New ZT 0566 is tight, tight, tight

[HappyDaddy]

Holy Cow is it tight. I'm hesitant to loosen the pivot any because it always affects blade centering. It opens with the flipper but it ain't easy! Are there any other tips for loosening this thing some? My ZT 0350 was nothing like this. I can actually open the 0350 with the thumb studs. I think I'd need pliers to do that with the 0566.

Thanks folks.

 

[BenLong1018]

I'm not sure what you're asking, but if it's tight about the only thing you can do is adjust the pivot screw or just keep flipping it maybe it will loosen up.

 

[flatblackcapo]

Try some lube on the pivot.

 

[EZ Bake]

It sounds like you're referring to how stiff it is to open with the flipper - it breaks in some with use, but basically, you've got a strong detent and a tortion bar both working to hold the knife in the closed position with a fairly small flipper (and no jimping on the flipper).

I had mine de-assisted within 10 minutes of owning it and I absolutely love it now.

 

[jkwithawave]

Mine was hard to open with the thumb studs. Damn near impossible. Took out the speed safe and it opened up a whole new world of smoothness out of that bad boy.

 

[NCCNC]

lube it and flip it a bunch.

 

[grownstar]

All the other guys are right. You can loosen the pivot, or try and smooth it out with some lubricant. Or you can just take the torsion bar out and make it a manual. That will definitely relieve the tension since you won't have a spring whose natural state is to keep the knife closed. Or just keep flipping it till

A.) the knife breaks in

and

B.) you just get used to it. Not all flippers are the same. Some require changing up your technique, or building a little more hand strength/dexterity. In the end, it's all muscle memory.

 

[Sunby]

Some 0566 are very difficult to open as "assisted" when new.
Mine was very difficult to open as assisted.
Let it break-in first.

Btw - 0566 does not have "Thumb Stud".
It's a stop pin and you will be able to use it as thumb stud by de-assiting the kinfe.

 

[Kai Winters]

I completely disassembled mine the day I recvd it. I used 2000 grit wet/dry sand paper to polish the washers, blade area where the washers sit and the liners, also where the washers sit. I used a small amount of BM lube on my finger tips and lightly coated the washers, liners and blade area where they all meet. I backed off the pivot screw just a bit. All this and opening the knife, assisted, repeatedly has helped it open much easier...but as you have said my 350 does open a bit easier than the 566 but not enough to worry about it.

It now opens easily and smoothly.

 

[2 shot]

I agree with ED Bake sounds like a strong detent so addressing the pivot won't change how hard the initial force required to deploy the blade.

Does it open with authority once the detent is broken or is the action sluggish?

 

[HappyDaddy]

Thanks all for the input and advice - I appreciate it. I can open it ok as is, it's just significantly more difficult than my 0350. If I loosen the pivot enough to matter, the blade centering goes to hell. I've never removed the torsion bar on an AO knife, but may try that just to try it. It seems that the detent is a lot stronger on this model (or at least on mine) than on the 0350. I posted a couple of weeks ago because I was having trouble deploying my new Blur. Thanks to the advice of forum members, i learned that my technique was bad. I solved that - thanks to you guys. I'll take your advice on this one too.

Cheers