Watch your Jaw Flex

Sean · **on:** January 02, 2009, 07:59:56 PM

Hi,

My tools get used to some extent everyday. I just bought this "Surge" a couple of days after Christmas.
I am a Ham Radio Operator and enjoy the hobby on a daily basis. Usually I am out fiddling with and making antenna's bending wire, soldering connectors and such so a multi-tool comes in quite handy rather than taking along my tool pouch.
Even though you would think the bigger tools are stronger (which no doubt they are) they are not immune to breakage. When cutting wire, gripping a bold, or bending something, watch it's thickness and how tough it is to crush. It may be something thin like say "spring steel" antenna wire but that stuff is HARD! Also, (and here is where I got sloppy). Watch the flex of the jaws when twisting something. I was watching the wire in this case and not the jaws. Surprise!
I did send an email off to the warranty dept on the off-chance that it might be covered but am not holding out on that one. Disappointed and frustrated at myself more than anything. It wasn't cheap.

Take care,
Sean

Benner · **Reply #1 on:** January 02, 2009, 08:04:49 PM

Wow!

Leatherman will repair it FOC I'm sure.

max6166 · **Reply #2 on:** January 02, 2009, 08:07:26 PM

Yikes! And a Surge too!

I think there has been a small streak of posts about LMs breaking in that exact way lately. Weird...

I am sure LM warranty will take care of it though. If you are worried, email them the pic and ask in advance.

Sorry you are starting the New Year that way.

jzmtl · **Reply #3 on:** January 02, 2009, 08:14:34 PM

All MT can break relatively easy that way if you twist the jaws sideways, especially in such a way two half are going away from each other. I've seen broken jaws from pretty much all brands similar to this.

DaveK · **Reply #4 on:** January 02, 2009, 08:31:30 PM

Blimey, you must have given that a bit of oomph. I don't think I'm physically strong enough to exert that much pressure of a MT!

Sean · **Reply #5 on:** January 02, 2009, 08:51:48 PM

Dave,

Strong but not too bright I am.

The pliers would probably have held up to alot more cutting than they would have twisting. In hindsight I should have choked up on the wire a bit more on the jaws to prevent what happened. Actually, I should have taken my tool kit out with me and used a proper tool for bending. Anyhow, it gives an idea of how much "meat" there is holding that one jaw onto the pliers. Not enough for what I was involved with.
It will be interesting if they warranty it and how they would go about splitting and refitting a new jaw if that's possible?

Sean

max6166 · **Reply #6 on:** January 02, 2009, 08:53:15 PM

I think they'll just send you a new one...?

tanker · **Reply #7 on:** January 02, 2009, 09:01:42 PM

Looks like the wire´s not suffered much

Leatherman123 · **Reply #8 on:** January 02, 2009, 09:11:35 PM

I am speechless.....

max6166 · **Reply #9 on:** January 02, 2009, 09:18:21 PM

Quote from: Leatherman123 on January 02, 2009, 09:11:35 PM

I am speechless.....

I was worried about how you would take it...

I am shocked too though. I mean... those are monster Surge pliers after all; it's not a Suspension or even the regular LM plierhead. That's really something!

Neil · **Reply #10 on:** January 02, 2009, 09:21:44 PM

I'm sure they'll cover it under warranty.

If not, at least you've got a whole bunch of spares to build a custom tool with

Neil

DaveK · **Reply #11 on:** January 02, 2009, 09:32:15 PM

I'd be surprised if it wasn't covered by warranty - let us know how you get on VA7ICW - cheers.

Spoonrobot · **Reply #12 on:** January 02, 2009, 09:58:18 PM

Quote from: VA7ICW on January 02, 2009, 08:51:48 PM

It will be interesting if they warranty it and how they would go about splitting and refitting a new jaw if that's possible?

It'll be covered under the warranty. I don't think I've ever seen anything that wasn't covered by the LTG warranty. They'll either give you an entirely new tool or just fit in a new plier head. I don't think it's worth the cost, even if possible, to actually sub in a new jaw.

