My 0350 broke!

N

NOREAT

Joined
Dec 17, 2011
Messages
95
I was playing with my new Zero Tolerace 0350, opening and closing it. At one point, I closed it, and there was a very loud snap. I now have a non-assisted 0350.:( My question is, should I send it in for warrenty repair, or return it to Amazon and try something new? Is this problem common among ZT knives?
 
Not worth freaking out over. ZT is one of the strongest production folders out there. Either send it to kershaw or call them and they will send you a new torsion spring.
 
it happens. just request some torsion bars from ZT and fix it yourself. its pretty easy.
 
I'd go with the warranty repair. The parent company has an excellent reputation for taking care of problems.
 
I guarantee if you order a new torsion bar, they'll send you two of them along with an extra pocket clip and a set of screws. Seriously, ZT/Kershaw/Kai have the best customer service in the business.
 
I should mention that the reason I am considering something different is that I kind of like it as a no A/O.:)
 
Try a 0200 if you're thinking about a beefy manual ZT folder. Put a call into kershaw's warranty dept anyway, to get the replacement parts.
 
NOREAT said:
I should mention that the reason I am considering something different is that I kind of like it as a no A/O.:)
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If you want a better slicer in return for reduced toughness, get a JYD II with the composite blade. If you're set on tough as nails design, go for the ZT 0200 as gooeytek recommended for a manual flipper. Seriously though, something like having the torsion bar fail on a brand new knife is a fluke coming from a Kershaw, or any knife for that matter. None of my Benchmades or Kershaws ever broke the AO mechanism, and I flip them open and closed like crazy:thumbup:.
 
the JYD actually has the same thickness handle, blade, and liners as the 0350 IIRC. its a fairly tough knife.
 
Email customer service. They'll send you a small handful of replacement springs for the assist mechanism. The spring on my 350 broke as well. It's not that unheard of. I don't own a 350 anymore, but ZT/Kershaw customer service has always been top notch when I dealt with them.
 
NOREAT said:
So failure of the spring is not uncommon in the 0350?
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Failure of a torsion spring is not uncommon in an assisted knife. It's not the 350 that has the problem. The 300 uses the same spring. Play with them long enough and the spring fatigues to the point of snapping.

I admit, I probably cycled the knife a few dozen times a day when I had the 0350 because people said the springs never break. I was foolish to believe them. Still, flippers are just fun to play with. These days I prefer non-assisted flippers, but not because the springs break. I just grew out of them. I also don't see a need for an assist on a knife with a flipper tang that is properly designed.

EDIT: Found this vid of an HTM gunhammer without assist: http://tinypic.com/player.php?v=wvty78&s=5

To me an assist on a flipper is just redundant. First responders I guess could find a use, situationally.
 
When I got my ZT's, I emailed KAI that I was out of the US and I wanted to purchase some torsion bars, they sent me stuff for free and wouldn't even let me pay for shipping. Awesome service!

Here's the stuff they sent me. Several complete sets of screws, a few pivot sets, a few clips, and about a half dozen torsion bars.

ztparts.jpg
 
So would a Benchmade Griptilian survive longer? On the ZT, I was opening and closing it a lot, (a LOT), as I have a tendency to absent mindedly pull something out of my pockets and start playing with it. Would the failure still be a fluke?
 
Well, as Griptilian is a non AO knife, it should theoretically never break the AO mechanism...
 
I don't really like AO knives but love the 0350 so I purposely removed the spring----I like it much better as a manual knife :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

Paul
 
It's not a fluke that the torsion bar broke. Anything mechanical can and will break eventually. Omega springs break. I wouldn't worry about them breaking. Use them, play with them. If it breaks, replace the torsion bar. Kershaw will mail you a few if you ask them.
 
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