ZT 0560 Detent Issue?

bobusx

bobusx

Gold Member
Joined
Sep 29, 2009
Messages
1,062
I just got a NIB ZT 560 yesterday, and I have been playing around with it. I noticed that compared to most flippers, the detent seemed weak. It still flips open without wrist action if I give the flipper a good hard push, but compared to other ball bearing folders, it didn't really snap open. After further investigation, I have noticed that the ball bearing on the lockbar does not actually go into the detent hole on the tang when the blade is closed. Is it supposed to? If so, is this something that needs to be addressed? I am overseas for the next few years, and I really don't want to return it for warranty service unless this flaw could pose a problem. Right now it seems to work well enough, but I don't know if the weak detent will eventually cause the knife to come open too easily in pocket after it wears some. What do you guys think?
 
You should break in the knife. If it still bothers you after 6 months, well thats what the warranty is for.
 
The detent ball should seat into the recess for it when closed, yes.

best

mqqn
 
After more intense study, I notice it does go in a little bit, maybe 20-25%. Perhaps the detent hole is too small for the ball or something.
 
I believe the detent on my 0561 is on the "weaker" side although I use that adjective lightly. The detent is good enough to keep the blade closed with moderate shaking, and still flies out without a wrist flick. Much easier to disengage the lockbar (my thumb doesn't get sore at all). If this was an adjustment in design, I say it was a good move.
 
How can you see it? I looked on mine and cannot see it.
 
I had a "problem" with mine also when I first got it. Mine also has a detent that is a little on the weak side and it wouldn't really fly open when deployed via the flipper. After messing around with it I figured out how to preload the flipper before flipping it and now it flies open with some serious authority. The 2 ways I can describe to preload the flipper are to either push in on the flipper or push forward toward the end of the knife before engaging the flipper. Like I said, if I do this the knife opens extremely well and the allegedly weak detent allows me to open the knife slowly with the thumb stud/stop pin if I choose to. In my opinion this is the best of both worlds.
 
I had a similar issue.

When the knife is closed, try to press on the lock bar a little bit. I bet the lockbar will shift slightly, seat the detent correctly into the blade and now the knife will almost impossible to open.

As it wears in it will start to seat better.
 
I sent mine in for a weak detent, constantly opening up in my pocket. Tore one of my pockets. Should be back next week!!
 
Tried pushing it in, but it still does not go in more than the 25% or so. It doesn't cause a problem with flipping really, it flips about as easy as my Skyline did. Just nowhere near as fast and solidly as any of my IKBS knives. I will give it more time and see if it wears in some more, and maybe even if it doesn't I can just get used to it. It is still prefectly functional still. Now just to figure out what to do about the lockbar access. I find the lockbar jimping makes it harder to unlock, especially compared to my ZT 0301
 
I guess I am just fortunate. Whether it is due to having a local pusher to peruse the latest offerings or just good fortune in my selection process, where I pick a box that looks like it hasn't been opened, is a toss up. Simple enough, I hate knife flickerers about as much as I detest revolver cylinder flickerers! I have checked some stock for better examples in other brands, but never needed to do so with Kershaw/ZT. My only imperfect ZT was my first 0551 - the blade wasn't centered - and was loose. Tightening the pivot properly brought the blade back to center. Now we hear of ball detent alignment issues in the 0560/561. In both cases, a rudimentary visual/functional test should have disclosed the fault. At the $200-$300 price point, don't they do a simple QC inspection/test?

I know it's difficult when you are stationed abroad, but I'd be tempted to return that ZT - at that price, it should be 'right'. And, if my 0561 is an indicator, it should give you great pride of ownership, not to mention being a great user!

Stainz
 
Just got my 560 back this morning, acually not the one I sent them. They gave me whole new knife!! Awesome! I sent it in for a weak detent also. Very good customer service.
 
sorry for bring a old thread back to life but I picked up a zt 560 here on the forum
it started to have a sticky lock a quick Google later and I was putting graphite on the liner lock face and that problem has cleared up ....I hope
the other issue I have been having is that its stiff and only flips open thirty percent or so , I then came up with the idea of placing graphite on all the surfaces inside the 560 and loosened the pivot as much as I could so that the blade is only a little off center. and o what a joyous feeling to have a knife so smooth and quick.
but after twenty or thirty openings I had to reapply graphite to keep it smooth

so here I am is there any hint tips or tricks you guys can offer me to help speed up breaking in my 0560 !!!!
 
