Need Help With ZT 0561

A

ARundrpillow

Joined
Jun 6, 2014
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171
Ok the back story is I am using a new lube on this knife and it is working great. Super smooth, super fast. Actually a little too smooth and it is coming open in my pocket now. I tried wiping the lube off of the detent and hole but it didnt seem to make any difference after a couple times opening and closing it. Any ideas? Is there some trick out there I am not aware of to stiffen the detent. I have heard of people with the opposite problem with these knives where the detent was so strong it was difficult to overcome.
 
Did you disassemble the knife to lube it?

If so, loosen out all the screws on the g-10 side including the pivot and then:

Torque the pivot down pretty snug, then tighten he handle screws from the lanyard tube forward. Then back off the pivot screw to the desired tension.
 
Guest5160 said:
Did you disassemble the knife to lube it?

If so, loosen out all the screws on the g-10 side including the pivot and then:

Torque the pivot down pretty snug, then tighten he handle screws from the lanyard tube forward. Then back off the pivot screw to the desired tension.
Click to expand...

I like the smooth action of the pivot. It is just the detent is not holding strong enough
 
When you applied the lube, did you adjust the pivot screw in any way?

Did you disassemble the knife when applying the lubrication and did you disassemble the knife when removing excess lubrication?

Excessive lubrication can sometimes cause malfunctions, as can excessive fouling, and it can be difficult to remove. Canned air can help to some degree.

If the lubrication is a liquid and a significant amount was initially applied, there is a good chance that the oil migrated and is now inside the cutout and/or the detent in which the ball sits in. This is a downside of most any liquid. Running a towel over the side with the ball making strong contact with the ball itself will help clean this area. Canned air will also help get any pooling liquid behind the ball out (do so with caution). It sounds like there is a good chance there is lubricant pooled and that is the cause of the issue.

Another possibility is that the screws on the knife are not correctly tightened. In addition to just the pivot, spacers/standoffs that are not correctly tightened can cause blade play and other malfunctions. One screw that is over-tightened significantly more than the others can cause issues with the detent system in and of itself. Excessive lubrication can sometimes also find its way IN to the pivot screw, and can result in a pivot screw that backs out progressively with usage.

An even other option is that the pivot screw needs to be adjusted to account for an increase in lubricity over what was initially on the knife. This option does not seem all that likely in this case.

One other thing I can also think of is regarding the washer system. Sometimes knives use washers of two different diameters and/or thicknesses on frame locks. If they become reversed, this can result in problems with operation.
 
pnsxyr said:
When you applied the lube, did you adjust the pivot screw in any way?

Did you disassemble the knife when applying the lubrication and did you disassemble the knife when removing excess lubrication?

Excessive lubrication can sometimes cause malfunctions, as can excessive fouling, and it can be difficult to remove. Canned air can help to some degree.

If the lubrication is a liquid and a significant amount was initially applied, there is a good chance that the oil migrated and is now inside the cutout and/or the detent in which the ball sits in. This is a downside of most any liquid. Running a towel over the side with the ball making strong contact with the ball itself will help clean this area. Canned air will also help get any pooling liquid behind the ball out (do so with caution). It sounds like there is a good chance there is lubricant pooled and that is the cause of the issue.

Another possibility is that the screws on the knife are not correctly tightened. In addition to just the pivot, spacers/standoffs that are not correctly tightened can cause blade play and other malfunctions. One screw that is over-tightened significantly more than the others can cause issues with the detent system in and of itself. Excessive lubrication can sometimes also find its way IN to the pivot screw, and can result in a pivot screw that backs out progressively with usage.

An even other option is that the pivot screw needs to be adjusted to account for an increase in lubricity over what was initially on the knife. This option does not seem all that likely in this case.

One other thing I can also think of is regarding the washer system. Sometimes knives use washers of two different diameters and/or thicknesses on frame locks. If they become reversed, this can result in problems with operation.
Click to expand...

I have not disassembled the knife. I believe it to be excess lube in and around the detent ball and hole. I am going to try to clean it up now and see what that does
 
ARundrpillow said:
I have not disassembled the knife. I believe it to be excess lube in and around the detent ball and hole. I am going to try to clean it up now and see what that does
Click to expand...

Canned air should work or at least help. Chances are the issue is that lubrication has pooled between the ball and the titanium locking bar with cutout which is why the first attempt to remove excess lubrication did not work. If that does not work, more intense cleaning may be required.
 
I'm trying to follow this, but...

Take this the way it's intended, I can't imagine a lube that, when applied to an otherwise in-spec folder, would turn it into a noodle. That's damn sure the lube I'd want !

It reminds me of the Harley mechanic way back who told me that synthetic oil could be harmful to my scooter because it is too slick.
​

What am I missing here?
 
Very wierd problem. Easy fix would be to set the knife on some paper and give it a couple minutes of hot air from a hair dryer or heat gun. Excess lube will run out onto the paper and you won't have to disassemble the knife. I use Breakfree CLP on mine and have never experienced such a problem over many years of use.
 
Spray it out with brake clean and see if the removal solves your issue.

If no then take the knife apart and add tension to the lock bar by bending it.
 
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EChoil said:
I'm trying to follow this, but...

Take this the way it's intended, I can't imagine a lube that, when applied to an otherwise in-spec folder, would turn it into a noodle. That's damn sure the lube I'd want !

It reminds me of the Harley mechanic way back who told me that synthetic oil could be harmful to my scooter because it is too slick.
​

What am I missing here?
Click to expand...

The quantity of lubricant affects this as well. If too much lubrication is used, it can result in undesirable behavior. It's kind of the double edged sword in a sense that lack of lubrication can be harmful, but excessive lubrication can be equally as harmful. This is more commonly discussed with firearms, but I've encountered it with knives first-hand as well.
 
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