ZT 551 question...

stevekolt

stevekolt

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Jan 9, 2007
Messages
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Since I have not personally seen another example to do a side by side comparison with my 551, what does the lock-up look like on your examples? Mine is at best 30%, but I can get it to 60% if I further press the framelock in. Is this average/normal?
 
Mine is right at about 50%. At first it was like yours and would be around 30% and I could push it over to 50. This also allowed for a hair of blade play. I bent my lock bar over just a tad and now it locks all the way.
 
I currently own 2. They both lock up at about 40%. They can not be pushed in by hand any further. It was the same with the other 2 I sold.
 
Here's a pic of the lock-up on the 551 I handled in the BF pass around:

attachment.php
 
Both of mine are s/n in the 500's - and look like l_l's above. One I bought months ago - the other one was purchased yesterday - both from a local store. Super knife!

Stainz
 
Seems to me that at even 30% with that frame lock, the blade is going nowhere. I haven't had a chance to handle a 551 (or any ZT for that matter) but I've never had a problem with the Kershaw liner locks. I'd think the frame lock would just be a step beyond in solidness.
 
Mine is now locking up at about 70-75%, anyone else have this?

I've also noticed that if I put a decent amount (not a ton) of pressure on the spine the blade moves forward slightly even when holding the lock, none of my other Ti frames do this and I'm wondering if anyone else has or had this and if it ever went away. My 302 had a similar issue but it fixed over time and now when I grip that knife the blade doesn't budge and my SNG is the same. I really hope the lock is still setting.

Yes I know all the tips and tricks for fixing lockup on framelocks. The pivot is tightened, blade is centered, I bent the lockbar inward more to strengthen the detent and help put more pressure on the tang. Yet there's still slight bladeplay, everything is telling me that the lock is still setting but I'm uncertain because I've already owned this knife for quite sometime (my SNG broke in faster) and have opened it well over a thousand times.

Here are some pics:

551centered.jpg


551lockup.jpg


You can see that the lock bar has moved over more than 50% yet only a small section of the bar touches the tang which leads me to think that the lock is still setting. Yet people say they have less than 50% and no blade play. Really don't want to mail this in unless I absolutely need to.
 
My 0551 used to lock up real early at about 10-20%. After polishing the blade tang and repeatedly slamming the blade open with graphite on the tang, the lockup has settled to about 50%. If pushed it might travel to 60-65%. Other than that, it doesn't go much deeper. I did note that the lockbar seems to have a rough finish with some high and low spots. I figure once the high spots are worn down, the travel should slow down considerably, and pushing the lock further would only result in minimal movement.
AKnife said:
You can see that the lock bar has moved over more than 50% yet only a small section of the bar touches the tang which leads me to think that the lock is still setting. Yet people say they have less than 50% and no blade play. Really don't want to mail this in unless I absolutely need to.
Click to expand...
Mine does that as well, and I suspect it was designed that way so that as the lock wears down over time(a lot of time), the entire lockbar will have equal contact with the tang, making the lock travel more or less stop before it touches the liners.

I figure so long as the lock doesn't disengage at any point(I check with a small spine tap and attempting to muscle the knife closed), it's more or less irrelevant.
 
This is my second 0551 both are very low numbers . The first one locked up about 70% and had a ton of blade play . The second is about 50% and is very easy to disengage and rock solid . I guess its just the luck of the draw . The best knife i have owned so far.
 
msass74 said:
This is my second 0551 both are very low numbers . The first one locked up about 70% and had a ton of blade play . The second is about 50% and is very easy to disengage and rock solid . I guess its just the luck of the draw . The best knife i have owned so far.
Click to expand...
Did you're first one ever get better? My knife is serial # 776 and it seems like it fits the description of your first one. I really don't want to mail in my knife, but I doubt they'd just go ahead and mail me a new Ti handle...
 
My user, #0990, flicks open to 40% lock-up and can be lightly pushed to 50% with no blade play. Has only been opened sub 500 times.
 
If you tweak the lock bar after you take it apart it will take care of the blade play as i dod on my user but i would contact warrenty for a correct fix
 
I like a liner or framelock to be at about 25 to 30% but not much more.
 
AKnife said:
Mine is now locking up at about 70-75%, anyone else have this?

I've also noticed that if I put a decent amount (not a ton) of pressure on the spine the blade moves forward slightly even when holding the lock, none of my other Ti frames do this and I'm wondering if anyone else has or had this and if it ever went away. My 302 had a similar issue but it fixed over time and now when I grip that knife the blade doesn't budge and my SNG is the same. I really hope the lock is still setting.

Yes I know all the tips and tricks for fixing lockup on framelocks. The pivot is tightened, blade is centered, I bent the lockbar inward more to strengthen the detent and help put more pressure on the tang. Yet there's still slight bladeplay, everything is telling me that the lock is still setting but I'm uncertain because I've already owned this knife for quite sometime (my SNG broke in faster) and have opened it well over a thousand times.

Here are some pics:

551centered.jpg


551lockup.jpg


You can see that the lock bar has moved over more than 50% yet only a small section of the bar touches the tang which leads me to think that the lock is still setting. Yet people say they have less than 50% and no blade play. Really don't want to mail this in unless I absolutely need to.
Click to expand...

it really looks like there is just to much mismatch of the lockbar face angle, to the engagement face on the blade. I have many frame locks most have a better surface match/contact looks like this on is hitting on the corner of the lockbar. I'd send it in you only stand to get a better knife. just an observation
 
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