newbie with Sebenza Problem

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mooredc

Joined
May 31, 2003
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12
I disassembled my small Sebenza for the first time yesterday, applied a little CRK grease to the pivot washers hoping to get a little smoother action, but when I re-assebled it, the knife is tighter than ever.

I think it is related to the lock, but I didn't do anything to adjust the lock [at least not on purpose].

Any guesses on what I messed up :(
 
most likely, in reassembly you have crimped a washer. Take it back apart and make sure everything is aligned exactly, and watch that bottom washer!
 
The washers should be left clean, the lube is for the pivot pin and sleeve.
 
I have done this before and the culprit was a crimped washer. If you are unsuccessful in taking the knife apart and re-assembling it again, you might want to read the "Unofficial Sebenza FAQ (Long)" thread - IIRC there are some comments there about re-assembly and take down. If this does not work, you may consider calling CRK for directions or sending the knife in for re-assembly.

There is a learning curve for some of us in this process. No shame in seeking assistance.

Congratulations on your purchase and having the curiosity to tinker with the Sebbie.
 
Ditto what they said above. Same thing happened to me the first time I took mine apart. The FAQ will set you straight.

-- Dizos
 
Thanks everyone,

I took it apart again and carefully checked the washers. I did not see that they were bent, and it appeared they were already aligned properly.

I reassembled it and magically it is working better now, not as smooth as I would like, but at least back to the way it was before I "Fixed" it :)

Is it possible I torqued the screws too much the first time? This time I didn't tighten them quite as much.

Question: If you hold the opened [and locked] Sebenza horizontally with the edge pointing downward, and then "completely" disengage the lock, should the blade free fall, slowly droop down, or should there be enough friction to hold the blade in place?
 
Mooredc,

On my Sebenzas the blade would not "free fall" when you disengage the lock bar.

The first time I tear one down I polish the bearing washers on both sides. If you want the blades to free fall, take a piece of smooth, single thickness cardboard (like the cardboard backing on a legal pad), put on a small amount of Flitz or Blue Magic and then use your index finger to rub the washer in a circular motion through the compound impregnated cardbord. Make sure the cardboard is on a perfectly flat surface so that you don't bend or distort the washer. You can get the washers mirror bright and the blade will then "free fall", if that's what you want. Don't try to wipe the washers clean but rather use a brake cleaner spray or similar substance in order to eliminate the possibility of distorting them while trying to rub the Flitz off.

I've done all of mine that way and the amount you take off is so minute that you will not have blade play.
 
stjames - you say that the washers should be left clean and that was what I did the first few times I stripped and cleaned my sebie but the last time i put some CRK grease on the back of the washers ie against the frame slabs and the knife is much smoother???
 
If the pivot screw has an effect on blade tightness, you have still crimped a washer! The Sebi is set up so you can fully tighten the screw and not have an over tight knife.

I lube all parts, no probs with stiffness now.

Read the FAQ section and in particular my comments, you will get it right! Bear in mind a new knife will be somewhat more 'stiff' as its new anyway! There is a *trick* to doing this and I find I have to do it 2-3 times before I get the washers seated and not crimped. The knife ha very tight tollerances, which is good. Its either right or wrong, not shades of acceptable!:D
 
Originally posted by mooredc
Thanks everyone,


Question: If you hold the opened [and locked] Sebenza horizontally with the edge pointing downward, and then "completely" disengage the lock, should the blade free fall, slowly droop down, or should there be enough friction to hold the blade in place?
Click to expand...

Mine free falls.
 
OK ... I guess I do not have it right yet since screw torque does have an effect on action smoothness. I read the FAQ, and it is still not crystal clear to me.

My interpretation on re-assemly: you need to re-assemble the handle first [all but the pivot screw], then assemble the blade with bushing and washers, and THEN insert the blade assembly in the handle, center it over the pivot hole, hold tight and attach/tighten the pivot screw ... [then pray that the washers did not slide during the process].

Is that about right?
 
I really don't see why so many people have problems putting the Sebenza back together, it's not rocket science.

1. Insert "female" posts into handle slab with lock
2. slide stop pin sleeve and blue spacer over their posts
3. slide pivot bushing over pivot post
4. drop smaller washer over pivot bushing. (It helps here to use your finger to push the pivot post from behind, to make sure nothing slips and the washer doesn't slide under the pivot bushing)
5. insert blade in open position onto pivot, push down firmly making sure there is no space between the blade and washer.
6. drop large washer in
7. now insert non-lock handle slab and screw down

done!
 
Jardis - that is just the same way I do it but it is NOT the way recomended in the faq.

However as i have not yet crimped a washer I will carry on doing it that way.

I am sure there is plenty of scope for me crimp wahsers yet :D
 
Originally posted by Jadis
I really don't see why so many people have problems putting the Sebenza back together, it's not rocket science.
Click to expand...

Your common sense method is what I was doing all along.

Success Finally : I started from scratch, tore every thing down and washed every part again [there was a tiny piece of grit on lock side handle where the small washer would touch ... very small but suspicious].

I re-assembled the way I did the first couple times [i.e. the Jadis method], because I found the instructions in the FAQ to be impossible to interpret.

Now the knife is working as it did from the factory, with the screws tightened down well.

Lesson learned: if it ain't broke, don't fix it [but that's no fun is it?].

Thanks again to everyone for the help.
 
It seems allot of people have had problems with crimping their washers. So does that mean your knives were out of commission until you recieved replacements from CRK?? Do they send them out freely or do you have to send the knife in??

I am asking b/c I have never disassembled mine and I am thinking I might keep it that way :eek:
 
Originally posted by bagman
stjames - you say that the washers should be left clean and that was what I did the first few times I stripped and cleaned my sebie but the last time i put some CRK grease on the back of the washers ie against the frame slabs and the knife is much smoother???
Click to expand...
I put a tiny bit of grease on my washers too and have never had any problems. Those sebbies are sweet! Best folder I've ever had.
 
Originally posted by TheBadGuy
It seems allot of people have had problems with crimping their washers. So does that mean your knives were out of commission until you recieved replacements from CRK??
Click to expand...

I don't think crimping the washer necessarily destroys it, it just means you've caught a small piece of it between the pivot bushing and the handle thus preventing the knife from operating smoothly.

By the way, the FAQ does suggest putting a small amount of grease on the washers. Anne Reeve says "Seat the thrust washers on either side of the bearing, with just a touch of lube underneath them." As with the rest of her instructions it is open to interpretation what "underneath" means. Is it between washer and blade [that's my guess] or washer and handle [or both]? I think the instructions could be written in a step-by-step manner [somewhat like Jadis did, only more detailed] that would be much easier to understand.
 
OK if memory serves...

1. I have the screw heads on the clip side for this...

2. I will have another go and write it down step by step:eek:

Sorry! To many steps to remember here and now, but I am sure my way is near same as Jadis.
 
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