The mysterious has happen

gull wing

gull wing

Joined
May 4, 2002
Messages
2,536
to me. After reading many threads of people taking their knife down and after assembling it becomes magically better or worse. I never thought it would happen to me because I was just too careful and had studied the video, etc.

I must have taken down a couple of dozen times and always, the lock was around 50%, but last take down (a week later) I noticed the lock lug to be around 75%+. Ok, I said I can live with this.

Today I took down because I had done up a bunch of onions, potato, citrus and thought it would be a good idea.

......and behold, the lug is 45%??? I still don't know why.
NOTE:
1. Long ago I marked(sharpe)the stop sleeve, so it is at the same position.
2. It must be, I didn't tighten enough the last time, but the screws were tight when I took down.
:confused::confused:
 
I don't know why or how it works either, but I know that when I reassemble it, if I tighten down the pivot screw first, and then the frame screws last, my lockup will usually back off to about 25% coverage.
 
That "change" happened to me a few times especially to the lockbar, right after clean and reassemble the knife the unlocking action becomes a bit stiff, it looks like the lockbar gets stack when the blade locks, this little change persists for a few open-close and then it goes back to the normal smooth unlocking action. I think this is a normal reaction due to the tight tolerances applied to the parts, a guaranteed "no blade play" whatsoever.
 
cutter17 said:
I don't know why or how it works either, but I know that when I reassemble it, if I tighten down the pivot screw first, and then the frame screws last, my lockup will usually back off to about 25% coverage.
Click to expand...

Interesting info. I gotta try that next time - I don't remember the sequence I've been using.
 
I'll get all 3 screws started, close the blade, then tighten the pivot screw down. after that I get the other 2 and open the blade. Each time I do this it seems to reset the lock bar back to 25%. After several openings it will usually set in at about 40% or so, hard to really tell the exact percent, and the action smooth up.
 
I've experienced the same phenomena. I reassembled my small regular last night (as per the instructions in the sticky thread) after finally picking up some of the CRK grease. Upon reassembly the action was very stiff and lockup was at 25%. So I completely disassembled then reassembled the exact same way and the action was smooth and easy, and lockup was 60%, just how I like it. Can't explain it. (and no, the washers were not pinched)
 
I guess we will never know why.(glad it did)
Thank you cutter17!

The wisdom base seems to be absent though. Did you notice!
 
There is a very simple explanation for this "phenomenon".

Yes the sebenza is knife crafted to ultra precise tolerances. Just because you put the tiny bolts/nuts/screws (whatever you want to call them) back together correctly does not mean it will be EXACTLY in the same EXACT position as the last time it was assembled. What is really happening is that the two handle slabs can literally shift side to side in VERY small ammounts before being tightened down fully. I am talking VERY small ammounts. But it does not take much side to side movement to cause the lockbar to shift 30-40 percent more or less than last time assembled. Just picture the handle slabs being spaced an extreme exaggeration of 9 inches apart from eachother using 9 inch bushings and long hardware. If you tightened down the screws to the point that the screws stay in place slightly snug, but are not too tight, then you would be able to articulate the handles around separate from eachother in a slight way.

Here is a little experiment. loosen all screws a turn or two. Tighten all screws just to the point that they are slightly snug. Hold the knife (blade closed position) pointing up at the celing. Find a nice hard surface like a wooden cutting board or a formica countertop. Tap the butt of the knife on the hard surface only on one slab while holding the opposing slab firmly. Now handle the knife cautiously while tightening down the screws fully. Open the knife. Note where the lockbar position is.

Repeat the last paragraph but this time, hold the slab you tapped and tap the slab you held. When you tighten the screws fully you will notice a different lockbar location.
 
I think you guys need to give the knife a good flick open after assembly to seat the parts. After flicking the lock up will be where it should be (probably 50-75%). CRK recommends flicking it after assembly.
 
JoHnYKwSt said:
I think you guys need to give the knife a good flick open after assembly to seat the parts. After flicking the lock up will be where it should be (probably 50-75%). CRK recommends flicking it after assembly.
Click to expand...

I think that's a good advice. I just did it to mine and opens smoother now!
 
jk904jk,
You are brilliant!
I did it too, just as you said, it works every time. Now I know this, I can be confident I can adjust it. You know if they had one more pin, it would not be so easy to adjust.
 
gull wing said:
jk904jk,
You are brilliant!
I did it too, just as you said, it works every time. Now I know this, I can be confident I can adjust it. You know if they had one more pin, it would not be so easy to adjust.
Click to expand...

It should work out so that when you hold the slab with the CR logo engraved (front slab?) and tap the butt of the knife with the lockbar, that should give you less lockbar travel. Doing the opposite (holding slab with lockbar and tapping the butt of front slab) should give you more side to side lockbar travel.

Keep in mind that the fact that it is possible to do this....it is not a bad thing. I think it would be tricky to find a way to completley eliminate any "micro movement" with all the parts together. I dont even think that another pin/screw/spacer would help too much.

I know that this is not something that everyone would be willing to take the time to try and do (let alone even read this method)....But I know that there are alot of people asking "why does my lockbar lock different from time to time". It is not like it is a "sloppy knife" or defect in manufacturing. But when people spend that kind of money on a quality tool, they wrongfully expect it to be some priceless work of art that is perfect in every possible way. It is not, but it is the best i've ever seen. I am glad it worked for you gullwing. And thanks for taking the time to do it. I seriously should do a small write up with pictures and make it a sticky on these forums. It applys to other knifes too. (mainly liner/frame lock knifes)

-jeff
 
jeff,
No way a sloppy knife. This is the ONLY knife of this $ I have (&another one on the way) and I love this knife. It's like my wife of 35 years, still my sweetheart, still discovering her charms. Both are just getting better.
 
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