Ontario RAT-1 reassembly question.

C

Capt. Spaulding

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Feb 7, 2014
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So I took my RAT-1 apart to clean it and after looking at some videos online it appears I have one less Teflon washer than normal. They normally come with 2 Bronze 3 Teflon. When I reassembled I did

Bronze/Teflon/Blade/Teflon/Bronze

Basically Bronze against the liners and Teflon against the blade. Now when I got it back together everything performs great, but it feels gritty when opening. Now I guess it is a possibility I lost a Teflon washer, but honestly I was paying close attention to what came out of the knife as to not lose anything so I think it came missing one from the factory. With that said if it was missing one from the factory it felt smooth until I took it apart. Is it possible the washers need to be flipped over and kept in the same order? The Teflon washers should be against the blade right?

Just for reference the people (everyone) who has 3 Teflon washers said they believe the washers went in the same order I have mine in but with the extra Teflon in between the Bronze and the scale on (I believe) the non liner lock side. So like this.

Bronze/Teflon/Blade/Teflon/Bronze/Teflon

Any help would be appreciated. I'm going to take it back apart and probably check the washers and maybe flip them around, but I just wanted to ask and get a general consensus before I do. Thanks everyone.
 
I sent Ontario a email asking about replacement washers and they do provide them for a fee. The thing that stood out is they send out two of each with the order. 2 Bronze and 2 Teflon. So maybe i'm not missing one. :confused:
 
I usually forget which order they come in so sometimes I have to rearrange them a couple of times. If I put it together improperly it doesn't become gritty but it will be way off center till the point of rubbing the liner. Last time I put it back together I did it in this order, starting with the locking side. Bronze/Teflon/blade/Teflon/Teflon/bronze. The lone Teflon washer is a little bit thinner than the others and shows much more wear, which I think is from the lockbar. It is still fairly off center but it does not rub and is very smooth.

I always thought it strange that there is an odd number of Teflon washers.

I would say try some different configurations until it works.
 
benchwarmer380 said:
I usually forget which order they come in so sometimes I have to rearrange them a couple of times. If I put it together improperly it doesn't become gritty but it will be way off center till the point of rubbing the liner. Last time I put it back together I did it in this order, starting with the locking side. Bronze/Teflon/blade/Teflon/Teflon/bronze. The lone Teflon washer is a little bit thinner than the others and shows much more wear, which I think is from the lockbar. It is still fairly off center but it does not rub and is very smooth.

I always thought it strange that there is an odd number of Teflon washers.

I would say try some different configurations until it works.
Click to expand...


I'm just confused on if their is supposed to be three Teflon washers or not. If Ontario will sell you replacements, but only provide 2 of each it seems strange that they would sell you one less Teflon washer then you need. It is also strange that every video and now you are telling me they have 3 Teflon washers. :confused:

I'm just going to fiddle with it and try a bunch of different configurations and see what happens.

When I initially put it back together the blade was way off center but adjusting the blade pivot screw centered it.
 
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