ZT 0200 and 0350 Blade Play

NaturalMystic

NaturalMystic

Joined
May 24, 2006
Messages
2,212
Well after fondling my ZT 0200 for a little over a week (never actually cut anything with it), today I went to the store to exchange it for another. There's too much lateral blade play, and when I tried to convert it from Right Hand tip-down to tip up carry the clip screws wouldn't go all the way in to the handle. I ended up almost stripping my Torx screwdriver so returned it to tip down.

At the store I tried another 0200 and wasn't happy with it either so ended up trading it for a 0350 which I much prefer. Lock up was initially solid but when I got home and tried to switch to tip up on this one the blade started scraping one side of the liners when closing (in other words it no longer sits centered between the handles), and the blade play started again.

I switched it back to tip down for now and there's still minor lateral play but I don't understand why this happens when I try to convert to tip up. I really prefer the 0350 but I'm not impressed with the blade play. Does anyone have any suggestions?

I can try to get an Allen key to tighten the pivot but the flipper action on this is already stiff enough that I don't know how much more I can tighten it without making it impossible to open.

Thanks!
 
That's really bizarre...the only thing I can imagine is that maybe the screws are so long that they actually put pressure against the washer and hence the blade. But, obviously, they have no structural purpose.

Also odd is such bad luck with ZTs...I've had...maybe 6 of them and I'm very picky, but they all had centered blades.
 
Artfully Martial said:
Also odd is such bad luck with ZTs...I've had...maybe 6 of them and I'm very picky, but they all had centered blades.
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This is what I was thinking too. I have 5 ZTs right now -- an 0300 and four 0551s (love that knife!) -- and all have been dead-center with no blade play at all. I'd definitely suggest getting in touch with ZT customer service; I'm sure they'll take care of the problems for you.
 
Side to side play is a adjustment issue. I had a 0300 and currently have a 0551 and my bro has a 0350 CB, NONE have ever had play even if you forcefully move the blade.

Try removing the pocket clip, then lock down the pivot screw, next snug all body screws then loosen the pivot screw until slight side to side begins. Use very small (1/16in) turns of the pivot screw to adjust and remove side to side play. Re-install pocket clip in desired location, if putting the pocket clip on has any effect call Kershaw and send it in. It shouldn't though and remember its a torx head not a allen.
 
Thanks, I'll give this a shot as soon as I get the proper Torx/Allen Key sizes. Lock up was perfect on all of them until I tried to change the pocket clips from tip-down to tip-up. I checked and the screws tips for the 0350 clip are not touching the blade when closed. For some reason, when I removed the screws from tip-down it released tension between the G10 scale and metal liner, throwing the blade off-center when closed. I noticed this because when I first handled the 0350 the blade was centered but I noticed a tiny gap between the G10 and metal liner. The gap disappeared when I unscrewed the clip the first time and didn't come back when I returned it to tip-down. I really prefer the size and feel of the 0350 and plan to keep it, just want to figure out this little issue. In reality, as much as I liked the 0200 scales, it was bigger and heavier than I'd want to carry.
knifenut1013 said:
Side to side play is a adjustment issue. I had a 0300 and currently have a 0551 and my bro has a 0350 CB, NONE have ever had play even if you forcefully move the blade.

Try removing the pocket clip, then lock down the pivot screw, next snug all body screws then loosen the pivot screw until slight side to side begins. Use very small (1/16in) turns of the pivot screw to adjust and remove side to side play. Re-install pocket clip in desired location, if putting the pocket clip on has any effect call Kershaw and send it in. It shouldn't though and remember its a torx head not a allen.
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Sorry, for some reason I can't format and create paragraphs...When I submit it's just saving my text as one long jumbled paragraph! Might need to re-boot my laptop.
 
Like others I've had several 0200's, 0350, to go through my hands without ANY issues to any of them. The ZT0200 is one of the most solid knives I've ever handled. You definately need to tighten the pivot a smidge, and maybe a drop of good lube to the pivot. It may take a little opening/closing to break in the blade and get to that sweet spot you want when opening the blade.:thumbup::)
 
My zt 0350 does it as well. For some reason I didn't noticed the minor rubbing. I have taken the knife apart several times to fix it and for some reason this is THE only knife I have not been able to get the blade centered. I tried every trick I know. I am sending mine back to ZT. Any knife less than perfection doesn't stay long in my collection. ZT will take care of it. Funny thing is, I have personally seen a few different models of ZT knives with little issues like this.
 
Yeah it's strange but it's all three that I've handled that had lateral play, even the one I just handled in the store.
What I'm really surprised about though is that taking the clip off them is what really made it more noticeable, especially on the 0350. It totally threw the blade off center when I removed the tip down clip.
I was at my father in law's place today and couldn't find an Allen key that fit the pivot there either. Anyone know what size the Allen key is for these pivot screws?
 
I'm really digging the 0350 otherwise so plan to keep it. It's the perfect size for me for a "bigger/heavy duty folder". I know some of you will laugh at the fact that I call this a big folder. I found the 0200 too big after playing it with it the last two weeks.
 
mystro said:
I believe it's a Torx #8.
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For the pivot? The pivot looks like an Allen socket to me. I've tried several Imperial sizes and they're either a tad too small or too big so I'm guessing it's a metric size.
As for the Torx for the pocket clip, I'm not sure which sizes I have as they are just bits from an interchangeable screwdriver.
 
T6, T8, and T10 are the average sizes used in pocket knives. Stay away from the allen keys on these types of screws, you can and will strip the heads without even trying.
 
You know what? This thing being all black, screws and all, I thought the pivot was an Allen and not Torx but upon closer inspection it looks like it is a Torx after all! Sorry for the confusion guys! I'll check to see if I have a Torx tip that will fit the pivot screw and hopefully get rid of this blade play issue once and for all. If not I'll have to wait till the set I ordered online arrives or go to a Radio Shack/The Source and try to find a set.

I want this knife to hold me over til I can get a Hinderer or possibly a Hinderer/ZT collaboration knife as my main heavy duty folder.

Thanks and have a great weekend!
 
Well you're right, the pivot screw is a Torx and I have a bit that fits but the driver handle itself is too small to get the torque I need to turn it. Grrr!
 
Well since this has been bugging me and I got impatient waiting for my Torx set to arrive in the mail, today I bought another set of drivers from my local "The Source". I tightened down the pivot screw some more with a T8 tip and it has fixed the lateral blade play. I was also able to switch it to right-hand tip-up carry so all's good at last! This really is a sweet folder!
Thanks for the replies. :-)
 
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