MT Scarab help, please

[iceaxe]

I got a new Scarab (my 1st Microtech/OTF) a week or so ago. The first time I fired it, the blade didn't fully extend, so I carefully pulled it out until the mechanism locked. It retracted perfectly, then opened fully when I fired it again, and continued to do so the rest of that evening. A break-in period isn't unreasonable, so I didn't worry about it.

The next morning, the blade again failed to open all the way. I repeated everything from the day before with the same results. But with a full day to test the knife, I found that after sitting for several hours it usually failed to open on the first try.

I decided to try and lube the mechanism a little. I'm not convinced synthetics are all that, so I gave it a couple of drops of the gun oil I use on all my knives. Didn't make much difference at the time, but the next day the Scarab was much worse and wouldn't lock in either direction. After much fiddling and a WD-40 bath, I have it back to about the same as when I got it. I don't have the MT tool to open the knife, and I'm not so sure I want to anyway. But I do need to either fix it or see about returning it.

I haven't found much -- if any -- info about the proper way to lube/clean (or not) a Microtech OTF. Could some folks familiar with MT OTFs offer some suggestions, please? I'd appreciate it.

Thanks,
ia

 

[mauiblue]

I have a feeling something is hanging up in the handle. In any case, my understanding is if you are not an active LEO or military personnel, you would not be able to return it to Microtech for repair. If you are an active LEO or military, send it in. If not, maybe the authorized dealer you bought if from could help. Good luck.

 

[SIFU1A]

OTF autos are VERY sensitive to over lubing, too much oil and i'll guarantee ya they wont fire correctly, & it doesnt take much at all to over lube, so imho ya first need to remove most/all of the WD40/the other oil and put just 2-3 drops of either tuffglide or rem-oil (in a small yellow bottle $1.49 @ walmart) thicker oil will also impede the firing so imho something like militech will not work right, or any thick oil for that matter, use thin oil, MT reccomends the rem oil FWIW,

i dont know anything that would make it mis fire after sitting, either it works right or it doesnt sitting shouldnt matter at all unless maybe its overlubed and oil is seeping somewhere it shouldnt in which case drying the oil off of it should solve the problem.

MT reccomends a drop on the firing lever and a drop on each side of the blade around midway and centered. then fire it a few times to distribute the oil and wipe off the excess.

after KNOWING how sensitive they are to overlube i have still managed to overlube mine once its easy to do, they are built to close tolerances and it does not take much to upset the balance, believe me.

if all else fails you will have to ship it from a dealer maybe the folks ya bought it from would send it in for ya?? or to be exact MT will have to ship it to either a dealer or a LEO/etc authorised to have an auto when they return it to ya. as far as active duty military being able to ship thats not correct, ya must be military or LEO AND be authorised by your department/unit to HAVE an auto knife, and have this authorisation in writing.

but hopefully ya can get it going, MT OTF's are really pretty stout little knives and are pretty reliable - a lot more stout and reliable than i would have believed prior to owning mine (a scarab and a makora)