Random Question

Tony8179 · Jun 17, 2008

For anyone that owns a Random Leek I was wondering if the speed safe opening felt a little sluggish? Is it the coating on the blade that's making it not snap out as well as my SS leeks or do I need a new torsion bar? I love all my Leeks and I was super jazzed about getting the Random only to have some of my hopes dashed by the sluggish AO.

HELP ME!

spiralarchitect · Jun 17, 2008

Could be any of the above. First, fiddle with the pivot, if that doesn't work, contact CS, get a new torsion bar, dissassemble, polish the washers, lube and reassemble, It oughta be fine.:thumbup:

reholli · Jun 18, 2008

Tony8179 said:
For anyone that owns a Random Leek I was wondering if the speed safe opening felt a little sluggish? Is it the coating on the blade that's making it not snap out as well as my SS leeks or do I need a new torsion bar? I love all my Leeks and I was super jazzed about getting the Random only to have some of my hopes dashed by the sluggish AO. HELP ME!

My example of this knife is my least favorite Kershaw (and I love my Kershaws...

), and definitely my slowest Leek. I actually do think the coating is a factor, and also don't like either the feel of it on the blade and handle or the fact that its appearance deteriorates significantly immediately upon handling (and apparently, permanently...I haven't figured out a way to restore a like-new appearance).

Perhaps this explains why this is the only Kershaw with this coating, at least that I know of...

Ray

kneedeep · Jun 18, 2008

Before fiddling too much with it, I recommend opening it a lot.
Mine seemed slow the first few dozen flips, but it opened normally after it broke in.

Antihero17 · Jun 18, 2008

Mine never broke in. I took it apart, polished the washers and the part of the blade that the washers contact. It is now one of my fastest opening leeks.

spiralarchitect · Jun 18, 2008

Antihero17 said:
Mine never broke in. I took it apart, polished the washers and the part of the blade that the washers contact. It is now one of my fastest opening leeks.

A man after my own pattern...... take it apart and fiddle away

That is why I love Kershaw so much. They actually encourage you to take it apart and figure it out:thumbup:

As for the knocks on the newer style Random, they are all true. The coating seems to take finger prints permanantly, and out of the box they are very slow. I had to get over the looks issues, took it apart and fiddled with it until it sped up, and now it is my favorite Kershaw model. You just can't beat the usefulness of the Random blade shape and the (Titanium carbonitride?)coating grips very well...... Just a few thoughts

redsst · Jun 18, 2008

The discoloration that everyone is speaking of, does it look almost like a gold-ish patina?

Antihero17 · Jun 18, 2008

spiralarchitect said:
A man after my own pattern...... take it apart and fiddle away That is why I love Kershaw so much. They actually encourage you to take it apart and figure it out:thumbup:

As for the knocks on the newer style Random, they are all true. The coating seems to take finger prints permanantly, and out of the box they are very slow. I had to get over the looks issues, took it apart and fiddled with it until it sped up, and now it is my favorite Kershaw model. You just can't beat the usefulness of the Random blade shape and the (Titanium carbonitride?)coating grips very well...... Just a few thoughts

They encourage it? I did not know that.

I just cant help it, even if a knife comes new and opens great I still have it apart a few minutes later. All of my knives get opened, polished up, and lubricated with tuf-glide.

Antihero17 · Jun 18, 2008

redsst said:
The discoloration that everyone is speaking of, does it look almost like a gold-ish patina?

Are you talking about on the washers themselves? I think what other people are talking about in this thread is the smudges and dirt that effects the coating on the blade and handle.

nygiantsfan3342 · Jun 18, 2008

Their are many knife manufactureres that use TungstenDLC, but it shouldn't affect the speedsafe mechanism.

My Random Leek is just as fast as my regular stainless leek, which is very fast.

spiralarchitect · Jun 18, 2008

Antihero17 said:
They encourage it? I did not know that.

I would say any manufacturer that readily sends out replacement parts encourages fixing it your self. And I love it

The only times my knives get sent in are for the occasional problem I can't fix on an older model... I got a Ricochet that needs to go in, its got some vertical blade play I can't seem to dial out of it. Torsion bars and stripped screws all get replaced at home.

