Mantra 2 bearings. Are they problematic?

sogflash

sogflash

Joined
Aug 28, 2011
Messages
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I've seen some post about the bearings in the Advocate eating away the thin washer they run against.

Does the Mantra 2 use the same bearings and washers?

Do you have a Spyderco with bearings? Have you had any problems with them?
 
I have one without problems. Taken it apart too. I bet if I over tighten the pivot and keep it dirty, the tiny thin washer will deteriorate fast.
 
sogflash said:
I've seen some post about the bearings in the Advocate eating away the thin washer they run against.

Does the Mantra 2 use the same bearings and washers?

Do you have a Spyderco with bearings? Have you had any problems with them?
Click to expand...

Been carrying a Mantra 2 since June of last year. Disassembled it several times. No issues whatsoever.
 
sogflash said:
I've seen some post about the bearings in the Advocate eating away the thin washer they run against.

Does the Mantra 2 use the same bearings and washers?

Do you have a Spyderco with bearings? Have you had any problems with them?
Click to expand...

In the words of Sal himself on the Spyderco forum some will have problems and some will not. The Mantras use the same washers as the Advocate and this have the same potential for problems. All the Spydercos using bearongs use the same system with the problem appearing most often in the Advocate and the Mantras. It appears in the Domino, Dice and Southard too but less commonly.

Now note that Spyderco recently changed (or clairified) their warranty to allow their customers to disassemble their knives. This means they will likely put new washers in the mail for you that won't have the problem. Better yet if you haven't bought the Mantra yet wait until they release an updated version of it with better washers.
 
I would think that the lightness of the Mantra 2 blade requires the pivot to be tightened (ever so slightly) less. Due to not having the mass to overcome a slightly tighter pivot means it actually requires it to be lighter to get the same smooth action, and not creasing/bending/denting the race/washer.
This slight change might actually be just what allows the knife to not be subjected to the failure rate seen in some other knives running on the same hardware.
 
Lapedog said:
In the words of Sal himself on the Spyderco forum some will have problems and some will not. The Mantras use the same washers as the Advocate and this have the same potential for problems. All the Spydercos using bearongs use the same system with the problem appearing most often in the Advocate and the Mantras. It appears in the Domino, Dice and Southard too but less commonly.

Now note that Spyderco recently changed (or clairified) their warranty to allow their customers to disassemble their knives. This means they will likely put new washers in the mail for you that won't have the problem. Better yet if you haven't bought the Mantra yet wait until they release an updated version of it with better washers.
Click to expand...

Not correct re: the similarities in washers, according to Spyderco:

Michael Janich said:
A careful review of the Advocate’s design revealed that the steel washers used in its pivot are measurably thinner than those used in our other flipper models and are therefore vulnerable to the effects of overtightening.
Click to expand...

Michael Janich said:
Please note that this issue has only affected a small percentage of Advocate knives and is isolated to this model only. The issue DOES NOT affect other Spyderco models, including our other flipper-opening designs. A thorough review of our Warranty Repair records has conclusively confirmed this.
Click to expand...
 
Spyderco doesn't mail out parts and they haven't mentioned the Mantra being updated. If anything they have stated that issues with the Mantra are rare based on the records at warranty and repair. Lots of incorrect advise from Lapedog in that post.

I have a Southard and it is smooth as glass.

This has been a hot topic lately, have you done a search? This dead horse has been beaten a lot.
 
My Mantra is super smooth and flips quite well.

Iys46kl.jpg


...and yes, it's been apart and I've tinkered with it but had no trouble with the pivot system. Just don't over tighten the bearings.
 
No mantra but I have flipped the crap out of a Southard for 18 months without problems.
 
I have a Mantra 1 that I've taken apart several times and the washers are still fine. Just be careful not to over tighten the pivot.
 
I've had two Mantra 2s (one was purchased as a gift; the other for me, because I liked the first one). Both were disassembled, both had cupped washers, and both continue to flip just fine.
I3e15vc.jpg



For what it's worth, I also have an Advocate that I've had no problems with...though I admit that I don't use it as a fidget toy.
 
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