Recommendation? Microtech Repair

Shmackey

Shmackey

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Hey all! Loooong time no see.

So I've got a Microtech Combat Troodon that's acting up. It was occasionally not opening completely. Now it's not opening at all.

From what I hear, Microtech's customer service is ... suboptimal. Is there Some Guy who knows Microtechs well, who fixes them for a fee? I'd rather pay That Guy and know I'll get my knife back, fixed correctly, than take my chances with the OEM.

Any ideas would be appreciated. Almost all my other knives are Spyderco, so this is new territory for me.
 
I’ve read about MT’s customer service issues on the forums. However, my personal experience having sent both an auto (Ultratech) and two LCCs (long after they stopped production on the model) for service was very good IMO. As long as you can get a hold of someone in W&R, follow their instructions and have a little patience you should be good. The longest turnaround for me was 3 months.
 
Have you tried flushing it with lighter fluid or brake cleaner? Usually it's just something gumming up the action.

~Chip
 
Rant... People really need to stop buying Microtechs if repair turn around is still 3 months and more. How the poster above can be so nonchalant about a 90 day turn around is beyond me.

There is no self respecting company in the world that would, if they are being honest, feel that’s giving their customers good service. 1 month is pushing it. Fixing a knife isn’t rocket science.

Disclaimer... many years ago I worked at Microtech and I saw the knifes sent in for repair sitting untouched for weeks and months on end. It was unacceptable then and it still is. I personally will never buy a Microtech because of this even though I know they are great knives.
 
Biginboca said:
Rant... People really need to stop buying Microtechs if repair turn around is still 3 months and more. How the poster above can be so nonchalant about a 90 day turn around is beyond me.

There is no self respecting company in the world that would, if they are being honest, feel that’s giving their customers good service. 1 month is pushing it. Fixing a knife isn’t rocket science.

Disclaimer... many years ago I worked at Microtech and I saw the knifes sent in for repair sitting untouched for weeks and months on end. It was unacceptable then and it still is. I personally will never buy a Microtech because of this even though I know they are great knives.
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I waited like 3 months for CRK to fix my Umnumzaan. I ain't even mad.

Shmackey Shmackey OTFs are actually surprisingly simple knives. If you bought yourself the tool to take the proprietary screws out, you could probably figure out the problem on your own.

I repaired a sear spring in my Ultratech that was too large and caused constant misfires. There's only like 12 pieces inside and it's pretty obvious how they come apart.
 
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I don't think 3 Months is acceptable turn around time. At least not without communication, 1-2 months tops WITH communication about progress/issues/fixes, that's good customer service to me. I doubt people would be okay with their car sitting at a mechanics for months. "Oh yeah, I'll change your spark plugs when I get around to it, you can use the bus while you wait, kay?". And yes I know knives are less essential and cost less than the majority of cars, but the principle of good customer service and warranty should apply to any product you spend money on.
 
Background: I did flush it out with naphtha, and that did the trick for a little bit. But I was sharpening it the other day and I think enough "sharpening dust" got in there that it's on the fritz again.

To keep my collecting under control, I limited my range to spyderco long ago--but I got a nice deal on the Troodon six or seven years ago and couldn't say no. Plus Spyderco doesn't make OTFs.

Anyway, yeah, I just don't think I'm confident enough in their process to get the thing back to me, like, ever. So I'm hoping there's someone who does it on the side, like STR used to make deep clips out of his garage.
 
Shmackey said:
Background: I did flush it out with naphtha, and that did the trick for a little bit. But I was sharpening it the other day and I think enough "sharpening dust" got in there that it's on the fritz again.

To keep my collecting under control, I limited my range to spyderco long ago--but I got a nice deal on the Troodon six or seven years ago and couldn't say no. Plus Spyderco doesn't make OTFs.

Anyway, yeah, I just don't think I'm confident enough in their process to get the thing back to me, like, ever. So I'm hoping there's someone who does it on the side, like STR used to make deep clips out of his garage.
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Before I destroyed my Ultratech (another completley different story :D) it would gum up and start to misfire after about a week of light-medium edc. So, when I had one I had to flush it with lighter fluid and take it real easy on the oil/ grease at minimum once a week, but if it was a particularly dusty day of cutting or I cut insulation/ ductboard/ lots of thick gummy tape, the knife would definitely start misfiring that day.

I could easily flush it and it would start working just fine again, or make a conscious effort to do a medium-hard wrist flick with the auto/ actuator button to deploy the blade. Ultimately it became like a firearm that worked great as long as you constantly clean all the guts out on a regular basis and it just got to be annoying. Granted, it's not like I don't have fun breaking down my Sebenza/ Inkosi/ Umnumzaan for a cleaning; it's just that if all I ever do is sharpen it, wipe it down with oil, and keep a little lube in the pivot...it will keep on working great. The same goes for just about any other manual operated knife vs. one that relies on a spring.

Definite trade off with double-action OTF autos in my opinion. Way too many extra parts to break and gum up. Super fun though :) if you don't mind constantly doing a thorough cleaning to make it work.
 
Shmackey Shmackey
Give Bill Deshivs a shout. He fixed up a BM Mini Infidel for me. Had it back in a week and still going strong.
Extremely reasonable pricing also.
You can find him in the Auto sub.
Good luck!
Joe
 
Microtech has definitely stepped up their game as far as repairs are concerned . I have sent in two knives . One a Halo V custom and another a Select Fire . Both times I had my knife back within the 6 week turnaround they quoted me . I think they have come to value customer service a bit more lately most likely due to social media .. whatever the reason I wouldn't hesitate sending it in . But as stated above they are relatively simple mechanisms in the OTF line and buying a tool is almost a requirement if you carry a OTF . Just one of those things with a OTF .
 
I've sent in a Makora II that had a part snap in it and a custom Sigil that had lockbar issues.

Both came back fixed.

Follow the warranty instructions and wait. Before I sent them off those knives were just stored away not being used, so I'd rather they be stored away somewhere in a repair queue than in my house collecting dust. Just my .02 for all the people offended by a few months layover.
 
Just today I fixed a buddy's UTX 85 that had been jammed open for years. All that was wrong was there was some black stuff stuck to some of the aluminum and steel parts. No amount of flushing or solvent had any effect so I ended up scraping it off with a finger nail and a piece of plastic. I added the tiniest bit of oil under the slide and it works like new. There is really not much to these things.
 
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