Very stiff opening..help please.

Django606 said:
The problem has arisen again, I don't know if it had truly gone away when I originally thought it did. No matter what I seem to do, when I tighten the pivot screw as much as I normally would tighten it prior to any of this, my Sebenza becomes almost unopenable. The basic principle of the pivot bushing is to keep the handle slabs are certain distance apart, and to ensure smooth action, right? The only way tightening the screw more would actually make the action tighter is if the pivot bushing were actually smaller than what it should be, correct? As soon as I loosen the screw a little bit, the action is perfectly smooth.
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Django606,

Your case is quite puzzling. I'm assuming the following:
  • The Sebenza to which you refer is the large micarta classic you mention earlier in this thread.
  • No components (bushing, blade, washers, etc.) have been swapped out from the ones that were present since receiving the knife from CRK in April.
  • Since this recent occurrence of you noticing the binding of the pivot, you've disassembled, cleaned, and lubed the knife, and you still have binding.
If I'm off track, let me know. Of course, I'd like to see your knife, but I know it's a hassle to send it in. If you'd like to send a message to me with your phone number, I'd be happy to give you a call to see if there's something I can figure out.

Best regards,

Dave
 
Django, did you assembly it exactly as decribed in the sticky thread?

Pivot-screw tightness should have no effect on smoothness of opening.
 
Thank you for the response Dave. The situation is just as you described it.

Ted Voorde said:
Django, did you assembly it exactly as decribed in the sticky thread?

Pivot-screw tightness should have no effect on smoothness of opening.
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Yes, I've always done it just like the sticky. You're right, tightening the pivot should have no effect on the action.
 
Ok, I checked the thicknesses of the pivot bushing, stop pin, and backspacer with a micrometer. The pivot bushing is indeed smaller than both the stop pin and backspacer. This would mean that the handles would be slightly squeezed together at the pivot, rather than being spaced evenly throughout the length of the knife, right? If this is the case, it must be why the action gets tighter when I tighten the screw more. The handles don't stop where they are supposed to at the pivot bushing, but rather squash the washers tighter into the blade.

I have no idea how the bushing could have gotten smaller. Perhaps it was mistakenly swapped when it was at CRK, and I just didn't notice the very first time I reassembled it after receiving it back?

Where can I go from here? If I sent it in, would the bushing/washers be replaced? How much would that cost?
 
I think you're right at "back to the shop time." However it happened, you have an issue CRK can best solve. They can make sure all the parts are sized properly.
 
Django606 said:
Ok, I checked the thicknesses of the pivot bushing, stop pin, and backspacer with a micrometer. The pivot bushing is indeed smaller than both the stop pin and backspacer. This would mean that the handles would be slightly squeezed together at the pivot, rather than being spaced evenly throughout the length of the knife, right? If this is the case, it must be why the action gets tighter when I tighten the screw more. The handles don't stop where they are supposed to at the pivot bushing, but rather squash the washers tighter into the blade.
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Django606,

The dimensional tolerance loop that is applicable to pivot tightness is blade + small washer + large washer + lube vs. bushing, and excludes the stop pin and backspacer.


Django606 said:
I have no idea how the bushing could have gotten smaller. Perhaps it was mistakenly swapped when it was at CRK, and I just didn't notice the very first time I reassembled it after receiving it back?
Click to expand...

Shirley's final QA check is to torque the screws with a calibrated torque wrench, and perform a blade movement test. That check verifies the pivot tightness, which verifies the tolerance loop around the components. Since on 4/22 the pivot was working well, I'm guessing that something has happened since now and then to cause the problem.

Please send the knife back -- we'll debug the issue, and I'll post the analysis on the forum (now that everyone's probably quite curious!). Most importantly, we'll get it working in tip-top shape for you!

Dave
 
Thanks for the response Dave.

Chris Reeve Knives said:
Since on 4/22 the pivot was working well, I'm guessing that something has happened since now and then to cause the problem.
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The pivot was not working well on 4/22, the date of the first post, and that was the second time I disassembled the knife after receiving it back. Either I didn't notice the problem the day I got it back when I first disassembled the knife, or something happened since then.

I'll probably be shipping it today or tomorrow.
 
Django606 said:
I have never had this problem with my Lg. Micarta Sebenza before. I got it back from CRK about two weeks ago after sending to have the edge thinned and sharpened. One of the first things I did was take it apart and clean it, so I could apply my favorite lube (a light mechanical oil). I did this and it worked flawlessly, smoother than before.
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My mistake! On 4/22, you were writing about getting the knife back from CRK 2 weeks prior, and the pivot working well (especially with your favorite lube). Sorry for the confusion.

We'll look forward to analyzing the problem and restoring it to good working order.

