Tension adjustment without blade movement?

[bsjoelbs]

I have a Ti-Lite that I want to loosen, but when ever I unscrew it, the blade moves to the side and isn't centered any more. How can I adjust it without it moving off center?

 

[buckg]

Ok, maybe I'm not too smart, but I don't get it. Are you saying that you're loosening the pivot so much that the liners bow out and there's play in the blade? Just tighten it back up, the liners close in against the blade and you're good. You only need to loosen the pivot by maybe a quarter turn to go from too tight to just right. If the blade is moving off center, you're way to loose. The blade is held closed by a dimple on the liner lock that engages a depression on the left side of the blade. Loosening the pivot isn't going to make the initial force required to open the blade any less. To do that your going to need to polish down the dimple on the liner.

 

[orthogonal1]

I concur with buckg.

You're probably going too loose. I carried one for work and that inital opening stickiness will eventually lessen. Also, while it is loose, lube the pivot washers a bit (a drop of good oil is all you need).

 

[DGG]

If it is brand new give it time to break-in a bit. After 10 years or so it should be very smooth! Seriously, if new, give it a drop of lube (I'm a big fan of Breakfree CLP because I'm cheap) and work the action a couple of hundred times while watching a good hockey game. Don't get too excited if your team scores or you might cut yourself. Better put a piece of masking tape over the edge before you do this. Some of the best knives just come stiff and it takes a few openings/closings to seat the blade,washer,liners,googles, and snatches.

 

[Joe Talmadge]

One of my tests for whether I"ve gone too loose on the pivot: Open the knife so the lock engages. Now, disengage the lock with your thumb, and gently wiggle the knife back and forth. If you can feel the blade moving around at the pivot, the pivot is too loose. The blade should not depend on the lock to stay firmly in place at the pivot.

 

[bsjoelbs]

If it is brand new give it time to break-in a bit. After 10 years or so it should be very smooth!

10 years!!!

Thanks a lot everyone. It sounds like I must have it too loose.

 

[buckg]

The blade is held closed by a dimple on the liner lock that engages a depression on the left side of the blade. Loosening the pivot isn't going to make the initial force required to open the blade any less. To do that your going to need to polish down the dimple on the liner.

Maybe I should have said the right side of the blade. It's the side of the blade next to the liner lock. You can see the depression if you open the blade 90 degrees and look near the pivot.