Pivot Question

Joined
Mar 20, 2011
Messages
84
So I disassembled my xm-18 and lubed it up. When I reassembled it I centered the blade and its a little off (don't care) it's super smooth but the pivot is pretty much free floating... I can spin it with my hands like I'm swinging the knife back and forth. its not unscrewing it moves as 1 peice. Just seeing if this was normal, there's no blade play or anything it just wasn't like this when I got it so I don't know any better :p
 
It'll be perfectly ok that way in my opinion. I'm guessing that the pivot needs just a smidge more tightening, and I do mean a smidge. That will pull the blade perfectly center and lock the pivot into place via friction on the scale and lockside. I'm sure someone will post a link to re-centering the blade, I'm just not sure where it is on this forum.

I've carried a Hinderer every single day for the last 5 years.
 
Yeah I've read that and followed it! The blade is just barely off and not concerning at all... I was just worried about the pivot eing able to spin. I didn't see anything about it in the sticky but then again it is late haha...
 
Yeah I've read that and followed it! The blade is just barely off and not concerning at all... I was just worried about the pivot eing able to spin. I didn't see anything about it in the sticky but then again it is late haha...



Try this:

Loosen the pivot...maybe completely remove the screw from it.

Put a little pressure on the pivot portion that accepts the pivot screw and assure its seated in the pocket...then retighten. See if the "spin" is eliminated.
 
I followed the instructions contained in the sticky and it centered. But when I loosen to adjust the friction, the blade goes off center again.

I just left it off centered as I like that friction setting. It is not touching the side though but it is very close.

How do I address this?
 
Then you missed a step along the way...the frame screws (tightened in the correct order) should prevent this from happening. Otherwise tighten the pivot screw until the blade centers and stop...minor adjustments are all it takes... 60 degrees of wrench turning at a time kind of fine tuning is sometimes req'd
 
Then you missed a step along the way...the frame screws (tightened in the correct order) should prevent this from happening. Otherwise tighten the pivot screw until the blade centers and stop...minor adjustments are all it takes... 60 degrees of wrench turning at a time kind of fine tuning is sometimes req'd

You mentioned frame screws. I do it starting with the one furthest away from the pivot and work my way thru.

Is that correct? Or do I need to go the other way round?

When I fully tighten the pivot screw tight, it centers good. But just a slight release of the screw, you can virtually see the blade moving to one side. And when I saw loosen, I mean like holding my breadth to very lightly release pressure. The screw barely move if you don't keep an eye in reference to the scales design. Lol
 
You need to use some folded paper to push the blade all the way to the left and bang the knife gently on a book then tighten the pivot screw as tight as it can go. Then tighten the frame screws. Then take out the paper. The blade should still be off to the left. Now loosen the pivot and bring the blade to center.
 
Tried that. It seems to work for awhile until I open close about 10 times. And the blade went off again. Maybe I should take down the whole thing and reassemble. The last person may not have put it back in properly.
 
Tried that. It seems to work for awhile until I open close about 10 times. And the blade went off again. Maybe I should take down the whole thing and reassemble. The last person may not have put it back in properly.

Perhaps all you need is a very, very small amount of very weak loctite on the screw.

As for tightening the handle screws, I often install the one closest to the pivot (middle of the knife) but do not snug it, then the one at the very back of the knife, then the last one (mid of the 3).

I don't snug any hardware too tightly before all hardware is installed by intent, but I'm certain one thing has been tighter than another here/there.

Keep at it, you'll get the desired result soon.
 
Back
Top