Small Sebenza 21: sticky lock problem

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kubix

Joined
Jan 28, 2013
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My small seb sticks pretty badly. I explain and demonstrate the problem in this video.

Also, not mentioned in the video, I would say the lock-up is generally over the 75% that is in the unofficial FAQ. More like 85-90%.

Is this knife within spec? Is it worth sending to CRK?

Thanks.
 
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Did you make sure there is no lube on the lock face or blade tang? If so clean those spots really well and see if that helps.
 
+1 on the lube thing. While it may seem that the lock face would be better with oil, it turns out the opposite.

Make sure you thoroughly degrease both the lock bar face and the mating surfaces on the blade. A tiny bit of grease or oil can really ruin the feel of the knife.
 
Hmmm, I have the opposite experience with a slight amount of grease on the tang--makes it smooth and very easy to disengage.
 
I've heard conflicting advice on this before. I tried both graphite and oil and neither made a discernible difference. There was likely a thin layer of oil before, though. So, tomorrow I'll try a degreaser on the tang/lock bar face and see what happens.
 
Just to add. I was adding a bit of oil to my Sebbie tonight. Some got on the lock face and got more sticky. I then washed it in hot soapy water. While it was wet, the lock bar was super sticky! Once I got it dried out, it was back to normal.
 
Mine was sticky. Sent an email to Heather. was told to send it in. Within three weeks, it came back with a new back plate. Problem solved.

Everything starts with Heather. Send an email to her.
 
Jdavis has a video showing how he fixes this. Loosen all screws without totally disengaging them. Holding the knife in one hand push upwards on on side of the titanium sides with your thumb and push the opposite way on the other titanium side. Use a fair amount of force. While applying the force use your other hand to tighten the screws. Watch is video before trying. He claims to have a 100% success rate. OR reach out to Heather!!
 
Luckyleo said:
Jdavis has a video showing how he fixes this. Loosen all screws without totally disengaging them. Holding the knife in one hand push upwards on on side of the titanium sides with your thumb and push the opposite way on the other titanium side. Use a fair amount of force. While applying the force use your other hand to tighten the screws. Watch is video before trying. He claims to have a 100% success rate. OR reach out to Heather!!
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I tried this 3 times, and it I think it made only a slight difference once. It didn't fix the stickiness.

I tried degreasing the lock face and tang. That definitely made it worse. A lot worse. I'm going to have to re-lube it because it's basically not useable now.

I'm going to follow ijha's suggestion and contact CRK. Hopefully they'll fix mine, too.

Thanks for the feedback guys.
 
If you read the instructions on the CRK website, they state to put grease between the tang and the lock when reassembling the knife. Those who told you to clean off the grease are incorrect. You should also use the CRK grease, not oil.

I watched your video and don't believe you have a problem with the knife. So what, it sticks a little on unlocking? Some would call this a good thing, since it stays locked. But you are not happy, so contact CRK and send it in.

IMHO, JDavis' method is baloney; any "improvement" seen probably would have occurred just by disassembly and reassembly. There are hundreds of sebenzas out in the world that don't need adjustment, because the knife is made to be assembled and disassembled by anyone with the right tool (which they give you.) The sebenza has very tight tolerances, that's why it is so easy to put back together.
 
kubix said:
Is it worth sending to CRK?
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If you want a lock that isn't sticky it is. Only you can decide that.

I had a 1999 that got a little sticky a few years ago. Sent it in, and it came back perfect.
 
brownshoe said:
I watched your video and don't believe you have a problem with the knife. So what, it sticks a little on unlocking? Some would call this a good thing, since it stays locked. But you are not happy, so contact CRK and send it in.
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That's why I wanted to know if it was normal or not; I don't have another to compare it to. I would tend to think that it's bug rather than a feature given that others have sent theirs in, and it comes back perfect. Also, it seems unnecessary to have an extra stickiness when, in addition to the lock bar tension, the force of my hand griping the handle should make accidental unlocking extremely unlikely, at least in a standard position. CRK has responded to my email, and they said to send it in. Presumably they would have said it's designed that way if that were the case.

I could live with it if I had to, but I do find it irritating. Also, it's not just about aesthetics. As I said in the video, it will sometimes lock up so tightly that it takes two hands to disengage the lock, which is a considerable loss of functionality in my opinion.

Point taken about the grease, though. I'm ordering some from CRK when I send it in.
 
I sent my Sebenza in to CRK and got it back last week. They turned it around in less than 2 weeks, and it came back working perfectly. It's my default EDC now. Pleased to have it back in my pocket.
 
TheAndrew said:
Glad to hear it kubix. Did they say what they did to fix it?
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Unfortunately, that is a mystery to me. If I had to guess, I would say they polished the part of the tang that meets the lock bar. Nothing seems to have been replaced.
 
kubix said:
I sent my Sebenza in to CRK and got it back last week. They turned it around in less than 2 weeks, and it came back working perfectly. It's my default EDC now. Pleased to have it back in my pocket.
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Good call on sending it in:thumbup:

I knew they would make it perfect.
 
MostMenAreRuthless said:
Happy endings rule.

You forgot to provide your fellow CRK family with before and after pics though. . .
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There's not much difference visually (besides the bead blasting removed the superficial scratches on the handle), but I did post before and after videos. The grinding sound is now gone when you disengage the lock.
 
The only time Ive experienced what you are showing is if I have flicked the knife open overly aggressively, or if I am putting pressure on the spine with my index finger while pushing on the lockbar. You only have to be slightly mor than touching the spine to cause drag, so it will be very easy to do.
 
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