940 Pivot screw problem

R

RickD67

Joined
Dec 15, 2014
Messages
16
I just purchased a brand new 940 yesterday. I noticed that the pivot screw was loose by around dinner time yesterday so I took it out put a drop of blue permatex thread locker and adjusted it, than let it sit overnight. I just checked it and the screw is loose again! Am I missing something here? Do I need to pull the threaded end out of the knife and try and clean any oil out of the hole or something? I have disassembled a few BM knives before so thats not a problem for me. I just don't want to send my brand new knife to BM. It's the green aluminum model BTW.
 
Every BM and most other folders I have I use Locktite on the pivot. I'd try it again. Is your permatex old? I've heard it loses it's effectiveness the older it gets.
 
Rick,
No offense but I don't know why the 940 Osborne is a popular knife as I've seen more bad from it than good at price point.Despite using S30V Benchmade puts a thin grind on the blade which isn't good for a high end steel when sharpening comes to mind.Secondly is that blade pivot screw problem which as others have mentioned to go with Loctite Blue.The problem is the pivot screw diameter is too small versus the hole formed in the blade or it's a threading accuracy issue...I'm leaning towards first issue.That Loctite is going beyond the common wear of modern knives in tough use and the threads wearing...the Loctite is holding the screw centered more so.I bought a 940 three years ago and ended up selling it...I was very pleased with a Spyderco Manix 2 in it's place for S30V and much nicer.But the lightness of the knife and the little titanium strip is it's only real selling point as there are better Benchmade's with the axis lock.
 
Ulf Krogstad said:
Every BM and most other folders I have I use Locktite on the pivot. I'd try it again. Is your permatex old? I've heard it loses it's effectiveness the older it gets.
Click to expand...

Its probably a few years old. I just stuck a q-tip in the threaded hole and it was pretty nasty, black stuff? I guess I will try and clean the screw and the hole as good as I can and try again.
 
Frotier76 said:
Rick,
No offense but I don't know why the 940 Osborne is a popular knife as I've seen more bad from it than good at price point.Despite using S30V Benchmade puts a thin grind on the blade which isn't good for a high end steel when sharpening comes to mind.Secondly is that blade pivot screw problem which as others have mentioned to go with Loctite Blue.The problem is the pivot screw diameter is too small versus the hole formed in the blade or it's a threading accuracy issue...I'm leaning towards first issue.That Loctite is going beyond the common wear of modern knives in tough use and the threads wearing...the Loctite is holding the screw centered more so.I bought a 940 three years ago and ended up selling it...I was very pleased with a Spyderco Manix 2 in it's place for S30V and much nicer.But the lightness of the knife and the little titanium strip is it's only real selling point as there are better Benchmade's with the axis lock.
Click to expand...

I think BM has been making the 940 for what 14 years now? If it is a pivot screw diameter issue you would think they would've addressed it by now. Also wouldn't all the Axis knives have this issue not just the 940? I bought this knife yesterday because it was a missing box display model -they sold it to me for $94.99. I don't think any of you would've passed on that :)
 
Clean all threaded areas with alcohol to remove and lube and gunk before applying the blue Loctite.Find the Sweet spot and let it cure for 24hrs.
 
salmonkiller said:
Clean all threaded areas with alcohol to remove and lube and gunk before applying the blue Loctite.Find the Sweet spot and let it cure for 24hrs.
Click to expand...

OK 24 hours and it worked this time, it's a tiny bit tight on opening but I don't want to disturb the loctite. Hopefully it breaks in and will loosen a bit on its own?

Loving this knife so far it is razor sharp, perfectly balanced when open and perfectly centered when closed. Was debating between this one and the 940-1 and I'm kinda wishing I picked the -1 now but couldn't justify the extra $. The only negatives to this 940 so far are no lanyard hole and I hate the clip. Please no drooling when looking at the pics ;)

al3wnp.jpg


vgo95z.jpg
 
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She'll be gtg now, the action should smooth out on its own with use. For 95 bucks yea i don't know many who would of passed , I would of paid 95 for one that needed to be sent straight to benchmade, but I love the 940. Don't let that knife fool you either she's tough, my mom grabbed me 1 at our sporting goods store and I hated it but it was a gift so into the pocket it went, and I have not shown the knife any mercy and it is a little tank ,I was blown away at what the thing can do. Easily worth every penny IMO.
 
