ZT 0450 pocket clip play

sharp_edge said:
Is the issue due to a too large screw hole on the clip (could be both holes)? I am just guessing.
Click to expand...

Yes the holes are way oversized compared to the screws thread diameter. Besides all the rattling and swaying the clip does when loosened, there probably is not much traction for the screws to hold the clip when tight based on the oversized hole diameter. I will see if its a faulty clip when I get the new one from ZT, but will try blue locktite as recommended by ZT in the meantime.
 
It indeed is a design flaw, however minimal. Simplest solution is to replace the standard button/pan head torx with either flat or socket head torx. The flat heads have a wedged bottom to make up for the larger clip holes. Socket heads can tightened with better strength, less prone to stripping, plus they look cool.

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IMG_20170224_222731.jpg

IMG_20170224_222706.jpg


I too prefer the standard clip on the 450 over the deep pocket which just looks really odd just hanging out there.

The clip doesn't move, can't be pushed, in case you are wondering.
 
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wensynch said:
It indeed is a design flaw, however minimal. Simplest solution is to replace the standard button/pan head torx with either flat or socket head torx. The flat heads have a wedged bottom to make up for the larger clip holes. Socket heads can tightened with better strength, less prone to stripping, plus they look cool.

080BHT-2.jpg


IMG_20170224_222731.jpg

IMG_20170224_222706.jpg


I too prefer the standard clip on the 450 over the deep pocket which just looks really odd just hanging out there.

The clip doesn't move, can't be pushed, in case you are wondering.
Click to expand...

Where did you order the flat or socket head torx screws?
 
sharp_edge said:
Is the issue due to a too large screw hole on the clip (could be both holes)? I am just guessing.
Click to expand...

Yes, the large holes on the clip are the problem. A milled in pocket for the clip to screw into would also solve the problem. I used blue loctite on the threads and heads of screws, as recommended by some members and ZT customer service. This has taken care of the problem so far, but dont like the fact I have to rely on loctite to make my pricey folder function correctly. I could not flip this knife open when the clip went over the lockbar, it caught me off guard and is a big deal. Loctite is not a solution for the problem IMHO, its a design flaw thats an easy fix. ZT also sent me a clip and new screws. The clip is silver and not for the 0450cf that I own and the holes on the clip are the same diameter

FUNCTIONAL:
NOT FUNCTIONAL:
 
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I also prefer a standard clip, much easier to grab knife and the knife won't bottom out in my pocket. It also lets those flashy green aluminum spacers peak out of the pocket.
 
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wensynch said:
It indeed is a design flaw, however minimal. Simplest solution is to replace the standard button/pan head torx with either flat or socket head torx. The flat heads have a wedged bottom to make up for the larger clip holes. Socket heads can tightened with better strength, less prone to stripping, plus they look cool.

080BHT-2.jpg


IMG_20170224_222731.jpg

IMG_20170224_222706.jpg


I too prefer the standard clip on the 450 over the deep pocket which just looks really odd just hanging out there.

The clip doesn't move, can't be pushed, in case you are wondering.
Click to expand...
Makes sense, a hardware solution over a glue would be my prefered fix. But these type of screws do not seem like they are easy to find and I can not see a flat head seating correctly when there is no chamfer around the clip holes to seat in. If the loctite fails, I will try out some new screws if I can find them, so far so good. The socket heads do look good.
 
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This was my first zt and the only zt I sold off. It's a design flaw that needs to be updated. I don't know why they don't. They know the problem exists.
I tried loctite and stripped a torx tightening so hard but still it shifted.
 
wensynch said:
It indeed is a design flaw, however minimal. Simplest solution is to replace the standard button/pan head torx with either flat or socket head torx. The flat heads have a wedged bottom to make up for the larger clip holes. Socket heads can tightened with better strength, less prone to stripping, plus they look cool.

080BHT-2.jpg
Click to expand...

Please list a source for those screw types. Thanks.
 
My 0562CF moves a bit but it doesn't affect the frame lock. I do push the tip of my middle finger against it while flipping though to get a positive counter balance to the pushing action.
 
It does seem like a design flaw; both of my 0450s had the wiggly clip issue, even with the screws as tight as I could get them. It annoyed me so much that I put a deep carry clip from fleabay on my 0450cfzpd, which solved the issue. The downside is that I liked the original clip better, it lay flatter. The deep carry clip is obnoxiously large, though it doesn't feel bad in hand because the 0450 is so thin:

E8HaEvI.jpg


Great knife. I had to sand all the obnoxiously sharp spots on it to make it perfect (breaking the spine edges of a zdp-189 blade takes a surprising amount of effort) but I love the little bugger now, obnoxiously large fleabay clip and all.
 
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I had this problem with the stock clip - But I hated that clip anyway, so I got a deep carry from ZT. Same problem.
Bought a black Ti deep clip from MXG, problem solved. The Ti on Ti seems to "mate" better,and the screw holes are smaller.
Plus, it buries discreetly, is more comfortable in hand, and the contrast of the black clip looks cool to me.
I probably wouldn't ever carry the zt0450 if I hadn't added this clip, it really makes the knife.
 
There's a pretty simple fix, remove the clip and rough the mating surface of the clip with a rough grit stone, then reinstall with a dab of lock right on each screw and snug them up rather securely and the added friction should address the clip movement problem experienced by many.
 
Ha-ha, just had the same experience as the OP. I noticed the awesome flipping of my 0450 deteriorated fairly quickly. "What the heck is happening to the detent ball?" I thoght to myself, and "Didn't it used to pretty much drop freely when closing?"

When cleaning and oiling didn't help, I was just beginning a tear down when I thought, and noticed, the clip migration. Then I remembered seeing this thread (though I hadn't read it until tonight).

Anyhow, my 0450 is back to it's glorious action, and there's LockTite all over the clip interface. ;)
I love the 0450 but have to admit the clip could have tighter holes or a shallow frame recess.
 
Just had the same thing happen to me the other day. Had the 0450 for several months, pulled it out of my pocket and tried to flip it and it was locked up tight. About 2 seconds after my intiial WTF??? I noticed the clip was on the lockbar. Now, I asked myself, we've got two screws here holding this clip, how the heck could the dang thing travel like that? Oh, because the holes in the clip are oversized. Seriously, ZT??? You have an awesome knife, great blade shape, great steel, great flipping action, and you skimp out on...the clip?!?
Back at ZT design central when... 2015?:
"Aw, crap, we got a problem with those 0450s."
"What?
"The holes on the clip are the wrong size."
"Meaning..."
"The clip won't stay put, it'll wobble."
"Well, that's pretty stupid."
"Yeah, somebody, screwed up. Sorry, we'll have to do another run of clips."
"*#$( it! Just use 'em. Nobody likes our clips anyway."
"Uh...ok, but..."
And you still haven't fixed it???
Well, I'll order another clip of some sort and/or get some better screws, but really, this shouldn't happen. This is like irksome issue No. 3 with the 0450 design for me, but the only one that is actually causing me a problem.

Wonder if the 0460 suffers from the same inattention to detail?
 
Bigbluefish said:
Wonder if the 0460 suffers from the same inattention to detail?
Click to expand...
If it does, I haven't noticed it yet (I'm working on a review). In the long run though, the 0450 may prove to be the better knife, in a very subjective sort of way. Both are great, IMO.
 
Looking forward to your review.
The only thing I don't like about the 0460 is the big ZT logo on the blade. Just kinda kills it, aesthetically, IMHO. Which really bums me out, 'causse I think it looks, as my son would say "sick!" Apparently, that's highly complimentary. I mean, why not just do the little engraved logo on the pile side scale?
 
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