zt 0560 question

[esh567]

Hey everyone,

Hate to bug again but had a question, just recently recieved what would be my most expensive knife the ZT 0560 and well lets say kinda iffy about it, the detent seems like its over tight to release the blade, the frame lock sometimes takes my full 2 hand grip to release, and what seems to be the bearings make an annoying squeak 3/4 of the way open. is this pretty normal with the new knife and will loosen up after time or should i send it back to retailer/ZT to get it fixed or replaced. thanks again guys.

 

[egally08]

Hey Esh, I own a zt 560, Yes the detent bearing is overly strong, so it will flip out fast. I have owned many flippers, and the 560 is one of the best flippers I own. The lockbar should loosen up over time. my current one, is serial number 127, so its one of the first made. It actually is so light to push over, I could do it with my pinky, and it is a joy to use. I would say hang in there and keep playing with it. Also, you can put a little grease/oil down on the detent bearing and it will cure the squeaking. If you dont have any, olive oil will work just as well. Wet a paper towel with olive oil, then slide it down around the bearing.
good luck

 

[esh567]

right on thanks, i appreciate that info i was starting to feel a little bummed thinking i got a lemon and had to wait a few weeks to actually get another one! i guess ill just work on this one a get the callouses going haha

 

[Luis G.]

This is normal for most if not all titanium folders, as well as folders using a steel ball detent.

Send it to Zero Tolerance for repair, they'll more than likely recarbidize the lockbar surface, and fix the tension of the lock bar and probably fix the detent path.

To go point by point:

The detent ball being too stiff has to do with the tension of the lockbar. The lockbar as you know is bent so that it acts as a spring. The amount of tension the lockbar makes is a result of how far the lockbar is bent prior to assembly which determines how much "force" is put on the blade tang. The more the lockbar is bent, the harder the tension between the lockbar (which makes contact with the blade via the detent ball) and the blade tang.

The squeaky and weird feel has to do with the detent and blade tang materials which has more to do with same materials rubbing against each other, while at "similar" hardness. The detent ball is hardened, and would scratch a path unto the blade tang, this path however will have uneven wear. This uneven wear will cause the detent ball under the tension of the lockbar to wear away it against this uneven path versus just rolling over it.
This produces the squeak you hear and it is definitely something that needs to be remedied for a short period of time as the ball carves the path a bit more evenly. If left untreated, the problem has a chance of getting worse.
To fix it:
A drop of lube on the path will fix the squeakiness and help the ball carve a proper path. Over time, after maybe a month period it should be fine to use without lubrication since the ball would have carved a more even path by then with the help of the lubrication.


Lastly the lockbar being hard to disengage has to do with the tension of the lockbar, as well as the fact titanium is softer than steel.
The ZT 560/ZT 561 have the lockbar carbidized so it won't wear fast at all, however it seems it isn't applied properly at times. Send it in for repair and ZT should recarbidize it properly.

I sent mine in for repair for the squeakiness and lockbar being very tough to disengage. My detent was fine.
They fixed both problems by recarbidizing the lockbar and wearing in the detent ball path for me by uisng lubrication.