ZT detent too strong

D

dagoof

Joined
Apr 18, 2016
Messages
22
Just bought my first ZT. It's a blue 0920. Seems like a real nice knife. I love the way it fires, but it's a chore to push the frame lock back, and the detent is tight enough that it won't fall shut.

Is that normal for a ZT? Do I just need to lube it and break it in a little?

If I push the frame lock all the way back, the blade swings freely, but I can't exactly leave my thumb there while closing it up. Online, I see videos of the blade falling shut, but mine almost has to be pushed closed.

Thanks in advance for the advice.
 
It sounds like your lockbar is a bit too tight.

i have a 0609 that’s the same way. I thought about adjusting the lockbar, but that would require removing the lockbar insert/over travel stop, and I’m not too keen about that. So I decided to live with it.

My other ZT’s drop closed on their own or with a little shake, depending on the knife. The 0920 has a big ol’ heavy blade; the couple I’ve tested swung shut pretty easily.

Maybe some of our other ZT fans & modifiers will check in with advice or tips on getting the lockbar insert off &/or asjusting the lockbar.
 
ETA if you bought the knife from a dealer, you might consider contacting them for an exchange.
 
I did a full 180 on this topic. Early on with my first flippers, I disliked strong detents. But then, that was also a time I thought every opening also needed a full wrist flip to fully open. But then I finally got a knife (ZT actually), with properly tuned detent. And wow, I realized that a fairly stiff detent is what throws the blade out hard enough for full lockup. I also learned that both lighter and heavier blades need more pop. So for these reasons, I've become a fan.

My suggestion would be to give it some time and break-in to see how it shakes out. It may change a little. Or you may change preference a little.

Edit:. Doh! I mixed up what part of the detent pressure you were at odds with. Please disregard everything I just said. :p
 
I don't understand the fascination with drop shut blades...I'm guessing it's a social media fueled thing related to the practice of fidget flipping. It isn't a feature I look for, or particularly even want.
If your complaint is that the lock is overly difficult to disengage, perhaps a word with the dealer is in order. However, that seems unlikely since you also mention pushing the bar all the way back & and the blade swinging freely.
 
I would definitely try to add a little lubricant such as Nano-Oil, Tuff-Glide or even the Kershaw oil to the detent hold on the blade, open and close the knife a few times to see if that makes it a lil easier before trying to adjust the lockbar yourself.

An exchange with the dealer is an option as well. I personally don’t put any emphasis on drop shut blades...it serves no real purpose except earning internet points, and lets be honest, that’s lame.
 
This drop shut thing that is so popular on the instaTubes isn't a requirement for me personally but if that is your bag in this whole knife hobby, I can understand that.

The knife may break in with some more time. Cycling it might wear in a detent track more. Some lube on the track might help. I wouldn't consider not dropping shut a defect, so I doubt zt would take a look and nor do I think a dealer should be on the hook for this. If this sort of thing is really important to you, then I would try to by in person, from a dealer that can hand select for this specific requirement, or on the secondary market from a trusted source that lists the knife as having such a thing.
 
I've got a couple of the 920's, with that big ol heavy blade they do pretty much drop shut, not like a guillotine but unassisted.

I would suggest as others have to apply a little nano oil to the detent ball, maybe even a drop into the bearings. A complete disassembly and cleaning out the factory gunk if any usually makes a difference also. A little break-in will help. The lock-bar is relatively stiff but I think it's more a function of that particular knife as I have 12 ZT's and not all have a stiff detent. With that much blade you want a well tensioned detent for good action and to keep the blade in the handle. My son's had a 920 for a few years (I got it for his b-day about 3 years ago), he's a city worker and uses his knives regularly. He carries his 920 daily, it's like a well oiled machine now, super smooth.

I'd give it a little bit of time before returning it, they're great knives if not a little on the large size :)
 
hhmoore said:
I don't understand the fascination with drop shut blades...I'm guessing it's a social media fueled thing related to the practice of fidget flipping. It isn't a feature I look for, or particularly even want.
If your complaint is that the lock is overly difficult to disengage, perhaps a word with the dealer is in order. However, that seems unlikely since you also mention pushing the bar all the way back & and the blade swinging freely.
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While I don't necessarily dislike drop shut blades, it bothers me how many people think drop shut = well made. Drop shut = a weakly sprung lock bar and a heavy blade. You can make any framelock "drop shutty" by bending the lock bar out. A lot of the hyped drop shutty blades basically have 0 room for wear in the lock because they're weakly sprung and engage at like 5% of the tang. Sure, you can bend the bar more as it wears but then your drop shutty action is gone. I love my CRKs because they have strongly sprung lock bars. They may not drop shut but their locks can travel the entire width of the tang, no adjustments will ever be needed and the action will be the same for the life of the knife.
 
The 0055 I just got has a detent so stiff that I cannot move it with just one finger. It takes two fingers, one from each hand -- and even then it's difficult to open. The 0470 I received has such a weak detent that I have to concentrate to get the blade to open fully.

My old ZTs work like champs.

I suspect ZT's quality control has gone downhill. Way downhill.
 
Ajack60 said:
Try to back off the pivot screw a tad. Sometimes if the pivot is too tight, it will cause the blade to have a stiffer action.
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The pivot screw really isn't too tight though.

Unless the blade is being pushed by the detent on the frame lock, it swings as free as can be.
 
I don't necessarily mind a strong detent (all other things being equal), but pushing the framelock loose on this knife is quite a bit tougher than most of my other knives. It's a little bit of a chore even though I have large strong hands.

Then, once the frame lock is disengaged, the blade swings free for about 20 degrees worth of arc. At that point, the blade hits the detent ball and stops like a brick. At that point, you either have to use your other hand to close the blade or use your thumb again to push the framelock further and allow the ball to get onto the face of the blade. From there, it closes fairly smooth, although the detent ball is still pushing hard enough that it won't fall on it's own by any means.

Maybe this is normal breakin for a ZT, but I would like to be able to open and close the knife with one hand - preferably without my thumb still being in the middle.
 
Twindog said:
The 0055 I just got has a detent so stiff that I cannot move it with just one finger. It takes two fingers, one from each hand -- and even then it's difficult to open. The 0470 I received has such a weak detent that I have to concentrate to get the blade to open fully.

My old ZTs work like champs.

I suspect ZT's quality control has gone downhill. Way downhill.
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My 0055 was like that also, and I usually prefer strong detent. But there is a point if it cannot be naturally overcome. I ended up adding the tiny tiniest amounts of ramp at the detent hole. It didn't take much. Almost not even measurable by eye. It's now absolutely perfect, but still rockets out like crazy.
 
dagoof said:
When you're opening and closing a big knife with only one hand, it makes a lot of sense to me.
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Old, original Cold Steel Voyager Tanto "drop-shutted" right into my index finger when the lock was disengaged a number of years back.
No ricasso, and it just guillotined right into that finger. Bled a bit...got a little infected.

"Drop-shuttiness" is not a feature I seek out. ;)

And I like carrying and using large folders, as my posts have shown over the years.
One hand opening and closing is good, but does not require a blade that falls like it has a mind of its own.
 
stabman said:
One hand opening and closing is good, but does not require a blade that falls like it has a mind of its own.
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I've long been in the habit of releasing the lock, then closing the blade against my leg. It is a practice I started because my other hand was otherwise occupied. It's safe, and leaves the knife convenient to repocket.
 
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