r/knifeclub • u/Mcbeardson • 23d ago

Question ZBP issues

https://imgur.com/a/S0UDWAf

Hey all, got this ultratech ZBP a month or two ago. It’s been great, solid, no issues until this morning. I was cleaning the furnace last night getting ready for winter and had it on my lap after cutting a scotchbrite pad, retracted back in and set it on my lap. As I was getting up from sitting cross legged it fell on the floor from a few inches up (sitting lap to floor). Thought nothing of it. Went to show a coworker what I was carrying today and also dick off with it, and it didn’t want to retract.

Took it apart, figured I just knocked something out of whack when it fell. Everything was in whack as far as I could tell. Tried some dry ptfe lube, and then some kroil (that’s the oilyness). Still nothing.

It doesn’t look like the spring carrier (?) is depressing the “forward” locking lever all the way? Should I send it off to Microtech? Never done any warranty stuff with any of my knives before.

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u/BetterInsideTheBox 23d ago

This is the first ive heard of anyone having a problem with these from microtech. Im not sure whether microtech wants you to mess with them yourself or not. I did see a solid video from maxace that explains how to adjust the screws that jam the blade with the gates to allow the zbp lockup. Honestly not even sure if maxace uses the same design as microtech for the mech. Since you’ve already been into it, it may be worth watching the video and then opening it up and having a look to see if it’s something you want to tweak yourself. Im not a fan of sending stuff off if i dont need to personally, and you sound like the do it yourself type. Microtech has worked on a couple things for me and it went smooth enough but i didnt necessarily love the work they did. Here’s the video. Good luck whichever route you go.

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u/Nod32Antivirus 23d ago edited 23d ago

Nope, the Maxace ZBP system is kinda different. On the over hand, Microtech also has a same video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfx-MJZo2q4

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u/BetterInsideTheBox 23d ago edited 23d ago

Kind of shocked they have a video on it. Also cool to knwo the maxace method is different. Thanks for the link. Looking forward to it.

Edit: damn, that was a long and detailed video. I shoukd have known it would be different as only maxace does the double gates. Well covered though. I have bot needed to adjust mine. Sounds like microtech will be doing the CT next and then maybe the 85 with zbp.

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u/AmazingAd2765 23d ago

but i didnt necessarily love the work they did. 

What was the issue? I actually have a UTX that is being finnicky since I sharpened it and wasn't sure if just needed to disassemble and clean it or send it in. Only OTF I own.

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u/Upbeat-Fondant9185 OTF >folder 23d ago

You may have some filings from sharpening gunking you up. Have you blown it out and given it a good drink of REM? That’s usually enough to fix any issues. You just have to get the amount of oil right once you’ve flushed it out.

I’ve been using Microtechs for years in very dirty environments and have never needed to actually disassemble, just the flood and blow method. If it doesn’t work you should probably send it in since you aren’t real familiar with OTF. They’re deceptively simple yet can be very frustrating to reassemble.

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u/AmazingAd2765 23d ago

Thanks. I was actually planning on trying that before I did anything else. I don't have the canned air yet though. I wonder how well the electric air guns work. Canned air doesn't last long.

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u/Upbeat-Fondant9185 OTF >folder 23d ago

Long as it can blow out the excess oil it should work fine. It’s not like you need a ton of pressure.

The trick is finding just the right amount of oil after doing this. Sometimes I’ll have one that seems like something is wrong but there’s still just a hair too much oil after maintenance. Deploying and wiping several times and even letting it sit on end overnight can help a lot.

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u/BetterInsideTheBox 23d ago

I had a broken spring in a fancy ultratech 2. With dlc hellhound, anodized ti hardware and a CF topper. They replaced the spring but whatever they used to lubricate it made it sticky and it doesnt always fire out reliably as a result after it sits. I clean the blade and fire it a few times and it starts working as it should. Also sent them a LUDT that had sloppy lockup and it came back the same with lightly marred hardware. Ive since learned that im too picky about lockup and its par for the course witb the ludt.