Thread: pinning anomaly and question

Hi, I just pinned up the pivot side of a Boker restore and noticed an anomaly that I have not seen before and can't explain. I pinned the rod to the tightness I like but when I swiveled the blade in its arc I noticed that it had a "soft spot" that travelled along with it. That is to say that at every stop along the arc the blade came to rest in a spot of a few degrees where the blade was in a pocket of looseness. Beyond that few degrees in either direction the tightness was perfect, but within that same few degrees...looseness. What gives? The tang hole is not too big (it was perfect coming out of it's old scales)...I used Microfasteners gear for everything...the scales are cowbone (just polished)...my technique was as usual (with a very high success rate). Is it possible that I have bent the pin in the pinning process. It's the only thing that makes any sense. Thanks for any advice.

I bet the thickness of the tang varies a little and may be a slight wedge shape so that when the 'soft spot' appears the area of the tang closest to the wedge is thinner than the rest of the tang. This is not uncommon.

Joed, yes the tang is pretty "wedgy" at the pivot hole which may account for the binding. Being that this problem is as common as you say, how do people get around it? Should I file a slight coke bottle shape into the pin where it passes through the tang to relieve the bind or pass a slightly larger drill bit through the tang to relieve the pressure there? Obviously I'm going to have to repin this thing so maybe tearing it apart and "reading" the scratches will answer some questions. Any help from the board is always appreciated. Thanks

You pinned using inside bearing washers??? if so the when you take it back apart check to see how those washers sit on the tang, some times the tang can have a slight indent toward the pivot hole.. If that isn't it then sand the inside of the scales again using a sanding block to assure evenness.. and if that ain't it I am outta ideas

are you using custom made scales or originals?

As you suspect,Would bet you bent the pin.

Yes, I am using new scales and they were flattened on plate glass and 400 grit. The washers are Microfasteners and seemed flat when I installed them but I will check for scuffing or abrasion when I take this thing apart. Would I be doing myself a favor by supergluing the thrust washers to the scales before assembly thereby eliminating one source of rotational problems? Just a thought. The part that confuses me (easily done) is that the "soft spot" occurs throughout the entire range of the arc. 360 (or almost) degrees. That would mean that the bind couldn't be because of the wedge shape or the bind would loosen up as it entered the thick or thin side of the wedge. I'm probably beating a dead horse, here, but I thought maybe someone else might have run afoul of this problem and had a quick answer. I guess I'll sit with a glass of absinthe then start the repinning process. Just kidding about the absinthe (Glen) but I have to admit I have been fascinated with this spirit having watched a program about it some time back. Thanks for all your help, guys, and keep the suggestions coming.

Pixelfixed, my money is on the bent pin, too.

Originally Posted by steveg

Pixelfixed, my money is on the bent pin, too.

Did you mock up the sacels using a Nut & Bolt from MF first ????
This normally eliminates all of the above except a bent pin I guess I should have asked that before ????

Yep, must have had the thing together and apart a dozen times admiring my work..I mean test-fitting. I thought maybe the thrust washers were rotating and stopping at a set interval but he "soft spot" is so consistent throughout the entire arc that it can't be them. I'm sure it's a bent pin and as soon as I get this thing worked out hopefully it will prevent the same thing from happening to someone else. I'm currently waiting for the battery to charge on my camera so I can take some pictures of the razor for a friend and when that's all finished I will get this thing over to the drill press and figure out this mystery.