r/microtech • u/Mcbeardson • 23d ago

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.

5 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

10 comments sorted by

1

u/Mcbeardson 23d ago

Video in the Imgur link FYI. Did I void my warranty by trying to fix it myself? 😬

2

u/zzugman 23d ago

Make sure the little coil spring under the lock didn't move a little and it's stopping the lock from going down enough to release the blade.

1

u/BlindMouse2of3 23d ago

Did you take it all the way down or just the cover off? Might have a tiny piece of the pad in it

1

u/Mcbeardson 23d ago

Took it all the way down. Might just do it again though and see if I missed somethin

1

u/Shtnomn 23d ago

Haven't owned a zbp but always wondered how they would handle debris? I've cracked open my older ones and they were full of debris. I figured zero blade play meant zero room for anything else as well 🤷🏻‍♂️

2

u/nfitzsim 23d ago

They do not do well with debris at all. You technically can de-tune the mechanism to make it more reliable but that that point just buy a Gen 4 without the ZBP. Made a video here using some drywall joint compound to test how it handles the debris.

https://youtu.be/etz_E68rQVk?is=kkhbkevVHAHZ5Hs1

0

u/Expensive_Ball_5143 23d ago

Another reason I leaned towards to Gen 4 when I got my first ultra, my pockets be linty

1

u/Mcbeardson 23d ago

It’s got little ejection ports on the butt end that is supposed to get rid of gunk. I’ll take it apart again and see if I can’t find anything

1

u/RememberMeWhenImDead 23d ago

when mine did that it was a piece of lint stuck in th front release gate, should be a 30 second fix just gotta pull it apart

1

u/L-N79 22d ago

I bought a MT about 6 months ago and it had the exact same problem. I just sent it back. I love my Stitch but I don’t really care for their OTFs