...

[Severance]

I am a long time Spyderco fan/collector who recently managed to find a NIB Lil' Temp (plain edge/ leaf blade) while on vacation. Having desired this now discontinued model for some time, i quickly snatched it up. However, compared to my other compression locks(Yojimbo and Para) it seems to have a noticable amount of vertical play. I was wondering if anybody else has had a similar experience and if it can be adjusted? Also, in regard to discontinued models, does Spyderco offer any repair/ part replacement options

 

[smcfalls13]

I am a long time Spyderco fan/collector who recently managed to find a NIB Lil' Temp (plain edge/ leaf blade) while on vacation.

Congrats on your Lil' Temp, that's one of the finest designs to come out of Golden in a long time.

Having desired this now discontinued model for some time, i quickly snatched it up. However, compared to my other compression locks(Yojimbo and Para) it seems to have a noticable amount of vertical play.

That happens periodically, though not usually on the Lil' Temp.

I was wondering if anybody else has had a similar experience and if it can be adjusted?

If I recall correctly, the Lil' Temps had eccentric stop pins(the pin which wedges the lockbar against the tang of the blade) which can be adjusted to tighten lockup. I'm not 100% sure though, and it's been a while since I've handled one.

Also, in regard to discontinued models, does Spyderco offer any repair/ part replacement options

Spyderco will repair them as long they still have the parts. Since the Lil' Temp is a Golden model, odds are they actually had parts for it at one point(unlike the Seki made models, which I don't believe they kept stocks of) but it's been discontinued for a while now, so I doubt they have any parts left.

Provided I'm correct about the stop pin, the play should be very easy to fix on your own.

Good luck

 

[eojk]

Neither of the two Lil' Temps I have owned have had play. They have both been the "rhino" blade style, if that matters. As far as the stop pin, I believe Scott is correct in that it can be finicky. Try rotating it a bit to see if it affects play.

It's too bad that your model isn't ideal, as the Lil' T is one of Spyderco's best designs. I have the version 2 high on my "future buys" list.

 

[Franco G]

I am a long time Spyderco fan/collector who recently managed to find a NIB Lil' Temp (plain edge/ leaf blade) while on vacation. Having desired this now discontinued model for some time, i quickly snatched it up. However, compared to my other compression locks(Yojimbo and Para) it seems to have a noticable amount of vertical play. I was wondering if anybody else has had a similar experience and if it can be adjusted? Also, in regard to discontinued models, does Spyderco offer any repair/ part replacement options

No vertical blade play (with compression lock) is allowed. Horizontal play is easy adjusted - vertical, maybe, with excentric stop pin?

IMO you should send it to Spyderco.

Franco

 

[DaveH]

I had a little temp that had vertical play. I don't believe I sent it in to be fixed.

 

[Harry White]

one of my two paras has noticeable vertical blade play. nothing i do seems to help. after reading this thread, i'm thinking i may have to send it in to spyderco for evaluation.

 

[GronK]

I have a first production run version of the li'l temp. It had similar issues when I got it. A trip to Golden (I'm fortunate enough to live in driving distance) and it's good to go. Every bit as solid as the other comp lock Spydies I've owned.

 

[PSU]

From my experience, vertical blade play can be easily eliminated in most compression locks. The cause of the play in all of my compression locks seemed to stem from insufficient lock bar tension.

The procedure that worked for me involves taking apart the knife and bending its lock bar slightly. Reassemble the knife and check to see if the increased tension solved the problem. If not, take it apart again and bend the lock bar a little more. Repeat the process until the right amount of tension is achieved. During each iteration make sure that you do not over bend the lock bar.

I used this procedure to eliminate the vertical play in a Yojimbo, Paramilitary, and a few Lil Temps. Each knife has been solid since the adjustments.

 

[Franco G]

From my experience, vertical blade play can be easily eliminated in most compression locks. The cause of the play in all of my compression locks seemed to stem from insufficient lock bar tension.

The procedure that worked for me involves taking apart the knife and bending its lock bar slightly. Reassemble the knife and check to see if the increased tension solved the problem. If not, take it apart again and bend the lock bar a little more. Repeat the process until the right amount of tension is achieved. During each iteration make sure that you do not over bend the lock bar.

I used this procedure to eliminate the vertical play in a Yojimbo, Paramilitary, and a few Lil Temps. Each knife has been solid since the adjustments.

PSU, I admire your ability to fix compression locks of Lil'T, Yojimbo, Para, etc.
But shouldn't that be a Spyderco job -either QC or Repair Dep. - to fix compression locks.
After all, all knives you mentioned, are not cheap at all. For a lot of money one expects to get something good.

Franco

 

[Severance]

Thanks for the help guys. I think i might try messing around with the stop pin,-not sure i want to start bending anything quite yet( last time i tried a similar operation, the results were not so great)