New small Sebenza-not smooth

BBQ BOY

BBQ BOY

Joined
Feb 24, 2009
Messages
2,820
Hello,
I received my first Sebenza yesterday and it's great. When I received the knife the blade was liberally coated with a red lubricant. I wiped it fro the blade then later wanted to use it to eat an apple. I decided to wash the blade since I could still smell and feel the lube on the blade. Well now the blade has a lot of friction and does not operate smoothly at all. To be honest it never did open and close with that hydraulic feel that my Mnandi and Umnumzaan has.
So, what's the deal here guys?
 
Sounds odd to me. My CRK's weren't liberally coated with anything and they were most certainly smooth. I had zero complaints about my small 21 out of the box.
Where did you buy it?
I'm almost suspicious.
 
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I bought it from TallPaul here. there is nothing suspicious about him. It was probably a lube he uses. The knife is brand new and is a 2004 Calvary.
I am guessing it needs lubricating and if it does how much of CRK lube do I apply, how and where?
 
never mind on the lube question. I just read the sticky. Does anyone know if I will be able to buy some CR lube at BLADE?
 
Probably a protecting coat of goop, then.
I was worried for a sec there, glad it's all for nothing.
I'd suspect there might be a bit of everything at blade, but I'm not the reference.
Enjoy the seb.
 
Just order it from their site if you can't get it at blade but most likely crk will be there.
 
If CRK has a booth there then they will probably have it. I purchased my CRK lube from Blade Show West last year from Anne. Shes awesome! :thumbup:
 
I just took it apart and checked it out. Very intuitive knife. Now I understand the hooraaa about Sebenzas. Anyway, there wasn't any red goop in the pivot area but a very very very light lube under the washer are. I think it needs some new grease. i reassembled the knife and to my surprise it opens and closes a little smoother. I am confident that when I re-grease it it will open and close much better.
 
You will be able to buy lube at the CRK booth, They will have case's & case's of it.
 
At one point when I was experimenting with lube on my small Classic I found that I put too much of CLP. Seemed to have a sticky feel when opening. An easy cure was to run it under warm water while opening and closing. That seemed to get rid of the excess lube and make it smoother. I did blow it out with compressed air to make sure there was not water in the pivot.
 
Speaking of lubes. I have a new Sebenza and wondered if they come lubed from CRK or if I should get some of my stuff out and lube it. Not that it feels like it needs it.

I have:

Rem-oil
Miltec-1
Latama Quick Release
All Corrosion-X offerings
Mineral Oil
Vasoline

Can I use/not use any of the above if and when I would want to lubricate? Everybody is saying "CRK lube" but there must be others that are okay?
 
Ive used mineral oil before and it worked fine. It just won't last as long as the CRK stuff.
 
I just disassembled it again and lubed it with some grease that I use for my guns called Shooter's Choice all weather high tech grease. Didn't help a bit. The knife is very very stiff. Is this due to the blade maybe needing breaking in?
 
Greetings BBQ BOY: It may be that the lube is either too thick or too much has been applied for the tolerances of the pivot area. The clip may also be contributing to the perceived stiffness. Sebenzas can take a while longer to "Break in" than some other frame locks. Their tolerances are very tight. The pocket clip which helps limit over travel of the lock bar when opening can contribute to the feeling of an overly strong blade retention. To test for this, try pulling the clip SLIGHTLY away from the lock bar with your other hand while you open the blade normally. This will indicate if and how much the tension of the clip is contributing to holding the ceramic ball against the recess in the blade. The clip tension can be adjusted. In time the ball detent will polish the surface where it rides on the blade further reducing friction. If the blade is not centered when closed, you have a pinched washer. Once broken in, (both the knife and your thumb) clean and lube the knife. OldDude1
 
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Another option is to send it in to CR for their "lube and tune". They will resharpen (if it needs it), take it apart, clean thoroughly, re-lubricate the pivot with CR grease, put it all back together and send it to you with a bow. Well, not with a bow, but all you pay for is shipping.
 
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I would suggest to take it apart again and FULLY clean it. Run everything under hot water and soap to get rid of any and all lubes that are on it. Make sure to fully dry it. Then, follow the sticky and apply a very SMALL amount of lube to the areas that the sticky instructs. Usually, I just place a small amount onto a Q-tip and quickly swap the area.

Hopefully this should fix your issue. By a chance, have you checked the washers to make sure you did not flip them on accident or that maybe you pinched them? Is the blade center when you put your Sebenza back together? Moreover, make sure the "smooth" side of the washer is contacting the tang of the blade rather then the inside of the scales. This will also aid in the fluid motion of the Sebenza. Good luck and let us know! :thumbup:
 
yes I was very careful to make sure I reassembled the washers the way they came off. I can't see where they are pinched but if they were I would not know how it would look if they were.
The washers could have been put on backwards from the Previous Owner though.
 
cziv said:
Speaking of lubes. I have a new Sebenza and wondered if they come lubed from CRK or if I should get some of my stuff out and lube it. Not that it feels like it needs it.

I have:

Rem-oil
Miltec-1
Latama Quick Release
All Corrosion-X offerings
Mineral Oil
Vasoline

Can I use/not use any of the above if and when I would want to lubricate? Everybody is saying "CRK lube" but there must be others that are okay?
Click to expand...

i dont see anything here that would be a problem. i use wilson combat grease, which is similar to the crk stuff.
 
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