Antihero17 · Jun 18, 2008

spiralarchitect said:
Antihero17 said:

They encourage it? I did not know that.

QUOTE]

I would say any manufacturer that readily sends out replacement parts encourages fixing it your self. And I love it

The only times my knives get sent in are for the occasional problem I can't fix on an older model... I got a Ricochet that needs to go in, its got some vertical blade play I can't seem to dial out of it. Torsion bars and stripped screws all get replaced at home.

Click to expand...

Good point.

SPXTrader · Jun 18, 2008

spiralarchitect said:
Antihero17 said:

They encourage it? I did not know that.

QUOTE]

I would say any manufacturer that readily sends out replacement parts AT NO COST, AND WITHOUT VOIDING THE WARRANTY encourages fixing it your self. And I love it

The only times my knives get sent in are for the occasional problem I can't fix on an older model... I got a Ricochet that needs to go in, its got some vertical blade play I can't seem to dial out of it. Torsion bars and stripped screws all get replaced at home.

Click to expand...

Hehe...I added a little!

redsst · Jun 18, 2008

Not the washers, but the blade and handle themselves. They have developed copper-colored smudges that don't come off.

Antihero17 · Jun 18, 2008

redsst said:
Not the washers, but the blade and handle themselves. They have developed copper-colored smudges that don't come off.

On the random leek? I have not experienced that with mine

Tony8179 · Jun 18, 2008

So then I guess I'll take it apart and tinker around a bit. Thanks guys. I appreciate advice from those who know. And now I know... And knowing is half the battle.

2brothers · Jun 18, 2008

redsst said:
Not the washers, but the blade and handle themselves. They have developed copper-colored smudges that don't come off.

I've had that happen to a few of my knives, but it was always my
Night Watchmen or the keys attached to it that made the marks.

mike

reholli · Jun 19, 2008

nygiantsfan3342 said:
Their are many knife manufactureres that use TungstenDLC, but it shouldn't affect the speedsafe mechanism.

My Random Leek is just as fast as my regular stainless leek, which is very fast.

Yes, NYG, you are right, of course...DLC shouldn't impact SpeedSafe and usually doesn't...but they didn't use DLC for the standard-run Random Leek (not to be confused with the Chesapeake Knife and Tool model...I believe that one is DLC)...the standard Kershaw Random Leeks (1660TGRYST) are coated with Chromium Nitride, and it's an entirely different animal...almost tacky if that were possible for anything this hard and dry.

I still love the blade shape, etc. It's just a flukey coating choice best forgotten...

I just need to take mine apart sometime and do some polishing, etc.

Ray

Tony8179 · Jun 20, 2008

Antihero17 said:
Mine never broke in. I took it apart, polished the washers and the part of the blade that the washers contact. It is now one of my fastest opening leeks.

Pardon my ignorance, but by polish do you mean just a good wipe down?? I took apart my Random and cleaned every millimeter of it and re-lubed with a little REM OIL and now it won't even open all the way with the flipper. I have to use the thumb stud to get it open in one shot. Man I'm starting to lose it over here because I don't think a knife that costs this much should be opening like a rusty gate. Screw this. I'm sending this puppy back to Kershaw so they can fix it. I'm tired of playing games with this knife. Thanks anyway guys, but if I tinker around with this thing anymore and it still doesn't work I'm throwing it out the mother trucking window. My first ever dissapointment with a Kershaw product. :grumpy:

:thumbdn:

SPXTrader · Jun 20, 2008

Sending it back is probably the best idea at this point. Kershaw will make it right. Call CS and ask for Dawn. Tell her your situation, and she'll work with you.

As for polishing, depending on how the blade action feels, I'll use flitz or a light Meguire's buffing compound, and work on all pivot and blade contact areas and the PB washers until they're slick as glass. Finish them off with 4000 grit wet paper. Then a little lube, reassemble, adjust the pivot, and you're good to go. Some will put just a touch of the blue Locktite on the pivot screw to keep it set where you want it. If you do this, once you get it like you want it, let it sit overnight and give the Locktite a chance to set.