Sebenza lock failure!

S

Spitz

Joined
Jan 22, 2006
Messages
38
This is a thread I thought I would never have to start, but alas…..

I have owned a large plain Sebenza now for about a year. I picked it up second hand from a dealer in an unused condition (made in 2005). Having played with it for a while, I started to EDC it in rotation on a regular basis, using it for light to medium cutting chores. About a week ago I used it in the garden to whittle down some 5 x 5 cm wooden stakes to a point. As I had to grip the knife quite hard, the locking bar got pushed further than usual under the base of the blade. This in itself was not worrying, as I have had this happen with other knives before. However, after closing and re-opening the knife again, I noticed the locking bar was not engaging back into its normal position, only barely locking the knife at all. Then, later on, I opened the knife slowly , put some light pressure on the spine of the blade and…..pop. Since then its either been only just locking, or failing to lock all together. Hoping the problem was dirt related, I took the knife apart, cleaned it and re-assembled. Now it opens alot smoother, but the lock-up has not improved at all.

Needless to say, I’m disappointed. I am hoping Mr. Reeves warrantee is as good as everyone says. (there’s something in the warrantee about „original user“ that make me worry a bit)
Even if it is, it’s still a big hassle for me to send the knife back, living in Germany as I do.
Anybody out there with a similar experience?

Spitz
 
I have never had this happen, could you post pics? Hopefully he can fix it for you as that is a serious problem if it does not lock.
 
I'll try and post pis in the next couple of days (my digi cam is out of town at the moment). Who has expierence with the Chris Reeves warrantee?

Spitz
 
I'd contact CRK. You may have to send it in and pay for return shipping but it sounds like something that they would want to know about and I think it would be worth your while to get your Sebbie working properly.
 
I would try taking it apart and putting it back together using the instructions listed on the sticky above.

Edit: Oops - I've got to start reading posts more carefully rather than skimming them!
 
Yeah, this seems very strange by what you've explained. Why would the lock bar not move barley at all now, when you've already said it moved to the furthest point against the non-lock side? If anything the bar would continue to move to the non-lock side because you've worn down either the bottom of the blade or the lock bar itself. I use a large Seb to wittle wood quite often, and yes, have had the bar get forced to the non-lock side; but with a little push it just pops back over and continues to lock normal. By chance did you force the lock the opposite way thinking it would prevent the overtravel? And by doing so now the lock doesn't have enough spring to fully engage the blade spine? Just a thought. The CRK factory should be able to help you out though. Give em a call.
:thumbup:
 
send it back. lock failure is no joke. especially so on the sebenza, which is built with the closest tolerances and is touted as perfect. CRK would want to know, and I think for such a serious issue, they may even bear the cost of shipping - just ask, I think they will.
 
blackend said:
By chance did you force the lock the opposite way thinking it would prevent the overtravel? And by doing so now the lock doesn't have enough spring to fully engage the blade spine? Just a thought. The CRK factory should be able to help you out though. Give em a call.
:thumbup:
Click to expand...

I hadn't thought of that and it would explain why it's barely engaging.
 
I bought a used seb once with a very soft lock, it would slip, in my case I sent it back and they retensioned it. and it's fine.
 
First of all, thanks for your replies.
As stated in the original post, I have already taken it apart and re-assembled. I took the opportunity to look at the base of the blade and the face of the locking bar. Neither showed any sign of wear.
I do not recall forcing the locking bar back into position at the time, although I couldn't say for sure.

Spitz

ps
Why me?
 
Did you give it a single hard flick to set the lock, as reccomended in the FAQ?
 
Yup, I followed the instructions to the word, flick and all. Anyway, the problem did start before disassembly.

Spitz
 
I bought a large Sebenza second hand...and from what you say, mine I believe acts the same...barely locks now...and didn't always lock before I disassembled...(the previous owner said he never noticed the problem, and apparently the knife just sat in a drawer most of its life before I got it)...I'm going to send it back for service when I get a chance...I own several CRKs, and I assume they will make it right for me...if not, I just won't buy anymore, huh....
 
Spitz said:
Needless to say, I’m disappointed. I am hoping Mr. Reeves warrantee is as good as everyone says. (there’s something in the warrantee about „original user“ that make me worry a bit)
Even if it is, it’s still a big hassle for me to send the knife back, living in Germany as I do.
Anybody out there with a similar experience?

Spitz
Click to expand...

I am confident that you will be very pleased with the service you get from CRK. I hear what you're saying about the hassle of sending the knife overseas to the CRK factory. I agree with the recommendation to call them -- have the knife and hex wrench with you to allow them to ask you some simple diagnostic questions over the phone (assembled or disassembled). Through this interactive discussion, CRK will be able to assess the issue, and then decide if you really need to send it back.
 
Thank you for everyone’s answers, I will have to find time to get on the phone to CRK, see what we can sought out.
DrJ - I see I'm not entirely alone on the world.

The picture below is of the lock at its worst (just so no-one thinks I'm crazy). I opened the knife with "normal" amount of pressure. After the photo, the blade popped out again, with only gentle pressure on the spine. Sometimes it engages a bit better, holding the knife in place, although not enough for me to trust it. I value my fingers.......


Spitz

http://img391.imageshack.us/my.php?image=pict0230ti2.jpg
 
Spitz said:
Thank you for everyone’s answers, I will have to find time to get on the phone to CRK, see what we can sought out.
DrJ - I see I'm not entirely alone on the world.

The picture below is of the lock at its worst (just so no-one thinks I'm crazy). I opened the knife with "normal" amount of pressure. After the photo, the blade popped out again, with only gentle pressure on the spine. Sometimes it engages a bit better, holding the knife in place, although not enough for me to trust it. I value my fingers.......


Spitz

pict0230ti2.jpg
Click to expand...

fixed your image ;)

i think all the questions are coming from the fact that as that lockbar wears or breaks in it slides more over than less. it just sounds kinda odd

mine will not lock all the way on occasion when i don't open it with enough pressure, but you can usually tell when you get the satisfying "click"
 
"The stop sleeve, against which the blade rests when the knife is open, can be rotated it necessary to get just a tiny bit of take-up. "
Did you try and rotate the sleeve at all. Try about 20 degrees at a time. Sometimes it can make a differance.
Dave
 
wildwilson said:
"The stop sleeve, against which the blade rests when the knife is open, can be rotated it necessary to get just a tiny bit of take-up. "
Did you try and rotate the sleeve at all. Try about 20 degrees at a time. Sometimes it can make a differance.
Dave
Click to expand...

That would be my next guess too. Doesn't sound like the knife is opening all the way. I'd like to see a picture of the knife apart showing just the lock side. Remove the pivot pin, loosen the stop pin screw and take the blade out. See if the lock is now moved over to the non-lock side. It should all but touch it. If it looks normal, i.e. the lock moves over; then it probably is a stop pin sleeve issue.
 
You also might try breaking down and reassembling your Sebbie to see if that helps. I've taken apart many a Sebbie and mostly not had a problem but ocassionally I end up needing two or three attempts to get it right. With the tight tolerances any small deviation can compromise lockup.;)
 
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