Swisstool Spirit Lock Fails Again

G

Gadgetman7

Joined
Sep 30, 2001
Messages
932
Back in November I had the locks fail on two Spirits. One failed while I was using the awl to chip ice and the other failed when I was using the large flathead/bottle opener. That time I accidently bumped it against the side on an engine block when it slipped. Both tools were first runs so I thought it was a fluke. I shipped them both back. After four months they replaced them with "new" versions. (They looked the same to me.)

Last week we had a tornado in Americus so I went to help with the clean up. I took one of the new Spirits. I was taking apart a shed when I dropped the Spirit. It fell about four feet onto a concrete block. I had the phillips screwdriver out when it fell. When I picked it up I noticed that the screwdriver was unlocked. I relocked it and tapped it lightly against a tree. The lock failed again. Just to be sure I wasn't hitting it harder than I thought, (hard enough that anything would fail) I got a Leatherman Blast out of my toolbox. I locked the phillips screwdriver and tapped it against the same tree. The lock held. Then I hit it really hard and the lock held. Needless to say I put the Blast on my belt and finished up. When I got home I tried each tool on the Spirit and found that if you hit them toward the end of the tool they fail. I'll admit though that I didn't try it with the knife. I tried the same thing with the full size Swisstool and the lock held. I also tried the same test with all of my locking Leatherman tools and they all held fine. After this I talked a friend of mine into trying it with his Spirit. His tool also failed.

I believe that there is a design flaw in the lock of the Spirit. Steady pressure does not seem to make the lock fail but a sudden jolt very well might. I know the fit and finish is better on the Spirit but to be honest, I just don't trust it now. Guess they go back to Victorinox again. Sad though, I really love the design of this tool and it's the first Victorinox product that I have found that appears to have a serious flaw.

Looks like it's Leatherman tools for me. At least until they get the lock issue fixed.
 
You must have pissed off the multitool gods or something. I just threw my Spirit into a vice, and whacked each tool with a hammer. None of the tools came unlocked.
 
I could easily get a couple of tools to disengage on the spine-whack test with my Spirit, just tried. That being said, if your going to be using your tool in a manner that would cause these to unlock, you're mis-using it to begin with, I had to take a descent whack to get them to "pop" the lock.

I still am comfortable with the lock-up, like you said it takes sudden, and a decent amount of sudden pressure to pop the lock. Still is leaps and bounds above my old gerber.
 
I see this complaint occassionally...not too often though. I hate that your tool is failing you. Hopefully, there is a remedy through warranty. Mine has been great.

Good luck.
:)
 
Just checked a Spirit S. It did NOT have the same problems. This may be spotty. Interestingly I have a Swisstool that has seen hard use, even abuse, and has never failed. It's rock solid. In fact, my bug out bag has a Swisstool Plus in it and I feel that I could in fact trust it to do just about anything.

I just wish I knew why I seem to be the main one having problems with the Spirit and just the Spirit...
 
the lock on my leatherman surge broke completely off under zero stress. dunno what happened. I swapped it out at the store though. I'm still a SAK man but I carry a leatherman.
 
plowboy said:
Okay....you must be saving the best at home in the drawer or safe.;)

:)
Click to expand...

absolutely. I get it out nightly too. Either to open up the top of a beer can so I can use it for my nasty dipping habit, just to play with or something else. It's also my favorite whittling knife for camping and whatever else.
 
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