Help Removing Juice Rivets

[Joseph Gonzalez]

I really screwed this up. I tried to drill/grind the rivets off with a dremel. The first one came out halfway and got stuck. On the second one, I ground it flat, but I can't get it to budge with a punch and hammer. Any suggestions?

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[eddie1115]

I haven't tried this on a Leatherman yet, but I've drilled out a couple SAKs. I know there are folks here who have disassembled Juice's before, so you may want to wait from them.  But anyway...

Sometimes drilling a small hole down the middle of the pin (hollowing it out) helps give it some room to bend inwards as it's pushed through.  Otherwise, try to get a bit as close to the pin size (I want to say it's 1/8 in?) and start drilling down until it budges (after center-punching, being careful not to nick the tools, etc).

[captain spaulding]

I know we have some Juice modders in the house so they should be along shortly to help.

In the mean time what sort of mod are you going to do?

[Joseph Gonzalez]

I'd like to remove the can opener because I never use it and don't like the way it interferes with the scissors. I also have a second S2, so I plan to disassemble that one also, then take the best parts of both and put together a Slim Jim. I already have the pivots and screws.  After that, I'm going to look at scale options.

I don't have a drill press, but I do have a hand drill. I tried drilling the rivet, but barely scratched it. I guess I need to pick up a 1/8" bit. What type should I get?

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[Joseph Gonzalez]

I think I've got a plan now. I bought a set of diamond tip burrs. I'm going to use a small one to drill out the center of the rivet. Think that will work?

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[tattoosteve99]

Drilling those out are tough. I use a mill, but still the pivots spin. So best way to do it is to cut a slot on one side, so a screwdriver bit can fit it, then hole one side and drill out the other.

[PTRSAK]

This would be my choice of tool for disassembling  a juice

[Joseph Gonzalez]

Thanks Steve. I'll give that a try when my bits arrive on the 30th.

Sorry PTRSAK, I'm a Ruger fan! ;-)

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[tattoosteve99]

Thanks Steve. I'll give that a try when my bits arrive on the 30th.

Sorry PTRSAK, I'm a Ruger fan! ;-)

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Anytime!
I'm a Ruger fan too

[yud]

The best way to get it out is a punch. Weaken the head as much as you dare slap that sucker in a vice and let the punch drive it out. 

[Joseph Gonzalez]

I tried that and got two of them halfway out, then they got stuck. I don't have a vice, so I'm putting them on a block with a hole under the rivet so it has room to back out. I'm going to try a bigger hammer.

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[yud]

So, I would try coming at it from the other side.

[Joseph Gonzalez]

That's a good idea. I'll try that.

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[roamingcat]

Hi All. Would like to re-visit this thread.

I ran into a similar situation. I grinded the rivets flat / flush against the scales. I managed to drill down the center of the rivets with a 1.5mm drill bit (I only have this size carbon drill bit with me at the moment). But I still cannot remove the rivets.

Can some-one please advise me how I should proceed to remove the rivets? Thanks in advance !

[Sam Lim]

The rivet on one side is thicker. I forgot which side.. If I were u, I will grind off the other end, punch again.

[roamingcat]

Thank you ! I'll try that this weekend and see what happens. You have a great weekend Sam !

[roamingcat]

The rivet on one side is thicker. I forgot which side.. If I were u, I will grind off the other end, punch again.

I finally got the rivets out thank you Sam  ! I must have been lucky and picked on the wrong side to grind off in my first attempt 

I can now go ahead and order the pivot screws from Knifekits . In the meantime, I have re-assembled it with my new configuration with temporary nuts and bolts, minus the springs.

My next challenge: how do I put the springs back? Should I install the springs before (or after)  installing the tools and pivot screws? Is there a sequence, e.g. tools first, then screws, then springs. Which ones go in first? Thanks again !

[Sam Lim]

The rivet on one side is thicker. I forgot which side.. If I were u, I will grind off the other end, punch again.

I finally got the rivets out thank you Sam  ! I must have been lucky and picked on the wrong side to grind off in my first attempt 

I can now go ahead and order the pivot screws from Knifekits . In the meantime, I have re-assembled it with my new configuration with temporary nuts and bolts, minus the springs.

My next challenge: how do I put the springs back? Should I install the springs before (or after)  installing the tools and pivot screws? Is there a sequence, e.g. tools first, then screws, then springs. Which ones go in first? Thanks again !

After everything assembled, springs to go in last!

[roamingcat]

After everything assembled, springs to go in last!

Thanks! May I ask which side of the springs go in first. the pivot end of the scissors, or the empty end?

[Sam Lim]

After everything assembled, springs to go in last!

Thanks! May I ask which side of the springs go in first. the pivot end of the scissors, or the empty end?

At the moment you are using screws so the fit is not that tight yet u can try first. It should be easier now. Disclaimer- not responsible if your spring breaks.. Never broke mine before. Pliers, scissors, knife side first. Insert springs all the way in so it's resting on the back of the tools. As far as possible. U should feel some tension. Use a small hammer to tap the other end of the spring. A few taps it should pop in. The springs will try to slip off but u hold them there.

[roamingcat]

Thanks! May I ask which side of the springs go in first. the pivot end of the scissors, or the empty end?