Yes, clean it out and leave it alone. I don't think putting graphite on every part is perfectly maximizing the smooth operation of the knife. Instead of looking for magical quick ways to placate your "I want it done now!" urges, just use it as a cutting tool and let it wear in as it's supposed to.
 
when I got mine it was a bit sticky so while sitting down watchin TV I continuously rubbed the lock bar on the tang while closing it just enough for the lockbar to go beside the blade. after a little while it smoothed its self out and works pretty nice now.
 
My 561 was very weak when new, for whatever reason the lockbar was not engaging the detent hole very deeply. I wouldn't have trusted the blade to stay closed in my pocket or clipped on anything getting jostled around. I'm sure the perfect detent retention it's a very tough sweet spot for them to hit, and gets harder with larger/heavier blades. For example I adjusted mine to better engage the detent hole. The result was that the knife is still super easy to open with the flipper, but almost too hard to open using the thumb stud right handed, however the blade still tends to open too easily if the knife is say dropped even onto carpet IMO, so it still makes me nervous about it opening when I don't want it to. It's actually the one thing keeping from getting the 560cf, with my 561 experience there's no way I'd buy another one without being able to inspect it first.

Part of this is a trade off of having an exposed lockbar in the handle slab. When using the flipper this doesn't seem to be the issue as the force is applied differently but when I open the knife using the thumbstud right handed the fingers wrapped around the handle naturally rest on the lock bar and resist the pressure applied by the thumb on the stud. This naturally "pushes" the lockbar harder into the detent making the knife harder to open right handed. I'd say by "feel" the difference between my right hand opening is twice as hard as doing it left handed. My 551 does not seem to suffer from this issue nearly as much, but it is noticeable there as well. The potential danger of this is that a knife with what feels like a very secure detent when used right handed with the thumb stud actually may not have nearly as much blade security when carried in the pocket etc. This is one advantage to handle scales that cover the lockbar you almost never hear talked about.

Detent security is always a trade off, too stiff and you have to exert too much force to open it and bad things happen. If the detent is too light the blade comes open when you don't want it to in your pocket, in/on a pack etc. and bad things happen. I prefer to error to the side of blade security because I've had too many knives open up when I didn't want them to during activity, most users don't have this issue and seem to be happy with lighter detents or we'd hear about it more. Plus the "cool" trend is to flip knives open as fast as possible now and manufacturers seem to be catering to it.

Either way if you're not happy with it, ZT will certainly fix it for ya!
 
sticktodrum said:
Yes, clean it out and leave it alone. I don't think putting graphite on every part is perfectly maximizing the smooth operation of the knife. Instead of looking for magical quick ways to placate your "I want it done now!" urges, just use it as a cutting tool and let it wear in as it's supposed to.
Click to expand...

I see where your coming from but for a flipper that is 300 dollars on the zt website should I have to let it wear in ?????
maybe I should maybe I should not I will take it down and clean it out removing the graphite , but initially the it was so smooth after the graphite just like everything I had heard
if I use the flipper I get it 30% to 50% open if I use the flipper and a wrist flick I can get it to pop open I just don't like the wrist flick as I think it can draw to much attention

soooooo how long did it take your 560 to break in guys ?????
 
Graphite is okay for the lock face (pencils are compressed graphite and perfect for this) but I don't think it's great for bearings, some light oil may be better. Most likely you need to work on your flipping technique, push forward on the flipper, then shift pressure back/down... ...hard to explain but once you get the hand of it the knife will open better for you. I wouldn't mess with the pivot. I never became a fan of the flipper and didn't keep my 0560 but it's a nice knife, mine did not need to be broken in... ...my Striders and Emersons did though so, yes, expensive knives can require break in.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top