What happens when a detent

[jill jackson]

Is just suddenly gone? My Hinderer XM18 just suddenly is absent the detent. It was fine and I'd only been flipping it the other day and now there's absolutely no detent. The blade is dead loose start to finish. Never had any knife do that before.

 

[b00n]

I would hazard a guess that either A. There is something stuck in the detent hole/gunked it up or B. The detent ball has fallen out.
Since that's pretty much all there is to it. Unless I need more sleep and forgot something.

 

[Insipid Moniker]

That's a little scary. I generally carry with the spine against the seam of my pocket, but the thought of a blade flopping around loose makes me more than a little nervous. I definitely hope Hinderer rectifies the issue quickly and to your satisfaction, as I'd be damned unhappy.

 

[jill jackson]

I figured the ball fell out, but never having it happen before I wasn't sure. Doubt it is gunked up, because I wasn't using it . Will check when I get home.

 

[Officer's Match]

Gen5 by any chance?

 

[jill jackson]

No it's a 4 .

 

[91bravo]

Look down in between the handles and see if the detent ball is still there. Still though, even if the detent ball did fell out, the lockbar should still contact the blade throughout the opening cycle. Strange symptoms indeed.

 

[Mo2]

My friends zt detent popped out. He likes it like that lol.

Send it in for warranty. That's what I told him too.

 

[Peter Hartwig]

sounds like a warranty issue to me-contact them, then send it in.

 

[Officer's Match]

My guess is there is something on the lockbar or in the detent hole (in the blade) keeping the bearing from falling in.

 

[Turn & Bank]

Hey Guys, oops and Gals
I have to say this has happened to me, the detent ball falls out, or wears or gets smashed further into the lockbar and becomes ineffective. I know some or you purists out there don't like the lockbar insert but I love them. Lose a ball, wear it out, pull the insert and put a new one in, yeah you might need to stone the face of the insert but no biggy. No back to the factory, so don't flame me here guys but I love the Gen 5 Hinderers with the lockbar insert and won't buy a knife that doesn't have one. Stepping down now, soapbox gone!
You all take care,
T & B

 

[jill jackson]

I think there's a detent ball problem. Nothing in the blade hole and it looks like there's no ball to fit in it.

 

[Mo2]

Hey Guys, oops and Gals
I have to say this has happened to me, the detent ball falls out, or wears or gets smashed further into the lockbar and becomes ineffective. I know some or you purists out there don't like the lockbar insert but I love them. Lose a ball, wear it out, pull the insert and put a new one in, yeah you might need to stone the face of the insert but no biggy. No back to the factory, so don't flame me here guys but I love the Gen 5 Hinderers with the lockbar insert and won't buy a knife that doesn't have one. Stepping down now, soapbox gone!
You all take care,
T & B

This isn't always the case. These are often press fit from the factory and made for that specific knife and its tolerances. Swapping in another one with different tolerance will often cause more issues. That's why even then sending them in is a better idea so they can test a range of tolerances of lockbar that they make.

 

[Officer's Match]

Hey Guys, oops and Gals
I have to say this has happened to me, the detent ball falls out, or wears or gets smashed further into the lockbar and becomes ineffective. I know some or you purists out there don't like the lockbar insert but I love them. Lose a ball, wear it out, pull the insert and put a new one in, yeah you might need to stone the face of the insert but no biggy. No back to the factory, so don't flame me here guys but I love the Gen 5 Hinderers with the lockbar insert and won't buy a knife that doesn't have one. Stepping down now, soapbox gone!
You all take care,
T & B

The Gen5 insert does NOT have a detent ball on it, which is why I am a skeptic. There is a tiny post left on the lockbar that the detent ball is pressed into.

 

[brownshoe]

My Buck Mayo lost its detent. Buck replaced the scale for free.

 

[b00n]

I think there's a detent ball problem. Nothing in the blade hole and it looks like there's no ball to fit in it.

That'd explain it then. Sucks that you have to send it in, but I'd definitely call that a warranty issue. If it was a Gen 5 I would personally try to just have them send a new Insert, but since the Gen 4 is insert less, you'll have to let RHK deal with it. (That is certainly one of the reasons he stated why I changed over to inserts on the Gen 5, so that it's easier to fix)

 

[Officer's Match]

That'd explain it then. Sucks that you have to send it in, but I'd definitely call that a warranty issue. If it was a Gen 5 I would personally try to just have them send a new Insert, but since the Gen 4 is insert less, you'll have to let RHK deal with it. (That is certainly one of the reasons he stated why I changed over to inserts on the Gen 5, so that it's easier to fix)

Nope. The detent bearing is not on the insert. It is on a tiny post left on the milled lock bar.

 

[RayseM]

I had such a problem with a Rockstead and a Herucus Blomerus. I sent them both back to their respective makers for a tune up/repair and they BOTH came back worse than before. These were both dress carry knives for me, i.e., not EDCs , so hardly used. They just ended up opening in my pocket without any effort. Imagine putting your hand into a super sharp Rockstead that is supposed to be securely closed. The Blomerus was sharp too!

After lots of back and forth with both manufacturers, to no avail, I gave up on these pricey knives
which were now worse than used hard . I hope you have better luck with resolving your Hinderer issue.

Ray

 

[b00n]

Nope. The detent bearing is not on the insert. It is on a tiny post left on the milled lock bar.

On the Gen 5 the Detent ball isn't in the Lockbar Insert? That seems...weird. Wasn't that the whole point?

Edit: You're completely right...damn..

(@whitty 's picture)

That's kinda stupid. I mean, okay, the LBI still does a job, but now you still have to send in the whole knife for a detent issue. :/

 

[jill jackson]

Hinderer has a great warranty and had the knife back in a week. Fixed it up better than they had to.
Message they sent:

The following was completed on your knife –



The detent ball was replaced with a new one. Carbide was applied to the lock face and the lock bar tension was adjusted. New washers were installed and the knife was cleaned and oiled.