CBBL vertical blade-play/lock-rock

[kennbr34]

I've got a Manix 2, one of the 15V BBB sprint runs. I noticed that it has some vertical blade-play/lock-rock, and I can't figure out why. I have thoroughly cleaned it out and everything, but it doesn't seem to go away.

I noticed that if I press the cage forward, it tightens up, so that's what made me think it was an issue of grime or debris. It doesn't seem to matter how hard I open the blade too.

Wondering if perhaps it just needs to break in? I mean, I have had it a while now so I kinda doubt it, but yeah it kinda bugs me a little and trying to figure out what the cause is. Not a big deal, but yeah, obsessive issues.

[RustyIron]

Did you try slopping some lube in there?
There isn't much to go wrong with that lock. Maybe the cage is dragging on the scale before the ball is completely jammed into the gap.

[SteveMidwest]

I've got a Manix 2, one of the 15V BBB sprint runs. I noticed that it has some vertical blade-play/lock-rock, and I can't figure out why. I have thoroughly cleaned it out and everything, but it doesn't seem to go away.

I noticed that if I press the cage forward, it tightens up, so that's what made me think it was an issue of grime or debris. It doesn't seem to matter how hard I open the blade too.

Wondering if perhaps it just needs to break in? I mean, I have had it a while now so I kinda doubt it, but yeah it kinda bugs me a little and trying to figure out what the cause is. Not a big deal, but yeah, obsessive issues.

Hello kennbr34,

I first have to wonder, when you say: "I have thoroughly cleaned it out and everything". How did you do that?

Rinse it out with water?
Blow it out with compressed air?
Took it apart?

You also mention that: "I have had it a while now", but you didn't mention if the issue has always been there?

[kennbr34]

Did you try slopping some lube in there?
There isn't much to go wrong with that lock. Maybe the cage is dragging on the scale before the ball is completely jammed into the gap.

Yeah it's pretty well oiled up. The back of the tang the ball travels on, as well as in the cage where the ball rolls, and the spring guide. I didn't think to oil or check the scales where the cage rides. I'll check that.

I've got a Manix 2, one of the 15V BBB sprint runs. I noticed that it has some vertical blade-play/lock-rock, and I can't figure out why. I have thoroughly cleaned it out and everything, but it doesn't seem to go away.

I noticed that if I press the cage forward, it tightens up, so that's what made me think it was an issue of grime or debris. It doesn't seem to matter how hard I open the blade too.

Wondering if perhaps it just needs to break in? I mean, I have had it a while now so I kinda doubt it, but yeah it kinda bugs me a little and trying to figure out what the cause is. Not a big deal, but yeah, obsessive issues.

Hello kennbr34,

I first have to wonder, when you say: "I have thoroughly cleaned it out and everything". How did you do that?

Rinse it out with water?
Blow it out with compressed air?
Took it apart?

You also mention that: "I have had it a while now", but you didn't mention if the issue has always been there?

I never noticed it in the beginning, but I only recently disassembled it to clean it out, and noticed it when I checked the fit upon reassembly.

[Ramonade]

Since you already disassembled it once, I would do it again and work on the 4 body screws that hold the lock. I noticed that if I don't do it in the same sequence everytime, there's sometimes a bit of movement of the parts when I squeeze everything down and in my experience in can induce some lockstick.


Maybe it can induce lock rock ? Another possibility is that 15V being pretty hard, it wore the ball substantially ? But My bet is that you would've noticed that during the disassembly.

[JoviAl]

Just playing devil’s advocate here but when you put the CBBL back together did you check the ball is fully exposed where it interacts with the lock surface? I put a manix XL back together in a rush a while back and accidentally put the cage in upside down. It still opened and closed but caused this exact problem.

Good luck getting it sorted whatever the problem

[zhyla]

I’m going with upside down cage.

[RustyIron]

What those guys said.

[Bolster]

^ I hope you guys are right, an upside down cage would be a relatively easy fix. Something is keeping the ball from seating all the way in. I would also look for a burr along the surfaces that the ball contacts during lockup.

[kennbr34]

Well, I tried flipping the cage the other way, and it wouldn't open or close right with it in that configuration. Could kind of wiggle the cage around to get it open, but then looking inside of the knife it looked like the ball was about to fall out, so that definitely doesn't seem like the issue.

However, whatever WAS the issue seems to have been resolved because it's rock solid now.

Since you already disassembled it once, I would do it again and work on the 4 body screws that hold the lock. I noticed that if I don't do it in the same sequence everytime, there's sometimes a bit of movement of the parts when I squeeze everything down and in my experience in can induce some lockstick.


Maybe it can induce lock rock ? Another possibility is that 15V being pretty hard, it wore the ball substantially ? But My bet is that you would've noticed that during the disassembly.

I'm wondering if this is the case. I paid close attention to tighten them down in a criss-cross pattern this time. I.e. upper-right, to lower left, bottom-right, to upper-left. Kinda like I was tightening the lugs on a car tire.

But the thing is I did the same criss-cross pattern last time, and it seemed solid for a bit but eventually the play snuck back in.

Also checked for any burrs as suggested and lubed up the liners where the cage slides too. So I guess I'll just have to wait and see if it comes back again, but it's good for now.