Ladybug pivot screw

jackknifeh · #1

Does anyone know what size/type screw is in the Ladybug3 pivot? I used a torx-6 and was able to turn it but I think it is a hex screw. The smallest I have is a 1/16" and 1.5mm hex wrenches and they are too big. The knife is made in Japan. Do they use SAE or metric? How small do these things get?

I know somebody knows so cough it up. :) Just kidding, any help is appreciated.

Jack

The Deacon · #2

Every Japanese car and bike I've ever owned has used metric fasteners, so if the pivot isn't Torx, I'd bet on metric hex.

Muad'Dib · #3

Since when does the Ladybug3 have an adjustable pivot screw? Mine is a rivet.

The Deacon · #4

Muad'Dib wrote:Since when does the Ladybug3 have an adjustable pivot screw? Mine is a rivet.

Can't give you an exact date, but they've been changed over for a while now. Think the County Comm Orange one was the first, and that was about a year ago, IIRC. Which, of course, does not mean some dealers won't still have the older riveted ones in stock.

DeathBySnooSnoo · #5

The screw construction was phased in...so some have pinned and newer ones are screed.

jackknifeh · #6

Muad'Dib wrote:Since when does the Ladybug3 have an adjustable pivot screw? Mine is a rivet.

You make me want to watch Dune (for the ?th time). The long one.

Jack

SuzieQ · #7

I've got a Ladybug in Foliage Green fairly recently and for me both a T4 and T5 Torx screw driver worked to take it apart.

onecentweasel · #8

Just checked mine and The t5 torx seems to be the correct size...

angusW · #9

I have my hawkbill H1 LB in front of me as well as my torx set and the #6 fits in there like a glove.

onecentweasel · #10

angusW wrote:I have my hawkbill H1 LB in front of me as well as my torx set and the #6 fits in there like a glove.

That's strange...
I tried the T6 before I tried the T5 and it's too large for my pivot screw...

Sithus1966 · #11

angusW wrote:I have my hawkbill H1 LB in front of me as well as my torx set and the #6 fits in there like a glove.

Odd. My H1 hawkbill takes a T5 and a T6 is too big. My ZDP Ladybug takes a T5 as well

jackknifeh · #12

angusW wrote:I have my hawkbill H1 LB in front of me as well as my torx set and the #6 fits in there like a glove.

onecentweasel wrote:That's strange...
I tried the T6 before I tried the T5 and it's too large for my pivot screw...

Sithus1966 wrote:Odd. My H1 hawkbill takes a T5 and a T6 is too big. My ZDP Ladybug takes a T5 as well

I emailed Spyderco the other day asking what the screw type/size is. Here is their reply:

Jack,

The pivot screw on your Ladybug is a Torx5 (T5).

Since my T-5 is too small and the T-6 will turn the screw but didn't feel like it fit very well I thought maybe it was a hex screw. The set of torx screwdrivers I used is a cheap set so I think that's why they don't fit very well. I have another set but it doesn't have a T5. The T-6 is too big in that set. I bought a nice set (T3 - T10, T15) but I can't use them until Christmas.

My wife has them somewhere. I'll know if the problem (cheap tools) is why they don't fit good on Dec. 25. :)

Jack

Peter1960 · #13

The Deacon wrote:Can't give you an exact date, but they've been changed over for a while now. Think the County Comm Orange one was the first, and that was about a year ago, IIRC.

The production-code on LORP3H1 Ladybug Salt Orange (County Comm) is JJ = October 2010. Paul is right with his IIRC

BAL · #14

I ended up buying every small torx, hex, phillips, regular etc etc that I could find and keep them in a "small tool" tool box. Then I just start trying to match until I find one that works. Kobalt has some nice small sets, but it's hit or miss to find them at Lowes.

jackknifeh · #15

In my email to Spyderco about the screw I also asked if there was a list of pivot screws for the different models and that I thought that might be a nice addition to edge-u-cation. They said:

"We do not have a list of pivot screw sized listed since there are so many models and sizes. We will forward your input to management."

In addition to a lot of models and sizes it they change the screw on a model over time a list like I was thinking about would be a nightmare to keep up with. I think a lot of us have a tool box like Bal's. A grab bag of things accumulated over the years. :) So I doubt if Spyderco would be motivated to provide a list of something that up to this point hasn't really been a problem, or maybe it has??? :D

Jack

Gunslinger · #16

jackknifeh · #17

Gunslinger wrote:T4

What do you know, another size. I wonder if Spyderco changed the screws or our tools are that much different. I've seen times where my cheap tools don't fit the same as the better quality, more expensive ones. Especially on the smaller things like the Ladybug pivot screw. I had no idea this subject was going to get this many posts. Spyderco says T5 so if they haven't changed it since the first Ladybut with a screw in the pivot I can only assume my tools aren't exactly the same size. The set I'm getting for Christmas I hope is very accurate. I bought the set for accuracy and paid for it also. It goes down to a T3. We'll see. The main thing is my Ladybug is adjusted perfectly. No blade play and when I push the lock release the blade falls down like a "real" knife. :)

Jack