Trouble opening my Sebenza 25...

DrtyHarry

DrtyHarry

Joined
Jul 14, 2010
Messages
367
Hi Guys!

Quick question, my Starbenza 25 came with 3 different wrenches. The blade is REALLY stiff and is really rather hard to open. I have been using the top of my thumb nail to open it. When open, it's rock solid and there is NO blade play at all. I was wondering if I can loosen the pivot pin to make it open easier...however, I hope by doing that I won't cause the blade to give in to some play?

I noticed that it can be adjusted on both sides....what would be the correct way to make the adjustment? Or should I just leave it alone...perhaps it should be this way? Thanks so much!


Harry
 
May be a pinched washer. Someone more knowledgeable should be here soon.

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It's really smooth, it's just getting it open KILLS my thumb...unless I use the top of my thumb nail. Pinched washer? Hope nothing is damaged...just feels tight. My 21 was easier to open.
 
If the knife is new lube the pivot . The knife will get smoother as you use it . Loosening The pivot will only create blade play specially when the knife is closed . The two CRK that I own the pivot screws on super tight and it doesn't affect the smoothness .
 
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Gotcha...I did put a LITTLE lube in it, and it did get better. The knife is really new, I have not used it that much at all. I'll leave it as is and play with it some more. It's not terrible, but it is not "fun" to open. Glad I didn't mess with the pivot....thanks!


Harry
 
Make sure you are not putting pressure on the pocket clip as that would transfer to the lock bar and the detention hole for the closed position.

I would not loosen the pivot-- Chris Reeve knows how to set that with testing and a torque wrench along with Loctite to give you a tuned blade.

It will get easier as you learn the opening radius and the washers seat on the blade tang.
 
If I'm correct, the 25 and the Zaan have the same pivot setup. If so, you can adjust the pivot to be looser and not as stiff.

Go in very small increments as every minute move makes a big differences. I believe the 25 also uses Loctite so you can loosen it and use a little on the screw and have everything how you want it. Take this with a grain of salt since I not owned a 25 yet, but I'm almost positive an Umnumzaan has the same setup.
 
Yes, the pivot is adjustable. Loosening the pivot will not cause any blade play or make the blade off center. The pivot can be adjusted too tight where it is difficult to open, which sounds like what you have.
I've got one that is barely tight. That's why the locktite is included. So if it's adjusted loose, you won't lose the pivot screw.
I've taken the pivot screw out and the knife still work without issue.
 
Loosen the pivot. The 25/zaan are meant to be adjustable to user preference, which is why loctite is included.
 
Well....if there is loctite on it, not sure if I want to break that. Hope it loosens up a little, been playing with for a while now. If I do loosen it, I guess I should loosen it equally on both sides little by little?
 
Just loosen the presentation side a little. What i do with my 25's when i put them back together is to put a dab of the purple loctite on the male screw and start tightening to preference. It's really not complicated or discouraged


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OK...so only on that one side. Gotcha. I'll play with it for a while longer and hope it gets better...if not, I'll go ahead and do just that. I think the loctite I have is blue...I have red but I know that's a no no. Is the purple different than the blue? Thought there was only red and blue...

Thanks again!


Harry
 
The little tube of loctite that comes with the knife is purple. Easily found at auto parts stores. Purple never sets up hard. Blue might work but I'd use purple


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It's not what you think, the purple locktite is a low strength threadlocker, does the same thing as Teflon, fills in the gaps to prevent a screw from backing out on its own.
Like pwrdbycotn said, presentation side only. That is the screw, the lock side is the barrel of the pivot that the screw goes into.
 
Oh...so that is what the other tube is, lol. Perfect, thanks for all the help guys! I very much appreciate it...



Harry
 
Hmmm....well, I decided to try and loosen it just a tad. The pivot now can spin entirely...I believe it's ever so slightly easier to open now, but I am not sure if making it any looser will do much since the pin can spin freely if I pinch it with my fingers and the knife moves? Should I attempt to loosen the two pins that hold the scales/frame together a bit? Thanks again, you guys are great!!


Harry
 
Only the presentation side screw closest to the pivot ever so slightly. The beauty of the 25 is the ability to adjust it to your liking. Hence the tube of Loctite.
 
No, you really don't have to loosen the stop pin screw nor the back spacer screw.
So, here's how tight I get mine. With the whole pivot turning using just one allen wrench on the presentation side, I can apply pressure to the lock side and unscrew the pivot screw. I reverse the process to tighten it up. Once the pivot body on the lock side starts to turn with me holding pressure on it with my finger, I call that tight enough.

Are you putting your thumb directly on top of the thumb stud?????
If you are, no wonder your thumb is sore. Position your thumb between the side of the lug and the cut out on the Ti. Push straight out to start an arcing motion.
 
Ghostwalker54 said:
Only the presentation side screw closest to the pivot ever so slightly. The beauty of the 25 is the ability to adjust it to your liking. Hence the tube of Loctite.
Click to expand...

This will help a tad, as the stop pin creates a slight binding point for the action.

Is it hard to open through the entire action of the knife, or just difficult pushing past the detent? It took me some time to get comfortable with the significantly stronger detent of the 25; this also breaks in on its own with some cycling. You can speed this up by taking the blade at the thumb studs in one hand, the frame in the other, and scissor motion the blade and handle without locking it open, but allowing it to close completely each motion. A few minutes of this while watching television should help to quickly smooth it out.

After I did this for a bit, then I did a full disassembly, relube, loctite to my liking, et cetera, and the knife was from then on buttery smooth and tight.
 
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