Page 2 of 3

Re: Cleaning and installing PB washers in your BM 4x Series

PostPosted: Fri Jan 21, 2011 9:59 pm
by FkeSpydrFly
white_star_32 wrote:I actually used this when I had some free time during the Christmas holidays. Referenced this thread and the one at BF. And I LOVE the PB washers


Glad to hear that man,
ill post the thread on the other forums when i have time.

Re: Cleaning and installing PB washers in your BM 4x Series

PostPosted: Thu Mar 10, 2011 9:52 pm
by Erenoth
So after fooling with my 440c BM42 for upwards of six hours today, and trying out nearly every combination of washer polish level/thickness/tightness using those .330 OD X .197 ID X .O15 washers, I'm not entirely sure it was worth the effort over the stock stainless washers. I'm new to flipping, so perhaps I didn't follow everything perfectly, but the handle/blade play results were mediocre at best in comparison to stock. I also noticed that although I perfectly aligned everything into the handles while reassembling, the washers appear much smaller in circumference than most photos I've seen of other user's knives.

The first hour or so I was reconfiguring the knife I had spent putting a shiny mirror polish on both sides of every washer, without taking off too much metal. It was a hassle to fit everything back and reinsert the pivots, but there was zero play. The drawback to this, however, was that regardless of how meticulously I cleaned out the parts, the pivot action was incredibly slow. When I attempted to do a basic fastdraw, the blade would usually lock up mid-air. Albeit, I didn't militec treat the pivots, and still haven't, because I'm waiting for the 242 to cure inside it. Is this normal behavior? I've noticed many people have said that with a "perfect fit", the action will be slow, but I wasn't expecting the knife to be unflippable.

On a sidenote- I've yet to contact Benchmade regarding it, but does anyone know if they still sell 40x parts? Specifically, I'd like to replace the pivot and blade altogether. The fellow I bought it from blunted the edge quite a bit, and from the looks of it, had a couple coats of old crusty red loctite on the screw threads. My slow action is probably a side effect of this.

Many thanks in advance!

Re: Cleaning and installing PB washers in your BM 4x Series

PostPosted: Thu Mar 10, 2011 11:57 pm
by FkeSpydrFly
Thats strange man, did you press fit the pins back in when you were done?
also one time i didnt like the washers up right and it broke one of them thats the only thing i can think of.

Re: Cleaning and installing PB washers in your BM 4x Series

PostPosted: Fri Mar 11, 2011 10:17 am
by Erenoth
Yeah, I press fit them back in an even tried different tightness levels before screwing them in. Might try stuffing two washers in there for a perfect fit, then applying a few coats of militec to see if it solves anything.

Re: Cleaning and installing PB washers in your BM 4x Series

PostPosted: Sat Mar 12, 2011 11:23 am
by Raikov
Erenoth wrote:Yeah, I press fit them back in an even tried different tightness levels before screwing them in. Might try stuffing two washers in there for a perfect fit, then applying a few coats of militec to see if it solves anything.

Militec helps solve most of my bali stickiness problems. Or any lube in general. Even Fke's anal lube. :lol:

Re: Cleaning and installing PB washers in your BM 4x Series

PostPosted: Sun Mar 13, 2011 11:30 am
by droopdog666
holy fuck.....i missed this. so the messi-cant finally figured out how to take a 42 apart :lol:
congrats!

Re: Cleaning and installing PB washers in your BM 4x Series

PostPosted: Sun Mar 13, 2011 6:17 pm
by FkeSpydrFly
Image

Ayeee

Re: Cleaning and installing PB washers in your BM 4x Series

PostPosted: Sun Mar 13, 2011 10:58 pm
by Erenoth
Ahem. I'm aware of how to dismantle the knife, and did so repeatedly testing different thickness washers. It's not at all difficult to disassemble. My only concern, once again, is that two .015 thickness washers, regardless of how well they were polished, fit too snugly in the handles to the point of which it wouldn't open single-handedly. It was this slow before even screwing the pivot together.

In other news, I've heat treated two layers of militec-1 thus far, and the action is the fastest I've seen it to date. I'm going to retry the thick (read: slow) washer configuration with a few coats of m-1 to see if I can end up with zero handle play along with lightning action.

Re: Cleaning and installing PB washers in your BM 4x Series

PostPosted: Sun Mar 13, 2011 11:09 pm
by FkeSpydrFly
Try filing down the washers

Re: Cleaning and installing PB washers in your BM 4x Series

PostPosted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 6:41 pm
by Erenoth
FkeSpydrFly wrote:Try filing down the washers


Been there, done that, many times. I'm to the point where I'm wondering if there's some difference in the handles of the 440 model in comparison to the 154cm. Haven't heard of many others with similar issues, and most-everyone who's praising their PB 42 has the '08 model.

Re: Cleaning and installing PB washers in your BM 4x Series

PostPosted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 2:50 am
by MMartie
When assembled, use a feeler gauge and I try to leave a thou or two max (.001"-.002") and let the screw take up the slack so it's not too loose, I like zero blade play and a little bit of friction for my style. I use a micrometer on all my washers and after polishing and sanding the hell out of them and thinking you removed a bunch of metal, turns out I didn't, take more off my fingertips.

Re: Cleaning and installing PB washers in your BM 4x Series

PostPosted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 8:19 am
by Erenoth
MMartie wrote:When assembled, use a feeler gauge and I try to leave a thou or two max (.001"-.002") and let the screw take up the slack so it's not too loose, I like zero blade play and a little bit of friction for my style. I use a micrometer on all my washers and after polishing and sanding the hell out of them and thinking you removed a bunch of metal, turns out I didn't, take more off my fingertips.


Finally a worthwhile post. I've went off sight/intuition thus far, and it hasn't got me anywhere. I'll head to Lowe's to find something tonight.

On an off note- I'm going to be sending my 42 in to Benchmade shortly (refit with stainless washers, of course) to have the blade replaced. Does anyone know if they'll upgrade the washers to pb themselves?

Re: Cleaning and installing PB washers in your BM 4x Series

PostPosted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 9:04 am
by FkeSpydrFly
Never thought to ask, I've never had problems with mine.
I dont see why they couldnt since the 51 has PBs

Re: Cleaning and installing PB washers in your BM 4x Series

PostPosted: Wed Apr 06, 2011 6:16 pm
by FkeSpydrFly
Ok guys i just re-did my washers and i press fit the pins in too far and the handles wouldnt move, this is the first time ive done that.
All i did was set it up to take the pivots out but just tighten it a little to back the pivot out a little bit, worked fine.

Re: Cleaning and installing PB washers in your BM 4x Series

PostPosted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 3:38 am
by Nardath
Is there any other cleaner i could Use?