My Sebenza get's stiff when tightened!

All of mine work great when the pivot is tight. That's how its supposed to be...
 
^^^

Word.

For those of you that have to loosen it up to get it smooth there is something wrong:

Blade swap
Pinched washer
Someone did some sanding on something

Id send them in to get checked out.
 
I still don't know what to do.
From the experience I have with my small I should be able to tighten it all the way and still be smooth!
I thought that it was one of the things that sets sebenzas apart from the rest!
I don't know...
Please, keep it coming
 
Yup, all my Sebenzas and Mnandis can be tightened right down with no change to the action of the blade. If your knife does stiffen up that is because the bushing is "shorter" (not larger) than the width of the blade and washers and the scales are pressing on the blade through the washers. The whole point of the bushing system is to stop that happening so if it is happening then you have "problems" of a sort. The OP also said it was not the original blade....so as they say "there's your problem right there....." :p

I have a Sebenza that is nearly 12 years old that can still be cranked right down with no play or stiffening of the blade action at all. That is what the Sebenza is and should be about. :cool::thumbup:
 
Haze said:
Yup, all my Sebenzas and Mnandis can be tightened right down with no change to the action of the blade. If your knife does stiffen up that is because the bushing is "shorter" (not larger) than the width of the blade and washers and the scales are pressing on the blade through the washers. The whole point of the bushing system is to stop that happening so if it is happening then you have "problems" of a sort. The OP also said it was not the original blade....so as they say "there's your problem right there....." :p

I have a Sebenza that is nearly 12 years old that can still be cranked right down with no play or stiffening of the blade action at all. That is what the Sebenza is and should be about. :cool::thumbup:
Click to expand...

Point taken.
Thanks a lot:)
 
I have 2 sebenzas and find when I over tighten they get stiff as well. I found a sweet spot where they aren't super tight, but not too loose, and when I do that they are both smooth as butter.
 
Ok, a few things to cover that has not been mentioned or asked:

Did you do the blade swop or was it sent to CRK for reblading?

Reason: each washer, bushing is sanded and hand fitted to each sebenza. In the CRK DVD this can be seen and a SMALL bit is taken off at a time untill the action is correct.

Secondly, and I have mentioned this numerous times and can be found under searches for stiff sebenza.

The blade is stone washed, untill that stone wash becomes smooth underneath the washers, ie. It becomes like a mirror under the washers from many many openings and closings, the action can be stiff.
 
i've had 6 sebs and every single one stiffens when tightened (most were brand new).

i know they're not supposed to, but they did nonetheless..

i should also mention that i hadn't tampered with blade swaps or even disassembly prior to noticing this...
 
marthinus said:
Ok, a few things to cover that has not been mentioned or asked:

Did you do the blade swop or was it sent to CRK for reblading?

Reason: each washer, bushing is sanded and hand fitted to each sebenza. In the CRK DVD this can be seen and a SMALL bit is taken off at a time untill the action is correct.

Secondly, and I have mentioned this numerous times and can be found under searches for stiff sebenza.

The blade is stone washed, untill that stone wash becomes smooth underneath the washers, ie. It becomes like a mirror under the washers from many many openings and closings, the action can be stiff.
Click to expand...

Technically and literally speaking a mirror finish increases surface area and therefor increases friction. The use of lubricant is obviously a curved ball to this "fact" but that is largly responsible for the "hydraulic" feel we all know and love our CRK folders for.
I personally don't accept that the finish on the blade surface is responsible for the stiffness at all, it would have to be absolutely ragged to cause problems like stiffening up of the action and that would present other issues with the fitting as well. For the probelm we have at hand here there must be pressure being exerted from somewhere that it should not and that is down to the fit of the blade, washers, bushing and pivot pin, for what ever reason. :):thumbup:
 
Haze

When I handled a polished blade sebenza brand new that was SMOOTHer then any other stone washed blade in the shop. Including the Umnumzaan.

After 2 years and my Insingo getting that mirror polish it is as smooth as that polished blade at last. Naturally I formed my own conclusion.

Note: the action of the stone wash was still hydrolic and people not use to the Seb might think it is stiff compared to other knives, but it will smooth in my experience as the stone wash becomes polished.

I do think the specific knife has another issue though if we are talking about this knife being REALLy stiff and hard to open.
 
Indeed, and you are not wrong at all in that conclusion. The other thing we all have to take into account I suppose is we as humans are rather tactile creatures and feel our way round the world around us in our own way. What I think of as smooth, rough, stiff etc. may be thought of differently by the next guy.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that there is no industry standard or bench mark for how we all perceive the things we come in contact with, that includes our knives as well of course. :p
 
Just to clarify the stifness.
When tightened all the way you can't open it!
When i find the spot where it tightenes the pivot screw and the blade works smooth, it just needs a few opening and closing for the screw to get loose again!
So then, when closed, if you press with the thumb on any surface of the pivot it sticks out a bit on the oposite side!
Oh, I also forgot to mention that the lock is a bit sticky!
 
That knife needs re-fitted if that is the case, it sounds like everything is out of kilter. Either the original blade can be put back in or if that is not an option you can plead your case to CRK and see what they will do for you.

mantzao said:
Just to clarify the stifness.
When tightened all the way you can't open it!
When i find the spot where it tightenes the pivot screw and the blade works smooth, it just needs a few opening and closing for the screw to get loose again!
So then, when closed, if you press with the thumb on any surface of the pivot it sticks out a bit on the oposite side!
Oh, I also forgot to mention that the lock is a bit sticky!
Click to expand...
 
If I missed it somewhere I apologise, but did CRK do the reblade? Or was it a blade swap between knives?
 
Aah, jip, then it will have to be sent in. Each bushing and washer set is finished by hand, same as each blade is fitted to the lock. That is why CRK do not want people to swap blades etc. Those tight tolerances are finished by hand and not machine and each knife ends up unique.

Sorry bud, but explain to Chris what happened. Might try and give them a call. It sucks, but IMO you got a bit screwed with the blade swap and I doubt any of our recomondations except sending it in and contacting CRK will help.
 
Just for a data point on tight pivots, 7 Sebs and 1 Mnandi here, and all move freely when tightened down as tightly as possible with the small Allen wrench.
 
Obviously the OP does not have the skill to repair his own knife so he needs to send it in.
 
marthinus said:
Haze

When I handled a polished blade sebenza brand new that was SMOOTHer then any other stone washed blade in the shop. Including the Umnumzaan.

After 2 years and my Insingo getting that mirror polish it is as smooth as that polished blade at last. Naturally I formed my own conclusion.

Note: the action of the stone wash was still hydrolic and people not use to the Seb might think it is stiff compared to other knives, but it will smooth in my experience as the stone wash becomes polished.

I do think the specific knife has another issue though if we are talking about this knife being REALLy stiff and hard to open.
Click to expand...


I have noticed a difference once the ceramic detent ball polishes a path in the blade, and it is quite a difference, IMO.
 
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