Southard flipper action disappointing

RayseM

RayseM

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Feb 18, 2010
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HELP please :confused:

I really do love my Spyderco Southard - the looks, the blade, the ease of carry but the deployment with the flipper :thumbdn:

Seemed to work better when I first bought (off the exchange) but now I seem to need to add a bit of wrist action to really get the click that it is open. If I just casually (mindlessly) flip it won't open all the way - maybe 80%. If I pay attention and really flip my finger no problem but that kind of defeats the knife for me as an EDC.

The centering and lock up is perfect. I did replace the scale (the brown version) with my own and maybe there is the rub (literally). Though at the beginning there was no compromise. I was able to get the tension on the pivot just right but several months later I am getting tired of the added wrist flip needed. I opened all and cleaned today. Everything looks good.

Maybe I am not putting it back together properly. That concave washer that fits over the bearing - is the cone side supposed to face the bearing or the scale? Is there a special orientation of the bearing?

Any suggestions? A special lubricant needed?

Thanks much, Ray
 
The 3 southards i have owned all flipped great never had problems. Maybe you just need to clean the pivot out and re lube it. Or maybe the bb washers were put in backwards, if that makes a difference. I know on one of my brous knives it did
 
Mine started to not flip so good, it just needed a thorough cleaning and lube job. I just used some Rem oil and now it flips better than it ever did.
 
I have one that seems to not flip open that well but;

All my other flippers have been spring assisted so only needing a little bump to snap open.

If I really pay attention it opens fine.
 
KyleMS11 said:
The 3 southards i have owned all flipped great never had problems. Maybe you just need to clean the pivot out and re lube it. Or maybe the bb washers were put in backwards, if that makes a difference. I know on one of my brous knives it did
Click to expand...

What would be backwards in this case? As I wrote the washer (as differentiated from the bearings ring) is shaped. Does the cone go to the bearings or to the scale?

Is there a correct orientation for the ring of bearings?

I did clean and lube just today so that isn't the issue.

Thanks for your suggestions.
 
Is the closed detent maybe not strong enough?
Typically the stronger the detent (to a certain point), the more pressure can be built up before the flip is engaged resulting in a crisper and faster flip.
 
On the side that touches the blade, each bearing has a slightly raised ring of plastic around it, as seen here:



That's how it comes from the factory anyway, but you don't feel much of a difference if they're in backwards.

Did you lubricate the detent ball? It needs a tiny bit on occasion. Don't overdo it and be sure not to get any on the lockface.

The bearings should rest in the concave side of the washer.
 
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Mine doesn't flip really well. To me, it feels like the lock bar is pressing against the blade with too much pressure. Im going to try a cleaning/lubrication. If that doesn't work, hopefully a trip back to spyderco will straighten things out.
 
RayseM said:
What would be backwards in this case? As I wrote the washer (as differentiated from the bearings ring) is shaped. Does the cone go to the bearings or to the scale?

Is there a correct orientation for the ring of bearings?

I did clean and lube just today so that isn't the issue.

Thanks for your suggestions.
Click to expand...

The washer's flared out sides should be going into the handles. Picture the handles as tables, and the washers as bowls (they kind of look like mini bowls), the bowl needs to sit on the table so the open side is facing away from the table.
 
Try this. Lift the lockbar up with your thumb so the detent ball is not touching the blade and see if the pivot swings freely. It should. If not, maybe your pivot screw is too tight? Most of the resistance in a flipper comes from the detent ball sliding on the blade tang. So a dab of oil on the detent ball track path helps alot.
 
josephrogers said:
The washer's flared out sides should be going into the handles. Picture the handles as tables, and the washers as bowls (they kind of look like mini bowls), the bowl needs to sit on the table so the open side is facing away from the table.
Click to expand...


Thank you but I read two different things here in your description. Bottom of the bowl to the bearings?

I will open the knife up again and check this and as spketch describes. Might need my magnifier to see the correct face to the blade.

Moxy - I can't even begin to lift the lockbar with my finger unless the knife is fully extended. :o I do think the pivot screw is set as loose as it can be without being ineffective or allowing the lockbar to push the blade of center when closed.

I'll keep tweaking today and see if I can improve the action. Thanks all for your insights.
 
I had a Southard and found the flipping action very poor......on the flip side:D.....I had a Domino that opened like a rocket!! I sold both as I really don't like Spyderco knives......that's just personal preference.
 
Moxy said:
Try this. Lift the lockbar up with your thumb so the detent ball is not touching the blade and see if the pivot swings freely. It should. If not, maybe your pivot screw is too tight? Most of the resistance in a flipper comes from the detent ball sliding on the blade tang. So a dab of oil on the detent ball track path helps alot.
Click to expand...

This would be my suggestion. The caged bearing orientation does not matter. I have swapped out bearings to help with centering, but their sides does not matter.

The spyderco southard is not a fast firing flipper to begin with. It fires just fine but not like some of the other higher end production flipper.
 
spketch said:
On the side that touches the blade, each bearing has a slightly raised ring of plastic around it, as seen here:



That's how it comes from the factory anyway, but you don't feel much of a difference if they're in backwards.

Did you lubricate the detent ball? It needs a tiny bit on occasion. Don't overdo it and be sure not to get any on the lockface.

The bearings should rest in the concave side of the washer.
Click to expand...


OK - This (the above) is what I did. Works better and to my satisfaction. Again thanks all for the input. Steve :thumbup:
 
Mine flips amazingly well, though it does slow down when it gets dirty. Currently it misfires if I don't push hard enough with my finger, but all it really needs is a cleaning. In proper shape, it almost feels like it's assisted.
 
Thankfully I am not an art major. But this is what I meant, you need to make sure the race track washer has the round end facing the handle. Then it doesn't matter which way the bearings go in. Another thing that will throw off the flipping and overall lock up is the internal stop pin. If it is in the wrong way it can make things looser or tighter than need be. I found this out from personal experiences.

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Im really sorry to hear that and I wish that the Southard was a lot more consistent as I have one of the newer black blade versions and it flips like a champion. Its like it is begging me to be flipped every time that I look at it. It honestly, and I mean this, flips better than 75% of the $1K plus customs that I have had. We are talking about the Spyderco Southard here right? Im just so confused as mine is just like lightening. Wrist action? I would never think of a thing like that when thinking about my Southard. I guess I got lucky maybe. I bought it off the Cove about 8 months ago. I wish I could help with some advice but I guess just try them out or ask before you buy, or maybe I just got lucky.
That is strange as my first Domino flipped like an acrobat but my second one was very weak and didn't give me near the same flipping action. Hmm... wish I knew more.
 
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