Para-Military2 side to side blade play.

mosseri

mosseri

Joined
Aug 7, 2012
Messages
155
Just got a new Para-Military2 and as I see now it suffers from the notorious side to side blade play.
I've tried adjusting the pivot, but at the only spot where I get the play gone, it is extremely difficult to open the knife, even two handed.
Am asking for advice, is there anything I'm missing? I thought the whole point for the bushing system was being able to crank the pivot down and still have smooth action. this is my first experience with the PM2 and I'm really loving it so far aside of that issue which I hope can be solved.
Would love to hear suggestions for fixing this.
 
Get yourself some 5 weight Nano-Oil, apply a few tiny drops into the loosened pivot and open & close the blade for a few minutes.
The oil is almost as thin as water and will creep deeply into every nook & cranny.
Only then adjust the pivot until all play is gone and the blade will still open smoothly, and this time it will work.
 
kwackster said:
Get yourself some 5 weight Nano-Oil, apply a few tiny drops into the loosened pivot and open & close the blade for a few minutes.
The oil is almost as thin as water and will creep deeply into every nook & cranny.
Only then adjust the pivot until all play is gone and the blade will still open smoothly, and this time it will work.
Click to expand...

Will definitely give it a try, just ordered 2 pieces. I'll let you know how it works. Thank you. :)

Meanwhile I'm waiting for the nano-oil, still open for more suggestions.
 
If Sypderco wouldn't void the warranty for taking it down, I'd suggest taking it down to check if it's clean
and all parts are where they should be. As you hinted, what you're describing shouldn't happen
with the PM2's construction. I can tighten the pivot down on mine, can't discern any side to side
play even with the lock disengaged and the blade swings freely if I disengage the lock. Although
I wouldn't expect every PM2 to be this perfect, requiring two handed opening is probably not within spec.

If you bought from a dealer, I'd recommend sending it back.
 
You could try adjusting the stop pin screws as well as the pivot. If you can tighten the pivot down so much that it makes it harder to open, you can find the sweet spot... a lot of Para 2s can't be tightened down enough to eliminate blade play, so if you can tighten it down that much, then you'll be fine as long as you're patient. A very slight turn of the screws can make a huge difference.

It may take some time to smooth out, but once it does and you find that sweet spot, a tiny bit of blue Loctite on the pivot/stop pin screws can help keep it that way.
 
I was suggested sanding down a tiny bit off the stop pin. What do you guys think, has anyone tried such a thing? (By now I've already voided the warranty)
 
If I understand correctly, the action is too tight, when stop pin and pivot are tightened down.

Wouldn't sanding down the stop pin make the action even tighter? Maybe sanding down the washers would help.
 
I had the same issue with a few of my PM2s. I tightened down the pivot all the way but the play is still noticeable. I sent one in to Spyderco, but they sent it back and said the play was within their tolerances, so I just figured I could live with it. Hope you can get yours to where you want it.
 
I have the same problem with a sage 1. Tried polishing all mating surfaces and that didn't do all that much. Even the oil didn't help like I was hoping. I used break free oil. I think just opening and closing alot will eventually wear everything in.
 
steff27 said:
If I understand correctly, the action is too tight, when stop pin and pivot are tightened down.

Wouldn't sanding down the stop pin make the action even tighter? Maybe sanding down the washers would help.
Click to expand...

Putting it that way actually makes sense, I tend to believe too that sanding a bit off the washers will be the way to go.
 
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