Stripped Pivot

[Django606]

My Spyderco Ocelot came with a stripped pivot screw, and the action is too tight and not very smooth. It also sounds somewhat gritty. I want to loosen the screw, but the once-allen wrench hole now looks like a rough circle.

Any help on this, or is my only choice to send it back to Spyderco and wait a month for it to come back:jerkit: ?

 

[DGG]

Unless you have the tools and the knowledge to use them I'd send it back. If it were a Delica I might suggest having a go but not with this model. Let the experts fix it up like new.

 

[Django606]

Well I can't be sure of the tools and knowledge needed if I'm not sure what to do!

Tell me what you would do, in case I do have all the tools needed.

 

[STR]

I thought I answered this on the Spyderco forum. Guess you haven't been there to read the replies.

Here is a paste of my reply there for you.

STR

I would slice a flat head screwdriver slot in the non screw side and/or the screw side also with a thin kerf cut off disc. You can buy these at Sears or Wal-Mart in the dremmel section. Then simply turn the screw while holding it with two screwdrivers. One on each end. Of course I'd call Spyderco ahead of time to see if they can simply mail you a new pivot. There are not any washers in the Ocelot so replacing the pivot is a piece of cake. Once you know a new one is on the way you can have at the old one with a cut off disc. Just take it slow and be careful and you should be fine. The cuts offs work fast though so just go in far enough to get a screwdriver to turn it and not farther should you try this.

I'll add this: if you center your slice correctly this should work effectively to replace the need for a new pivot and you can then adjust your pivot tension with a Swiss army knife or some other multi tool in the field.

STR

 

[Django606]

Oh, thanks STR. I must have missed that one

I'll try that later, thanks.