Yea, you can pretty much disregard everything stated in that previous post, lol. Nothing wrong with any of the five 94x's that I own. Beat the hell out of a couple. None of them have a thin grind either. Now my Krein re grinds have a thin grind, benchmades not so much.

I agree with the above, clean out the gunk and try again. I have been using the same tube of loctite for years and haven't noticed any degradation yet. Enjoy a classy, tough classic Benchmade.
 
Thanks for all the replies guys I really appreciate it!

Well the paint was already starting to chip on the clip so I decided to finish the job -what do you think?

2vmtuvt.jpg
 
I got a silver split arrow for my 940 from benchmade , changes the whole ergos of it and IMO looks so much better than the emerson clip. Benchmade was cool about it too I gave them a call and told them I hated the 940 clip could I buy a split arrow or other clip for the 940, they asked me if I wanted satin or black and I said I didn't know , so they sent me the black and the satin and told me to enjoy them both. I really wish the 940 would come with this clip standard. The 940 is a tough little knife, it went straight through the screen of the galaxy s5 , and no damage to the knife what so ever . Why I stabbed my phone is another thread lol.
 
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Agreed clean the pivot with solvent, but I'd suggest red threadlocker. I never had much luck with blue.

I do think the threads on Benchmade pivot screws are looser than other brands. Unless you tighten them down tight, at which point the action is too stiff, the screw will back out without threadlocker.

I'd also suggest flattening/polishing the washers. Smear stropping compound on a single sheet of paper, work on a glass (flat & hard) surface, with light even pressure, circular motions, polish the washer until you can see your reflection in it. Your reflection should look normal, not distorted. If it does look distorted the washer isn't perfectly flat. Once the washers are perfectly flat and polished, you'll find you can tighten the pivot screw more than before and still retain a slick free swinging action. Not to mention reduced blade play. Those washers are often stamped. So they're not perfectly flat, sometime they are slightly concave on one side. That decreases the surface area in contact with the blade, less surface area = more pressure = more friction, which requires a loose pivot = more prone to loosening up later on.
 
I don't understand the angst behind using thread locker. I use loctite on all the screws on knives and guns that I own. Even if you think the threads are "looser", which I think is suspect I still would use thread locker on a tight friction fit because I only adjust it once and it stays there. I only reapply if I take the knife apart or if I change the tightness which occasionally I want tighter or looser.

Using loctite is a no brainer to me.
 
I used a little bit of that white latex plumber's tape on the screw. It's been holding fine for several months now.
 
Frotier76 said:
Rick,
No offense but I don't know why the 940 Osborne is a popular knife as I've seen more bad from it than good at price point.Despite using S30V Benchmade puts a thin grind on the blade which isn't good for a high end steel when sharpening comes to mind.Secondly is that blade pivot screw problem which as others have mentioned to go with Loctite Blue.The problem is the pivot screw diameter is too small versus the hole formed in the blade or it's a threading accuracy issue...I'm leaning towards first issue.That Loctite is going beyond the common wear of modern knives in tough use and the threads wearing...the Loctite is holding the screw centered more so.I bought a 940 three years ago and ended up selling it...I was very pleased with a Spyderco Manix 2 in it's place for S30V and much nicer.But the lightness of the knife and the little titanium strip is it's only real selling point as there are better Benchmade's with the axis lock.
Click to expand...

Yeah, basically everything in this YouTube comment is incorrect.
 
It's certainly not my experience. Despite having to add thread-lock to the 940, I had to do the same with my 556 and 531. I just sort of assumed it was a Benchmade thing, lol. I can, however, see how you'd expect to not have to do any sort of adjusting, especially when the price comes into consideration. Despite that point, I'm a happy camper.
 
Except that some people like the action loose and fast and some like it on the other end of the spectrum. Price point has absolutely zero to do with it. I use loctite on every adjustable pivot knife I own, Spyderco, ZT, CR, etc. I adjust it to where I like it, not where the guy at the factory likes it, and the apply thread locker.

A lot of belly aching about nothing in this thread. Lots of misinformation as well. Don't believe everything you see on YouTube.
 
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