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Zero Tolerance 0561 problems detent way too strong
- Thread starter ukknifer
- Start date
Practice a lot. It will get better over time. To use the thumb studs, it's all about the angle.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tslXpO5LUPo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tslXpO5LUPo
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- Oct 16, 2010
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- 5,902
They are not "thump studs" they are part of the locking mechanism, the knife is meant to be opened with the flipper.
- Joined
- May 29, 2011
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- 1,799
Completely doable with mine.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ly9DSA-EcN0&feature=youtube_gdata_player
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ly9DSA-EcN0&feature=youtube_gdata_player
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- Nov 9, 2004
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- 1,817
Bevel the detent hole on the blade. A 45 degree by about .010" should do the trick.
- Joined
- Sep 29, 2003
- Messages
- 251
Maybe lift some weights and stop using hand lotion 
just kidding bro, it just needs some "breakin"
just kidding bro, it just needs some "breakin"
The 550 has the same blade stops but opens with the thumb studs. My 0560 detent is way too much even after 1000 openings. It sounds like this is not a problem with everyone's knives, but mine is this way even with the flipper! And no - I am not pressing on the frame lock while opening. Very disappointed and I know the person that sold it to me on eBay was because of this. Beware!!
Jason B.
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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- Jun 13, 2007
- Messages
- 11,196
They didn't miss anything it was done that way for a reason. Who exactly are these marketed to again may I ask??? Remember, if it can't stay closed in your pocket while jumping from planes, crawling through the mud or running at full Sprint then what's the point. A knife opening when you don't want it to really hurts.
The same things were said about the 0551 when it came out and I'll agree that its a strong detent but look at the knife, its a tank and everything is overbuilt.
Maybe everyone needs stronger fingers
- Joined
- Jan 14, 2011
- Messages
- 1,355
...wear gloves...and as mentioned in other threads, push up on the thumbstud (similar to umnumzaan) and not out. Keep using it.
I wonder if one of the lockbars on the 560/561's I looked over at a local store last weekend even had a detent ball. It was that tight! My first 0551 last year eased considerably with a drop of RemOil, a gun oil, applied at the ball, followed by some use. I left my second 0551 original - and unused - a literal 'backup'. It - as new - opens far better than any 0560/0561 I handled. It may just be the 'nature of the beast', as the ball bearing fixes the blade position in the 0560/0561 while the pivot screw tightness effects the blade position - and lockbar pressure/drag - in the 0551/0550. To the OP - try a drop of fine oil on each side of the ball located at the small hole on the lockbar end - let it 'soak'.
Stainz
Edited to add: In a return trip to peruse the 0560/0561 stash locally, I fondled four demo examples - again - trying to deploy them via what actually is not a 'thumbstud' but, like the 0301 I have, the blade stop. With the method employed on my CRK Umnumzaan, they are evenly deployable. Obviously, the flipper is better. Unfortunately, the 'stop' pins are separated from the blade body when closed by enough distance to make you want to use your thumb - a la the 0550/0551's thumb studs - to deploy the knife. The one I looked at last week - which I thought drug the most - wasn't there. Open the blade slightly and peer between the blade and the end of the lockbar - you should see a single point of contact - the ball. The stiff detent keeps it closed - and isn't noticed on flipper deployment. I left with a new-in-box 0561... which seemed stiffer than the demo's. Five minutes later, it was fine. This AM - it is fine. Super smooth folder - great quality - and uniform from example to example. If, after deploying it a few times, it flips with difficulty, you are doing it wrong.
Stainz
Edited to add: In a return trip to peruse the 0560/0561 stash locally, I fondled four demo examples - again - trying to deploy them via what actually is not a 'thumbstud' but, like the 0301 I have, the blade stop. With the method employed on my CRK Umnumzaan, they are evenly deployable. Obviously, the flipper is better. Unfortunately, the 'stop' pins are separated from the blade body when closed by enough distance to make you want to use your thumb - a la the 0550/0551's thumb studs - to deploy the knife. The one I looked at last week - which I thought drug the most - wasn't there. Open the blade slightly and peer between the blade and the end of the lockbar - you should see a single point of contact - the ball. The stiff detent keeps it closed - and isn't noticed on flipper deployment. I left with a new-in-box 0561... which seemed stiffer than the demo's. Five minutes later, it was fine. This AM - it is fine. Super smooth folder - great quality - and uniform from example to example. If, after deploying it a few times, it flips with difficulty, you are doing it wrong.
