Is there a Ceramic Bearing Upgrade available for ZT 0562 and ZT 0392??

Trident777

Trident777

Joined
Jul 11, 2011
Messages
593
I just got in a ZT 0562 CF M390, and its awesome. A bit heavier than I typically like, and I wish it was smoother. Can anyone help me out and find replacement ceramic bearings or smoother higher quality bearings for my 0562? Im sorry if this has been covered before i cant find any threads about a bearing upgrade.

I have also heard there was an upgrade on the 0392 to ceramic bearings, does anyone know if it is the same size as the 0562 bearing system?
 
I would also like to know If you can upgrade to ceramic bearings. Although mine is pretty smooth to begin with but it's always nice as a option. Also where do you find the M390 bladed 0562's at? I've only seen the Elmax and cts-204p and would love it in M390 steel!
 
Kdavis0069 said:
Also where do you find the M390 bladed 0562's at? I've only seen the Elmax and cts-204p and would love it in M390 steel!
Click to expand...

You can only find the 0562CF in M390 on the secondary market as it was discontinued due to steel availability. All 0562CF since earlier this year are in the equivalent CTS-204P steel.
 
Wow , my 562cf is super smooth . Jets open and when you close it , once past the detent a little jiggle and it falls closed ever so gracefully, as if it's hydraulic. I have the pivot screw thread taped and torqued all the way down . When I first got it , it wasn't as smooth and didn't open as well ... I opened it up and put some 3-1 dry lube on the detent ball and bearings .. and walla .. that was a few months back and still going strong .. I noticed on mine that when I lubed the detent ball , I kinda rolled it around it seemed like it was a little froze. But since working the dry lube in , no problems .. not sure what the magic formula was .. the dry lube , working the pivot bearing or just taking it apart and putting it back together .. just some thoughts for you ... it s one of my smoothes knives ..
 
Kdavis0069 said:
I would also like to know If you can upgrade to ceramic bearings. Although mine is pretty smooth to begin with but it's always nice as a option. Also where do you find the M390 bladed 0562's at? I've only seen the Elmax and cts-204p and would love it in M390 steel!
Click to expand...

There is a 0562CF-M390 about ten miles East from you, but there is no way you are going to pry it out of my collection, lol!
 
I'm gonna be honest, I think the difference with ceramic bearings will be negligible, there's just too many other factors that affect smoothness that you have to account for. I have plenty of knives on steel bearings that are smooth than those on ceramic bearings.

That said, both my 0562CF and 452CF have very strong detents and a fair amount of lockbar tension. They're smooth, but not 0454 smooth.
 
Thanks for the replies guys, Im not saying its not smooth, It is smooth but as can be expected i feel a tiny jiggle vibration going back and forth sometimes. I wanted to know if anyone has tried to drop in IKBS bearings and if so the sizes and how many bearings? I wish I could make it sebenza hydraulic smooth. i just got in a ZT 0392 and its awesome strong detent, fires it out but cant help but wonder if there is any way to make it even smoother. currently if i fire the blades out they move but i feel like there is some vibrating going on.
 
Edit to say that the 0392 is very smooth compared to my 0562 cf. Does adding oil or grease work or help it?
 
So... Nobody tried this before? Anyone know if there is a drop in bearing upgrade for these ZT knives? Thanks in advance
 
I just got a 0452CF and I'm kind of surprised how much resistance there is to get past the detent. I haven't tinkered at all yet, and it may be that after taking it apart, cleaning, and reassembly, it'll be the stuff of legend... but I wonder from watching the comments on Nick Shabazz's video on ceramic bearings - anyone tried replacing the detent ball with a ceramic in addition to / instead of the bearings? Mine will fall shut easy once past the detent, and same for opening, but I'm wondering if that's even something I can do, let alone if it'd make a difference. Also, no idea if that detent ball is the same size, or where to find that info?
 
Ceramic bearings are Not going to make your knife smoother.




What ceramic bearings will do is wear your bearing races in faster. The area where the bearings ride on. Ceramic will also not rust so won't require lube on them to keep from rusting like steel bearings. But it's good to lube the races lightly as described below. Steel bearings take at least three times as long to wear in. But that's depending on what type of bearings they are.
Ceramic can also hurt your ti scales because they are harder than ti, and can make divots which would be bad. This happens only when the knife is miss used or over tightened.

Here is some info if you want to change them out http://www.bladeforums.com/threads/ceramic-bearings-for-some-zero-tolerance-just-some-info.1498561/

Want a smoother zt? Tune the lockbar or upgrade the detent to ceramic or a flat detent.

Or.. Try and clean out all the lube with Zippo Lighter fluid or acetone and use a very good lube and only apply it sparingly on the detent track. Then wipe it off with a towel or q tip. It will still be there but people put too much lube on and lubrication slows down. You want the least amount for best results as proven in testing. https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/has-anyone-done-a-any-lubrication-friction-testing.1510135/
 
Last edited:
Mo2 said:
Ceramic bearings are Not going to make your knife smoother.




What ceramic bearings will do is wear your bearing races in faster. The area where the bearings ride on. Ceramic will also not rust so won't require lube on them to keep from rusting like steel bearings. But it's good to lube the races lightly as described below. Steel bearings take at least three times as long to wear in. But that's depending on what type of bearings they are.
Ceramic can also hurt your ti scales because they are harder than ti, and can make divots which would be bad. This happens only when the knife is miss used or over tightened.

Here is some info if you want to change them out http://www.bladeforums.com/threads/ceramic-bearings-for-some-zero-tolerance-just-some-info.1498561/

Want a smoother zt? Tune the lockbar or upgrade the detent to ceramic or a flat detent.

Or.. Try and clean out all the lube with Zippo Lighter fluid or acetone and use a very good lube and only apply it sparingly on the detent track. Then wipe it off with a towel or q tip. It will still be there but people put too much lube on and lubrication slows down. You want the least amount for best results as proven in testing. https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/has-anyone-done-a-any-lubrication-friction-testing.1510135/
Click to expand...
Thanks Mo2, that's a wealth of information. I think I'll start with the takedown, clean, etc, and reassemble and see what kind of improvement I get, if any, before laying out any $ on bearings. The info is appreciated!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mo2
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top