Sean · **Reply #13 on:** January 02, 2009, 10:18:52 PM

Thanks one and all for each of your posts with advice and encouragement! Will let you know how it all pans out.

Sean

Poncho65 · **Reply #14 on:** January 02, 2009, 10:39:28 PM

Yeah that should definitely be under warranty since it's a defect in manufacturing

Must have been a bad cast plier head or something

Mike, Lord of the Spammers! · **Reply #15 on:** January 02, 2009, 11:06:04 PM

Blimey

glorn · **Reply #16 on:** January 02, 2009, 11:11:28 PM

Can you show us with another pair of pliers or a MT and maybe a smaller gauge wire exactly what it was you were doing?

Just a couple of reenactment pics if you please..

I envision you holding the wire clamped in the jaws and then trying to more or less wrap it around the pliers head like spaghetti on a fork. Is that about right? I'd also like to see a scale shot of the wire. Can you photo that again with the Surge in the same pic, or maybe a quarter in there for scale?

G.

american lockpicker · **Reply #17 on:** January 02, 2009, 11:46:59 PM

I think your next mutitool should be a SOG.

kwakster · **Reply #18 on:** January 03, 2009, 12:13:20 AM

I would honour this as a warranty issue, no problem.

Mr. Whippy · **Reply #19 on:** January 03, 2009, 12:38:34 AM

I have sent Leathermans back 3 different times. One time was for a PST where the jaws distorted after twisting wire. They fixed it no charge and no fuss.

I absolutely know that Leatherman will fix or replace FOC.

Leatherman123 · **Reply #20 on:** January 03, 2009, 01:54:24 AM

Hmm, you must have got a dud.. That is the first SURGE picture w/ broken pliers I've seen.. Btw, LM will repair it no problem..

Roadie · **Reply #21 on:** January 03, 2009, 01:55:38 AM

I wonder if thats a repeatable test...anyone got a Surge they are willing to donate to a worthy cause....not that i want to see Surges destroyed or anything

DaveK · **Reply #22 on:** January 03, 2009, 01:58:06 AM

Wouldn't have happened to a Core

Roadie · **Reply #23 on:** January 03, 2009, 01:59:05 AM

Quote from: DaveK on January 03, 2009, 01:58:06 AM

Wouldn't have happened to a Core

Care to put that to the test

Leatherman123 · **Reply #24 on:** January 03, 2009, 02:00:35 AM

I'll gladly test one of my SURGE tools! Write down the procedure, and tell me the materials and I'll do it!!!

DaveK · **Reply #25 on:** January 03, 2009, 02:04:18 AM

Quote from: Roadie on January 03, 2009, 01:59:05 AM

Quote from: DaveK on January 03, 2009, 01:58:06 AM
Wouldn't have happened to a Core

Care to put that to the test

The reality is that I reckon my wrist would snap before the tool

I'm guessing that VA7ICW might be quite a big bloke.

But to answer your question - only after you try it with your Flik

Nur nur nur nur nuh

Benner · **Reply #26 on:** January 03, 2009, 02:06:00 AM

Quote from: Leatherman123 on January 03, 2009, 02:00:35 AM

I'll gladly test one of my SURGE tools! Write down the procedure, and tell me the materials and I'll do it!!!

Would be kinda pointless if you did it as we'd all like to see photo's of the event.

Roadie · **Reply #27 on:** January 03, 2009, 02:07:39 AM

Quote from: DaveK on January 03, 2009, 02:04:18 AM

The reality is that I reckon my wrist would snap before the tool I'm guessing that VA7ICW might be quite a big bloke.

But to answer your question - only after you try it with your Flik

Nur nur nur nur nuh

I don't own a Flik so that might be a bit difficult

hawkchucker · **Reply #28 on:** January 03, 2009, 02:20:35 AM

They will fix it. They have seen worse!

Leatherman123 · **Reply #29 on:** January 03, 2009, 02:37:54 AM

Ben I kinda think Ryan wanted to know if the pliers would withstand the task- not a photo essay or anything!

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