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ZT 0566 - Now: Flipperless, CF scale, drilled & lightened, improved pivot, & more

I almost bought the small milling machine. Three slightly different ones by the same mfg. and the price varies. No good control of depth. Would need a indicator. I sold quite a bit of my tools when I retired. Indicators, depth mikes etc. the miller is still in my mind and would make changes easier. Hummmm!
Ron
 
I hate threads like these.

Now Im going to have to have it done.
 
Funny, I was just thinking about this thread today and put some quicksteel in the torsion bar cavity of my 0566, gonna re-bead blast the liner tomorrow :D
 
Wonderful mod, really wonderful mod.
Having flipped at least 500 times and don't feeling any sensible difference (especially after I've seen my thumb bleeding) is quite frustrating.
Now I'm wondering if I can start with just de-assisting, lubeing and chamfering the hole detent will suffice to work for my use...

Otherwise I will write to ZT forum and that will be my last ZT knife. And that's a pity.
:)
 
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mostho said:
Wonderful mod, really wonderful mod.
Having flipped at least 500 times and don't feeling any sensible difference (especially after I've seen my thumb bleeding) is quite frustrating.
Now I'm wondering if I can start with just de-assisting, lubeing and chamfering the hole detent will suffice to work for my use...

Otherwise I will write to ZT forum and that will be my last ZT knife. And that's a pity.
:)
Click to expand...
It shouldn't be that hard to open. Send it in to ZT and they'll fix it. Don't let one bad one ruin your thoughts on ZT. They have great knives :thumbup:
 
Thanks for the suggestion... Just thinking about that damn thumb studs. Nothing compared to my Grip in my smoothness..
 
mostho said:
Wonderful mod, really wonderful mod.
Having flipped at least 500 times and don't feeling any sensible difference (especially after I've seen my thumb bleeding) is quite frustrating.
Now I'm wondering if I can start with just de-assisting, lubeing and chamfering the hole detent will suffice to work for my use...

Otherwise I will write to ZT forum and that will be my last ZT knife. And that's a pity.
:)
Click to expand...

.... definitely de-assist, at least throw in a larger washer on the assist side (even if you don't fill in the cavity), and VERY, VERY lightly chamfer the hole that the ball sits in-
CAREFULLY!!!!- you go too big with the chamfer, and the blade will flop around when the blade is closed :( :( :( .... and that, would suck. Then oil or grease with your favorite stuff,
and re-assemble.

Honestly, they pretty much screwed the pooch with this assist design, and the twisting/binding forces the spring imparts, combined with a useless miniature washer on one side. Ridiculous really. Half of these going out the door, bind quite a bit and make their owners pretty frustrated. Poor design decisions by someone... MUCH better to make this beast a smooth operator with a much longer service life, by de-assisting and guiding the blade with larger washers that this knife deserves...

The good news is, it can be done, and it doesn't take all that long, to de-assist and make the action outstanding. Just don't screw up the chamfer on the detent hole!!!
!!!
 
Thank you Blairtech! I will go for deassisting for now.
In any case I've to find a washer on the way, becasue I'm Italy and soon I will be redeployed... I can make some in Teflon in the meantime. Better than nothing.

I will definitively going to just deassist, lube and throw bigger washers. And let you informed about the improvements, for the sake of sharing.
:thumbup::cool:
If in the meantime KAI will not reply to me as well on how to solve this blistering problem.

Umpf!
 
Interesting.
Received email from ZT and they said
Unfortunately, the 0566 is designed to be a flipper opening knife. The thumb stud is actually the blade stop pin to prevent over extension.

Well... Ehm... So now again undecided!
:)
 
Question about the jb weld part, is that removable or is it a pretty much permanent mod? I just ordered the larger washers but I'm hesitant to make any permanent changes. I don't hate the so.
 
kingston73 said:
Question about the jb weld part, is that removable or is it a pretty much permanent mod? I just ordered the larger washers but I'm hesitant to make any permanent changes. I don't hate the so.
Click to expand...
I think it's easily removable. Just warm it in hot water. That's what I do with scales.
Cheers
 
Mostho I'll receive soon the bigger washer, if you want I'll send a couple to you.
I've seen the knife from a friend and it's nice shape and ergo but by the pics I've seen here it's very poor design for the washer aspect.
 
A Whole New Knife!!

