Swapping out stock bearings on an iMamba

[zippifish]

Trying to decide whether I want to order an iMamba with bearings or washers, I would prefer bearings but have hand tremors which I think servicing loose bearings would be an exercise in frustration, tasks that require fine motoring skills although not impossible can be somewhat challenging at times. I have swapped many a knives with Skiffs and if anyone has done the swap and would tell me what they ordered would be greatly appreciated.

 

[loon#r]

Mine is on washers and it’s great. AB’s are loose.

 

[Tetsujin 140.6]

Washers on mine and it’s REALLY smooth and easy to open.

 

[celticrogues]

I noticed that the latest version of the iMamba available for preorder now give you an option for caged ceramic bearings (instead of loose) or washers.

I don’t suppose the caged bearings could be easily swapped into knives that came with loose bearings?

 

[raidzx]

Hoping we have an answer to OPs question someday as I would like to throw skiffs in mine (currently on washers)

 

[celticrogues]

ArnoBernardKnives can the new caged bearings be swapped into older iMambas with loose bearings?

 

[badmatt]

IIRC the race is machined into the blade and there are stainless races on the frame side that are fitted.

Its been a while since I had mine apart.

 

[bermo]

Bearings on my iMamba are super smooth, super fall shutty, but pocket lint, etc, tend to slow it down.

If I were to get another, it would be on washers, simply for the maintenance free piece of mind.

Plus, those tiny little gosh dang balls are super small. No fun with my eyes.

 

[Dkane]

Bearings on my iMamba are super smooth, super fall shutty, but pocket lint, etc, tend to slow it down.

If I were to get another, it would be on washers, simply for the maintenance free piece of mind.

Plus, those tiny little gosh dang balls are super small. No fun with my eyes.

“Gosh dang balls” haha…..I like it! Refreshing to hear someone talk like a normal mature human being instead of the crude, moronic language you usually see in these comments.

 

[zippifish]

Bearings on my iMamba are super smooth, super fall shutty, but pocket lint, etc, tend to slow it down.

If I were to get another, it would be on washers, simply for the maintenance free piece of mind.

Plus, those tiny little gosh dang balls are super small. No fun with my eyes.

New orders come with caged bearings, washers are still an option too.

 

[pholder]

New orders come with caged bearings, washers are still an option too.

Yes, caged. Also they improved the detent. For the for the flipper , it flips with more authority

 

[bermo]

Never was impressed with the light detent, how can I improve it? Any idea if the new caged bearings are backwards compatible?

Feels like the detent ball falls in the hole pretty good. Bend the lockbar a bit?

 

[Murphjd25]

My washers just got delivered. I’ll be swapping out the loose bearings on my iMamba tonight!

 

[ArnoBernardKnives]

ArnoBernardKnives can the new caged bearings be swapped into older iMambas with loose bearings?

Sorry for the late reply. Unfortunately, not. We tried to make the conversion work but we made too many changes internally to make it possible.

 

[Murphjd25]

Well, I just fell in love with the iMamba again. Just need to do one more thing and it’ll be the perfect knife. (Bye bye flipper tab)

The washers make this knife NICE! So much better then the caged bearings! Thank you so much Ruan. The action is amazing on washers.

 

[woodysone]

Well, I just fell in love with the iMamba again. Just need to do one more thing and it’ll be the perfect knife. (Bye bye flipper tab)

The washers make this knife NICE! So much better then the caged bearings! Thank you so much Ruan. The action is amazing on washers. View attachment 2302748View attachment 2302749

Josh can you please let me know the process of converting my IMamba on loose bearings to one on washers. Thank you!

 

[Murphjd25]

Josh can you please let me know the process of converting my IMamba on loose bearings to one on washers. Thank you!

It was really easy Martin, just make sure you do it over a bowl or paper plate. When you take the pivot screw and scale screw off it’ll all pop apart and loose bearings go everywhere haha. Then the washers just go in over the top of the existing bearing races. It was super easy, now I wished I would of taken some pictures.

 

[woodysone]

It was really easy Martin, just make sure you do it over a bowl or paper plate. When you take the pivot screw and scale screw off it’ll all pop apart and loose bearings go everywhere haha. Then the washers just go in over the top of the existing bearing races. It was super easy, now I wished I would have taken some pictures.

You had me at, loose bearings go everywhere. Where does one get the pieces to get in on the fun

 

[Murphjd25]

You had me at, loose bearings go everywhere. Where does one get the pieces to get in on the fun

I’ll shoot you a PM Martin.

 

[ArnoBernardKnives]

Well, I just fell in love with the iMamba again. Just need to do one more thing and it’ll be the perfect knife. (Bye bye flipper tab)

The washers make this knife NICE! So much better then the caged bearings! Thank you so much Ruan. The action is amazing on washers. View attachment 2302748View attachment 2302749

Glad you got the washers and hope you enjoy the washer version.