Quiet up ZT 0561/0560?

S

SuzukiGS750EZ

Joined
Dec 30, 2008
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So I just bought a new zt 0561. It has the newer style lockbar insert. When opening the knife slowly the bearings have a rough noise like taking your fingernail across the ridges on a zip tie. It's not consistent which makes me think it's just the plastic retainer with some rough edges. So I took the g10 side off and wiped down all the surfaces with a dry paper towel to get rid of grit and grime that may have come from assembly/manufacturing. Put it back together dry, as that's what's been recommended and how my knife came. But it sounds clunky. I don't know if it's the sound and vibrations resonating through the titanium lock side or the bearings because they're aren't precision fit or what. So is it normal? I hear it mostly on closing, and if the blade shuts hard it's made worse. Thanks!
 
It's normal, I think most frame locks do that. Don't sweat it so much, and enjoy the knife.
 
My 561 has no such sound as "a rough noise like taking your fingernail across the ridges on a zip tie," or "clunky."

Something is wrong with the knife and it should be returned.
 
It may just be the detent ball traveling across the side of the blade. Does it still make that sound if you push the lockbar out of the way entirely?
 
Yes. Well, the bearing noise does. I just took it apart and flushed the bearings with rubbing alcohol. Lots of black grit and I'm guessing small particles of metal came out. Seems to be better grit wise now, the clunky thwack is still there though. I guess maybe I'm just used to my sebenza, this only being my second frame lock I've owned.
 
A little update, got it all figured out. I oiled up the bearings and the detention track for the night, flipped it a bunch and then when I woke up I just wiped the oil away with a paper towel to remove the most of the oil so it doesn't attract dirt and such. Put it all back together and it's not making the bearing noise anymore. The detent sounded dry last night and was squeaking, so I knew I had to do something. Since I got the pivot to its perfect tension the clunky noise seems to have gone away. On lock tension there was no blade play, but watching the bearings as the knife was opened and keeping the lock open with a folded piece of paper I could feel a decent amount of play. So, all solved!
 
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