Dave
 
Dave, what should I include besides contact information when I ship the knife to you? Last time I printed out the emails between Heather and I, but this time it has all been on BladeForums. What else should I include?

Also, if I wanted to get a double thumblug, just include a note for that as well?

Thanks.
 
Django606 said:
Dave, what should I include besides contact information when I ship the knife to you? Last time I printed out the emails between Heather and I, but this time it has all been on BladeForums. What else should I include?

Also, if I wanted to get a double thumblug, just include a note for that as well?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

So that the package stands on it's own, include a note:

1) instructing CRK to:
  • diagnose the issue (deliver to Dave for diagnosis)
  • repair the stiff pivot problem
  • install double thumb lugs
2) listing contact information, including a phone number where I can reach you to ask any further questions.

By specifying me as the troubleshooter, I'll have the background from this thread, AND I'll also satisfy my own curiosity as to what's gone awry :) . I'm only in the office once a week (the rest of the time I'm at a large engineering company in Boise), but will come in for your knife as soon as I get word that it's arrived.

Thanks for agreeing to send in your Sebenza -- we'll turn it around as fast as we can!

Dave
 
Dave,

Will I need to include payment for the double thumb lugs, or will I be given a bill when the knife is returned to me?
 
You know, I just had a similar experience. I just removed the blade on my small Sebbie to clean and lube it and it was very stiff when I reassembled it. The only thing that had changed was I think I reversed the bushing when I put it back together.

In any case, I loosened the handle screws and the pivot screw then retightened all three screws and everything is just find now.

Very interesting . . .
 
Django606 said:
Dave,

Will I need to include payment for the double thumb lugs, or will I be given a bill when the knife is returned to me?
Click to expand...

The folks at the office can give you the most accurate particulars for the returns process. Give them a call at 208-375-0367, or email them @ crkinfo@chrisreeve.com. Going talking directly with them will insure the quickest, no-screwups experience.

Thanks,

Dave
 
iamsmiling said:
You know, I just had a similar experience. I just removed the blade on my small Sebbie to clean and lube it and it was very stiff when I reassembled it. The only thing that had changed was I think I reversed the bushing when I put it back together.

In any case, I loosened the handle screws and the pivot screw then retightened all three screws and everything is just find now.

Very interesting . . .
Click to expand...

This same situation used to happen to me just about every other time I disassembled the knife, and usually it is fixed after taking it apart and trying again a couple of times.

I've received word from Dave that he received my knife, hopefully we will be able to hear a diagnosis soon :thumbup:
 
I too am looking forward to CRK's reply once they have inspected this issue, as I have had the same problem with my Lg. Native American I got a few months ago, I have since got it to work smooth, but not without a lot of elbow grease and a lot of opening and closings of the blade.

I can live with the way it is now, but to this day if I squeeze the pivot end of the handle as I open or close the blade, it is very stiff (I've done this just to compare it to my others Sebenza's, which by doing so has no effect).

Keith
 
It has been 2+ weeks since your knife was received...Is there any more information regarding this issue?

Very interested in the answer.

Keith A.
 
Sorry I didn't update sooner. I was on vacation the whole week after I received my knife. In short, I got the knife back and I still had the problem. It was O.K. smooth when I first got it back, but when I tightened the pivot a little more, the same exact thing happened. CRK had replaced the bushing. I contacted Dave, forgetting he told me he was going to be out of the country. Apparentally he forwarded the email to CRK.

Sean called me and explained that as long as I can tighten it to spec and it is smooth and there is no bladeplay, the knife should be fine. However, they've tried it on various Sebenzas, and he says that overtightening should still have no affect on pivot action even past the spec tightness. Since the bushing was already replaced, I asked if it could be the washers, and he said it could possibly be them. So I asked for a set of washers and he said he would ship them out Monday.

Overall, the communication and service has been great, but I was a little disappointed to say the least when I got it back and could tighten the pivot a little more and still found the problem.
 
I have 2 large Micarta inlays that have the same problem. One was sent back to CRK at least twice and came back with the same problem, the blade was difficult to open when the pivot is snuggly tight. I really think that the large Micarta serrated is the cats meow but I got so frustated that I put it away and went to my 2006 LE Buckeye Burl (which is flawlessly smooth). It's too bad because I really like that Micarta inlay but I can't stand carying a knife that doesn't work right.
 
Scott Dog, good to know as I was considering a micarta inlay.

At the risk of pissing off more CRK dealers so they won't sell to me, there seems to be ongoing issues with CRK. Maybe they are just too busy to do as good a job as they used to do.

It's also a little but frustrating because we're trying to point stuff out that is important, but, IMO getting blown off to some extent.
 
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