MINI cyclone INSIDE Look and FIX

OregonEdge

OregonEdge

Joined
Aug 13, 2005
Messages
1,283
Ok, I promised the next time I fixed one of these that I would try to take some pictures. This is a friends and the "bypass spring" (that's what I call it) is failing to always engage the torsion bar. Basically, when he switches the AO to "ON", and closes the blade, the torsion bar fails to load and stays manual.

1.Lay the knife out as shown. Open and locked.
2.Unscrew all 3 screws along the back of the handle
3.Unscrew the pivot
4.Ready to remove the handle scale
 
5.After you carefully remove the black scale. The torsion bar is the wire which loosly lies attached the the blade and the groove at the top. It's sitting on top of the liner.

6.Remove the torsion bar and then the liner

7.The bypass mechanism with the liner and torsion bar removed
 
8. Ok, the torsion bar (A) when in the Assist AO mode needs to engage the spring bypass (D) to create resistance that loads the torsion bar with stored energy. When there is a slight gap (B) just above the spring bypass (D), then it's possible for the torsion bar to slip past and fail. The spring bypass (D) needs to be removed and slightly bent upwards to fill that gap.

9. When in the manual mode, the switch (C) pushes the bypass spring (D) out of the way of the torsion bar (A) as it slides through the gap. This is normal, and correct.

10. After you remove the bypass spring and bend it up slightly, it should fill the gap as shown. This is fixed.

11. put it all back together ;)
 
My Mini-Cyclone currently sits in the glove compartment of my car, and it's only a few months old and gone thru just a jew hundred or so "cycles".

I had it out on last Saturday for "a spin",.......and for the 1st time since i've owned it missed engagement for a few cycles in the AO mode. :grumpy:

It then "engaged" on the 3rd or 4th try,.......but your post regarding this will get me inside it to make the adjustment.

THANKS!!!!............:thumbup:

BTW,......i couldn't help but notice the neat way to boost your post count by adding additional posts in a continuing saga. And here i'm using the lame "edit" button! ;) :D :D :D
 
Though neither of my AO Kershaws have failed to open Thank You for taking the time to explain and post pics.Very cool.
 
OregonEdge I really want to thank you for taking the time and energy to post that,It will really help me if my ZDP-mini ever gets out of adjustment.Obviously the operation will be different but I assume the innards are the same.Very well done,very clear instructions thanks again.
 
rosconey2 said:
the torsion bar can also snap at the joint below your "a" mark
Click to expand...

I've seen you mention this a few times, and I know the bar can break in ANY model. But, I've mostly heard that it's usually not under normal use. for example, many have conceded that they open and closed the knife for periods in rapid succession (while playing) which can generate heat at the joint that normally wouldn't occur. For example, play with a paper clip by bending it at one of the curves, back and forth. You will feel some pretty good heat right before it breaks. The torsion bar is not a paper clip ;) but it's the same idea. I don't want to make this post about your torsion bar breakage, because that has already been covered a few times elsewhere. I appreciate the issue, however, and wanted to speak to it as best I can.
 
Thanks for the great photos and the "walk through" on how to repair the Cyclone on/off feature.:thumbup:.:thumbup:.
 
i like the knife even more this way-with no guts its so smooth ,and the blade has enough weight to open with ease-

with or without the speedsafe-its one heck of a knife
 
Great pics and description, OE. Thanks! :cool:

Btw, you don't happen to have an Offset laying around that you'd like to take similar photos of, do you? :D Okay, okay...I just thought I'd ask...:p
 
G. Scott H. said:
Great pics and description, OE. Thanks! :cool:

Btw, you don't happen to have an Offset laying around that you'd like to take similar photos of, do you? :D Okay, okay...I just thought I'd ask...:p
Click to expand...

the offset is very similar, minus the on/off mechanism... and add the second torsion bar on the other side
 
Excellent post OE ! My Mini Cyclone is still functioning just fine, but if it ever has problems, will now how to fix her now.

Somone should really make a sticky for this, and other repair/tweaks that we find useful for our beloved Kershaws !
 
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