I was pretty hesitant at first but went ahead and ordered the larger washers earlier this week! I went through with the JB Weld mod and installed the larger washers tonight... simply phenomenal!!! Thanks Blair for the idea and nudge! Beforehand my 0566 didn't flip well at all de-assisted without the "Hinderer Technique" where you push on the flipper and even then it took a little while to perfect...I carried the knife this way for a couple weeks and thought it was great after I got used to the flip action. But now, it is just straight smooth, another level...it just feels much more solid, but on top of that I can flip it with the pull down action or the thumbstuds...

Before adding the larger washers my 0566 didn't feel loose as far as blade play was concerned, but now it just feels much more solid, it has a little resistance but that doesn't hinder the flipping action at all, I can pull down on the flipper or use the thumbstuds with no problem at all (before the mods, the thumbstuds were utterly useless). This is by far the most useful mod I have ever done to a knife, complete fuction, changed the entire way the knife performs. On top of all that I've got cosmetic mods in the mail (CF scales, and Blue TI hardware) which will just send this knife over the moon as far as I'm concerned. Makes the wait for the 0562CF much more tolerable! Thanks again Blair.

For anyone hesistant about filling the liners with JB Weld...I used the SteelStik putty version, it sets up quickly and easily and is super simple to sand down to get a flush fit. I highly recommend it. Best of luck!
 
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Airlsee said:
A Whole New Knife!!

I was pretty hesitant at first but went ahead and ordered the larger washers earlier this week! I went through with the JB Weld mod and installed the larger washers tonight... simply phenomenal!!! Thanks Blair for the idea and nudge! Beforehand my 0566 didn't flip well at all de-assisted without the "Hinderer Technique" where you push on the flipper and even then it took a little while to perfect...I carried the knife this way for a couple weeks and thought it was great after I got used to the flip action. But now, it is just straight smooth, another level...it just feels much more solid, but on top of that I can flip it with the pull down action or the thumbstuds...

Before adding the larger washers my 0566 didn't feel loose as far as blade play was concerned, but now it just feels much more solid, it has a little resistance but that doesn't hinder the flipping action at all, I can pull down on the flipper or use the thumbstuds with no problem at all (before the mods, the thumbstuds were utterly useless). This is by far the most useful mod I have ever done to a knife, complete fuction, changed the entire way the knife performs. On top of all that I've got cosmetic mods in the mail (CF scales, and Blue TI hardware) which will just send this knife over the moon as far as I'm concerned. Makes the wait for the 0562CF much more tolerable! Thanks again Blair.

For anyone hesistant about filling the liners with JB Weld...I used the SteelStik putty version, it sets up quickly and easily and is super simple to sand down to get a flush fit. I highly recommend it. Best of luck!
Click to expand...

Very, very well described Airlsee, and I concur wholeheartedly! I really liked the looks, and ergos, and materials used in this knife, but unfortunately the pivot design did not make for a particularly smooth, or strong, or lasting companion... After the mods though, and as you thoughtfully described, it indeed makes this one a keeper, and one that will remain smooth with time, instead of wearing out the tiny washer and getting sloppier. No chance of a binding or broken assist spring either.... :).
Well done buddy, with the improvements, and of describing YOUR satisfaction with making this one all it can be! Enjoy the new knife!!!
 
I've bought the new cf version and I like it!
I've checked it and no play at all with the original small washers.
I think I'll only de assist it because I don't see any reason to have this kind of noisy stuff.
It comes also with a nice sharped blade, more better than the other blunt zt I have.
 
I've bought the new cf version and I like it!
I've checked it and no play at all with the original small washers.
I think I'll only de assist it because I don't see any reason to have this kind of noisy stuff.
It comes also with a nice sharped blade, more better than the other blunt zt I have.
 
I did this mod last weekend using Blairtech's instructions and the link for the larger washers and it came out great! I used a Loctite brand 2 part epoxy and it seemed to work just as well. I lubed the knife up, slapped a new carbon fiber scale on it and now it's my new favorite EDC.
 
Those that have filled the assist cavity... What did you use as a back stop when you filled it? Did you fill the entire cavity in the g10 too or just where the washer would line up?
 
I filled only the area needed to support larger washers.
I did the liner first, putting JB putty on one side of the hole and let it cure, then flip the liner and do the opposite side.
So the semicircle cavity in the liner should be solid. The cavity in the G10 or CF scale only needs to be filled behind that semicircle. Once the Epoxy/jb weld cures a razor blade lain flat across the scale will put it back to being squared up and even.
I performed these mods to mine about two weeks ago and it's only gotten smoother.
Definitely the greatest results I've ever gotten from a knife mod, as far as simplicity and improvement of use.
 
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