M4 bailout lock bar

Jlindauer

Jlindauer

Joined
Feb 22, 2020
Messages
123
Just got the new M4 bailout with the green aluminum scales and within a day the lockbar started grinding. I cleaned and oiled it with bm blue lube but it only seems to be getting worse. Is there anything that can be done? If I send it in to benchmade I’m sure they will only clean and oil it and the problem is the titanium lock bar. Maybe grease or wax based lube will work?
 
I really don't understand the use of titanium for the axis bar. Why wouldn't you just use steel like most other benchmades?
 
They are trying to lighten up the knife. I ended up taking it to my uncle since he works for benchmade. He said they probably didn’t polish the blade surface the bar slides across enough. The bugout and bailout both use titanium axis bars and my bugouts work perfectly. Makes me think he was right about a burr somewhere, plus he deals with a lot of returns since he’s a sales rep for our area for local dealers.
 
I just received mine today and I noticed the axis bar was a little gritty feeling. It did it throughout the entire range of motion of the axis bar, not just when it makes contact with the blade when it’s locked. After opening and closing the knife quite a few times it seems to be better.
 
Funny I saw this thread, my buddy just got a mini Bugout and swapped scales for some Flytanium copper ones and has extreme grittiness when closing with the Axis lock engaged.


He's taken it apart and lubed everything and it seems to actually make it worse. The only thing that helps is putting Sharpie along the whole pivot area of the blade, but even then it still comes back quickly. Nothing feels rough on the blade or lock bar area. Any ideas?
 
I had this issue on one of my first Bugouts. DO NOT OIL THE LOCKBAR, it will make it worse. To fix the issue, take the entire axis lock apart, lock bar, springs everything. Clean as much oil out of the entire system as you can.

When re assembling the axis lock, only lubricate the blade pivot pin, sides of the blade, and phosphor bronze washers. Once back together, you will have to open and close the blade working the action to smooth out the titanium. It will smooth back out, so be patient.

My first bugout I had that did this, and I sent it back to benchmade to be fixed. When I talked to one of their repair guys, he told me what to and what not to do with the bugouts. He also told me what they do when one comes in with the gritty action. They should outline that little piece of advice at least with the Bugout because of the titanium.

One of the officers here oiled up his bugout and caused the gritty issue. I stripped it down, cleaned it up reoiled it in the spots mentioned above, and after about 10 minutes of working the action, tada, smooth as butter and all better.

Titanium, oil and steel don't play well together. I do wish they would just use a steel lock bar in stead of the Titanium. I mean how much weight would it add to it.


TXPO
 
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A sad solution some people have turned to is ordering a Bugout clone to extract the steel axis bar.
 
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