At the moment you are using screws so the fit is not that tight yet u can try first. It should be easier now. Disclaimer- not responsible if your spring breaks.. Never broke mine before. Pliers, scissors, knife side first. Insert springs all the way in so it's resting on the back of the tools. As far as possible. U should feel some tension. Use a small hammer to tap the other end of the spring. A few taps it should pop in. The springs will try to slip off but u hold them there.

Thanks. I think I will wait for my new pivots to arrive before attempting to install the springs. Thanks for the advice and the caution on the springs. 

[roamingcat]

As a reference to future modders who want to remove the Juice S2 rivets. On the scissors side, file down the rivet head from the blank side of the scales (i.e. where there is no "leatherman" printing). The rivet head should appear slightly flatter compared to the opposite end if you examine it closely. Do NOT attack the other end where there is printing on the scales. As Sam kindly pointed out earlier, the rivets are thicker on one end. Once you have filed down the rivet heads from the "right" end, it should be quite easy to hammer out the rivet. On the knife side, the reverse applies, i.e. file down the rivet head from the printed side of the scales.

Hope this helps future modders and avoid the pain that we went through where we attacked the wrong end of the rivets and got stuck in our first attempt.

[Sam Lim]

As a reference to future modders who want to remove the Juice S2 rivets. On the scissors side, file down the rivet head from the blank side of the scales (i.e. where there is no "leatherman" printing). The rivet head should appear slightly flatter compared to the opposite end if you examine it closely. Do NOT attack the other end where there is printing on the scales. As Sam kindly pointed out earlier, the rivets are thicker on one end. Once you have filed down the rivet heads from the "right" end, it should be quite easy to hammer out the rivet. On the knife side, the reverse applies, i.e. file down the rivet head from the printed side of the scales.

Hope this helps future modders and avoid the pain that we went through where we attacked the wrong end of the rivets and got stuck in our first attempt.

  glad I could help. Found this out through the hard way too. 

[roamingcat]

Well, I finally received my pivots today . I managed to grind down the pivots to fit. But I am having a hard time trying to shorten the screws that came with pivots  . They are so small and tough, and it keeps slipping off every time I try to saw it off. I have given up today and will try again tomorrow. Would it be easier to grind down the screws instead of hacking it down witn a saw? How did you guys shorten the screws?

Also, should I shorten both screws for each pivot making them of equal length, or shorten one screw only making one screw longer than the other to fit the pivot?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

[Sam Lim]

Well, I finally received my pivots today . I managed to grind down the pivots to fit. But I am having a hard time trying to shorten the screws that came with pivots  . They are so small and tough, and it keeps slipping off every time I try to saw it off. I have given up today and will try again tomorrow. Would it be easier to grind down the screws instead of hacking it down witn a saw? How did you guys shorten the screws?

Also, should I shorten both screws for each pivot making them of equal length, or shorten one screw only making one screw longer than the other to fit the pivot?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

I remember I filed down mine. I bought 5 of them and boy are they ex.... They are pretty fragile too so treat them gentle. On first try, I forgot what I was doing that time and broke the screw head with the screw in the barrel.. 

[roamingcat]

I remember I filed down mine. I bought 5 of them and boy are they ex.... They are pretty fragile too so treat them gentle. On first try, I forgot what I was doing that time and broke the screw head with the screw in the barrel.. 

Thank you Sam for the tip reassuring me to go ahead with the grind down route . Indeed it is much easier than trying to hand saw such tiny screws (at least it is for a novice like me!) I am now down to last step, putting the springs back. I am having a lot of difficulty. I tried slipping the springs in first on the plier/ scsissors side (is that correct?) but having a lot of difficulty trying to close the other end (i.e. flat head drivers end) . Is there a certain procedure/ any tricks that could help me? Thanks again (and sorry to be a pain).

(fyi - The only mod I have done is remove the cap lifter and scales on the thicker side for a slimmed down profile. I am leaving the blade side alone.)

[roamingcat]

After googling hard, I finally came across this https://www.edcforums.com/threads/the-smoothie-metros-ultimate-leatherman-juice-mod-new-scales-incoming.104623/page-3 method which helped me solved the spring problem.

As the modder puts it: "Instead is fighting and trying to compress the springs, I notice that you can slide it in AFTER the pivots are done up/installed. They slide in and then with a very strategic tap with a tool or slow push in with a vice, it's actually quite easy!!"

I tried his method and even a novice like me was able to put the springs back without too much difficulty, many thanks to this gentleman. I thought I share this with others here for future reference.

My mod is now complete and I am real happy with the result. My S2 is now what it should have been in the first place, i.e. slimmer, lighter, more balanced on both sides, and smoother deployment of scissors without that horrible cap lifter in its way !

[Sam Lim]

  Great that u manage to put them together without much difficulty.

Ironically Metro is a member here as well. I think he documented that mod in MTO too but it could be embedded deep somewhere. Funny how u had to look elsewhere. 

[Aloha]

Nice mod.  Glad you got it sorted out.   

[roamingcat]

Great that u manage to put them together without much difficulty.

Ironically Metro is a member here as well. I think he documented that mod in MTO too but it could be embedded deep somewhere. Funny how u had to look elsewhere. 

Thank you Sam. Yes, I think it would be helpful for others if Metro's method could be made a sticky so it can be easily found as I think this is quite a common stumbling block for Juice modders and his solution is so ingenious.

Nice mod.  Glad you got it sorted out.   

Thank you Aloha. This is my first mod and I am very happy with the result thanks to all the help from the folks here !