ZT 0560 issue please help

[KnottyEagle]

I preach constructive critiscm, this isn't one of those cases.......again.

 

[jimmer_5]

So I got a 0560 in a trade recently. I have a 0550 and its a great knife. Problem is the 0560 is VERY hard to open. It's almost like it's locked closed. I can open it if I push fairly hard on the flipper but as you all know, the jimping is pretty aggressive. It sort of feels like a cheese grater when I open it with the flipper. So to the thumb studs I go. Right handed thumb stud opening is impossible. Trust me, I'm no wimp and I have only been able to do it 2 or three times that way. Left handed opening from the other thumb stud is a little easier but who cares? I'm not left handed. Only somewhat easy way to open it is pinch the blade with two fingers and pull it open. Kinda defeats the purpose of thumb studs and the flipper. The whole reason I wanted the 560 is the flipper. I have tried tightening and loosening the lock bar stop and the blade pivot screw. No help. Has anyone else dealt with this problem?

Next minor issue is the bar that stops the blade when opening (not sure what it's called) rattles. I thought tightening the pivot screw would stop that but nope. I have a Griptillian with the same issue but I didn't think ZT would allow this. Is it normal? My 550 doesn't rattle at all.

Thanks everyone in advance.

Thank you for all the responses. I have to say I am totally disappointed with this knife. I am NOT a newbie to high end folders. I saw that whole BS explanation from KAI that the thumb studs aren't thumb studs. So on all the other similar models they are thumb studs but on this model they aren't? I'm pretty sure they were intended as thumb studs as well as stops but after people complained, they decided to rename them. I'm sure most of you that say yours is possible to open with the studs are correct but believe me when I tell you mine is IMPOSSIBLE with the right hand holding stud. I can be holding the handles in my left hand with no pressure whatsoever and it will still not open.

As for the flipper with the jimping, sure I can find a way to flip it without cheese grating my finger but why should I need to? That jimping just shouldn't be there like that. It's a horrible design. If I wanted a folder that required skill and practice to learn to open safely, I would get a bali-song. If I want a nice flipper, I don't expect to have to learn how to use it.

In summary I think this is a terrible design with inherent flaws. I can't understand why they would change anything from the 550 model other than maybe size, flipper, and steel. That's really all they needed to do if they wanted another model. That's all I thought they changed with the models. But no.

Al,

I can speak to your concerns directly. Most collaboration pieces start pretty simple and evolve as they progress. When Rick designed the 0560, the final mechanism hadn't been designed yet. It could have been speedsafe assisted, manual with bronze washers, or manual with the KVT ball bearing system. The location of the external stop pin/thumb stud was part of the original design. So yes, it is located in a position that would appear to make it work well as a thumbstud.

Rick's XM series knives use flat washers, and the detent is set a little softer. This makes the knives open well with both the thumbstud and the flipper. The tradeoff is that it can take more technique to be able to flick them open all the way.

When we decided to use the KVT bearing washers in this knife, we decided to make the detent stiffer so that it would flip open well. We acknowledged that this could make the external stop pin difficult (or near impossible) to use as a thumbstud, but this was a planned decision. In truth, there is some variation from knife to knife - Titanium is a fairly consistent material, but we still will have some knives with stronger or weaker detent. It sounds like you got a strong one. You may disagree with our reasoning, but nobody is "covering up" anything here. I have explained this to other people with the same question multiple times.

In addition, you have purchased a manual opening knife and are expecting it to require no learning curve. If you want something that can be flipped any which way and open every time, I would recommend one of our Speedsafe assisted opening knives. You have purchased the equivalent of a manual transmission car. Nobody is born with the innate ability to drive a manual transmission. Learning to effectively operate a manual flipper knife is admittedly much simpler than mastering the art of heel-and-toe shifting, but it still requires a little effort to master. Try placing your finger a little higher up on the flipper and you should avoid catching it on the jimping when you pull the flipper tab.

I can appreciate that you are frustrated, and are perhaps getting a little dogpiled, but I would suggest you take a little more time and thought before declaring a product a "terrible design with inherent flaws". I think if you give it a little more practice, you will find this knife to be exactly what we meant it to be. If you would prefer a softer action, our warranty department can probably help with that. I can't guarantee that you will love this knife, but we are happy to help you enjoy it more fully.

Thanks,

- Jim

 

[mqqn]

I have noticed some variability of the detent on otherwise identical knives -

I have surmised that it is the depth at which the detent ball is set that contributes to the variability - a deeper set results in a lighter retention.

Just what I have noticed.

best

mqqn

 

[Dadonred]

Hi BF'rs,
I really appreciate that post by jimmer_5. On my ZT0560, I encountered similar initial experience. My prior experience is limited to mainly speed safe designs and my favorite Storm. So you can probably see that a 560 is a different beast. That said, I was encouraged to just flip it a few times, like half a dozen and it opens fine, without any wrist action. Was it me figuring out how to use my finger or it being "broken in"? I do not know. But my question is this: if I use a wrist/ gravity "technique" (which apparently isn't needed, but compelled me to do so as I was figuring it out), does that hurt or unnecessarily wear this knife? Honest question.

 

[JuJu-]

Depends, as long as you aren't doing it overly hard and making "wipashhhhh" sounds when you do it it should be fine, unnecessary but fine. A super light ricky martin flick of the wrist is all you should need if you must.

Doing it hard can and will damage the lockbar face, wearing it prematurely or marking it over time.

 

[Dadonred]

Thanks bad_juju, confirms what to watch for.