Why not phospher/bronze washers

colubrid · Nov 17, 2013

I saw a youtube video where a guy replced the wahers with Home Depot plastic ones and the Emerson opened and closed better.

Has anyone done this with bronze washers? If so, how does that effect the knife action?

[video=youtube;4cT486eiunM]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cT486eiunM[/video]

colubrid · Nov 17, 2013

He didn't even replace the larger washer with the same size washer. He used a smaller one and it appears works perfect.

Why does Emerson use two different size washer? Anyone know??

gooeytek · Nov 17, 2013

No thanks. Nylatron washers work fine. I even replace PB ones with them sometimes. If he had just wiped down the original washers and cleaned the pivot (I do this with all my Emersons), it'd be super-smooth left dry. I find that having to add lube, the smoothness doesn't hold up as dirt, lint, grit, and other crap accumulate in the pivot area. Dry nylatron washers work best I've found, so why fix it if it ain't broke?

colubrid · Nov 17, 2013

gooeytek said:
No thanks. Nylatron washers work fine. I even replace PB ones with them sometimes. If he had just wiped down the original washers and cleaned the pivot (I do this with all my Emersons), it'd be super-smooth left dry. I find that having to add lube, the smoothness doesn't hold up as dirt, lint, grit, and other crap accumulate in the pivot area. Dry nylatron washers work best I've found, so why fix it if it ain't broke?

I kinda figured that. But I just wonder if anyone ever tried using bronze and if they work in Emersons?

Locutus D'Borg · Nov 17, 2013

Better off trying caged bearings....

Lycosa · Nov 17, 2013

Nylatron washers are self-lubricating.

gooeytek · Nov 17, 2013

colubrid said:
I kinda figured that. But I just wonder if anyone ever tried using bronze and if they work in Emersons?

PB washers work fine. Better? There's no discernable difference other than smoothness over time, and lubed vs dry. I prefer Nylatron washers myself.

Regarding the question about the different-sized washers, some models will have them because of the location of the non-lock detent.

colubrid · Nov 17, 2013

gooeytek said:
PB washers work fine. Better? There's no discernable difference other than smoothness over time, and lubed vs dry. I prefer Nylatron washers myself.

Regarding the question about the different-sized washers, some models will have them because of the location of the non-lock detent.

If you look at the video he replaced the nylotron washers (which were one small and onel large) with two small washers. And it worked fine. That is why I wondered why Emerson has two different size washers because some models use the same size washers on each side and some don't.

gooeytek · Nov 18, 2013

colubrid said:
If you look at the video he replaced the nylotron washers (which were one small and onel large) with two small washers. And it worked fine. That is why I wondered why Emerson has two different size washers because some models use the same size washers on each side and some don't.

Like I said, depends on the model and where the non-lock detent is. The washer is small on one side sometimes because it shouldn't cover the detent. Having a larger washer helps to minimize deflection and side-to-side bladeplay.