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They didn't miss anything it was done that way for a reason. Who exactly are these marketed to again may I ask??? Remember, if it can't stay closed in your pocket while jumping from planes, crawling through the mud or running at full Sprint then what's the point. A knife opening when you don't want it to really hurts.
The same things were said about the 0551 when it came out and I'll agree that its a strong detent but look at the knife, its a tank and everything is overbuilt.
Maybe everyone needs stronger fingers
I wasn't aware that ZT was going to make this knife 3x harder to open than thier other knives (0300, 0350, 0550) for people jumping out of planes and rolling in the mud. I personally would have a molle attached fixed blade for those activities. This knife is harder to open than ANY knife I have ever owned - and I own a lot.
erich,
Crawling around in the mud with a fb looking for a mole seems like overkill... a cat might be a simpler solution.
Re the effort required to 'start' a 560/561 to open, it may be a combination of wearing in problems. The starting rolling friction of the pivot ball bearing is likely more than the bushing and the tightness of the pivot is fixed, too, where in the 550/551 it was adjustable. The separation between blade and lockbar on one example was all but non-existent, causing me to wonder if it even had a detent ball. Besides the marker/pencil lead on the face, a drop of oil on the detent ball - or where it should be - might help, too, to smooth out the action. It may just take use!
Stainz
3/18 See my edited post #14.
Crawling around in the mud with a fb looking for a mole seems like overkill... a cat might be a simpler solution.
Re the effort required to 'start' a 560/561 to open, it may be a combination of wearing in problems. The starting rolling friction of the pivot ball bearing is likely more than the bushing and the tightness of the pivot is fixed, too, where in the 550/551 it was adjustable. The separation between blade and lockbar on one example was all but non-existent, causing me to wonder if it even had a detent ball. Besides the marker/pencil lead on the face, a drop of oil on the detent ball - or where it should be - might help, too, to smooth out the action. It may just take use!
Stainz
3/18 See my edited post #14.
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For everyone out there with sticky locks and hard to open knives, I think, like everyone has been saying that they just need to be broken in. It will take a bunch of times flipping them and they'll get better and better. Certainly a little good oil will help, too. I guess I could offer a service, where everyone with a 0560/0561 who has issues could send them to me, and for a small charge (maybe $45) I could carry them around all day flipping them open a million times to make them smoother. Unfortunately they will get pocket wear and since I'll need to cut stuff occasionally, they may come back dull....
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2012
- Messages
- 119
I had this issue with my 0551. My thumbs were almost bloody trying to open the blade.
I was told and I pass on to you the answer to a new tight detent. Open the blade to 90* and leave it open this way overnight. That will magically help. I then left the blade open two additional nights at 45* then 135*. My detent is now broken in nicely and the blade will fly open like it was an assisted mechanism!
It took all three nights for mine to be perfect. The detent is still strong where it needs to be in keeping the blade closed. It flys open like a dragon on a coat of arms when I thumb it lightly to life!
I was told and I pass on to you the answer to a new tight detent. Open the blade to 90* and leave it open this way overnight. That will magically help. I then left the blade open two additional nights at 45* then 135*. My detent is now broken in nicely and the blade will fly open like it was an assisted mechanism!
It took all three nights for mine to be perfect. The detent is still strong where it needs to be in keeping the blade closed. It flys open like a dragon on a coat of arms when I thumb it lightly to life!
These changes are carefully thought out, prototyped and tested, and then implemented. This change did not impact the stiffness of the lockbar.
If you are unhappy with the detent on your knife, please feel free to send it in, and our warranty department will be happy to adjust the detent for you. Have you called and tried this yet?
Here is a link to the information you need to send the knife back for warranty repair: http://www.kershawknives.com/warranty.php
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I figured I would bitch about it first. Agreed the warranty path is the best option. On a side note, does ZT warranty care if you take apart the knife for cleaning/oiling or does that void the warranty?