Chris King Headset Installation

Thats how I roll. King Cup Press Adaptors:bang:
Also the "KING" name on the lower cup is crooked:?:
Cough "Grease" cough.....

HUGH

 

Use whatever tool you want. I have all the "proper" hex wrenches.



This multi-tool from Crank Brothers has worked great on the trail or in the garage. This tool is just my preference...

I have one in my bag at all times and one in the garage, just in case!

 

OK

I will give my hot tip of the night out right now.

This is for everyone and it dates back to the day when Bike beat was building all of the bikes for MTN Bike Action.

Go to Pepboys or Autozone buy the Green Boat axle grease in the tub. It is the best still. To this day nothing has worked better or lasted longer. It also wont make a black mess everywhere.

That was how we know where bikes where built back then.

Now that the secret is out it will look like all bikes came from BIKE BEAT. By the way if you haven't heard of the Bike Beat it was at one time the premiere bike shop in Orange county headquarters for much of the early mtb testing.

 

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nice write up

 

.

Owning decent hex wrenches are nearly a must. A Park $8.49 AWS-1C 3-way (4, 5, 6 mm) hex wrench is hardly a...

GOLD PIMPIN' made in USA Bondhus with a Lifetime Warrantee cracker....only $15.00 man:beer:

 

Even the Craftsmen ones suck. Good thing I can use their lifetime warranty. I'll try the Bondhus ones next, we use those at work, but they don't see nearly as much use as I do in my garage.

 

is it hard going through life being perfect in such an imperfect world?

to the OP, great write up. thanks for taking the time to share it with us. maybe from now on lee can do the DIY, making sure top of the line tools are being used and every single caption is written by a copywriter then sent to the proofreader to review it before it is published...

 

To grease or not to grease --

Chris King Tech

Note: We do not recommend for or against the application of grease, antisieze, or Loc Tite while pressing in cups with a proper fit – we leave this choise to the discretion of the mechanic installing the headset.


Scuff washers are for fixing problems --

My headset creaks and/or makes a ticking noise

7. On a NoThreadSet, the bottom surface of the stem may be sliding on the bearing cap. This can happen if the o-ring is sheared in installation. Solution: Replace the o-ring and file the top of steerer tube to prevent shearing. Upon reinstallation of the bearing cap, insert one of our scuff washers or lay a thin layer of antisieze on the bottom of the stem where it touches the bearing cap​

 

I did a lot of research on the grease or no grease topic a while ago when somone questioned our shop standards. It seems clear that with a ti frame or headset, heavy grease or anitiseiz is necessary. In other cases, there are mixed opinions. We use the scuff washer supplied with the headset every time. Here is the e-mail that I sent Jordan this morning:

Hi,

We use grease every time. Some very respected bike folks (Sheldon Brown I think and others) say to put it in dry and clean. They say, "just clean all contacts with rubbing alcohol, and push the cups in". I think he will be ok. Maybe reinstall with grease if it creeks. In the very long run, it could cold weld to the frame. Some say, with an alloy frame , the headset should be pushed out and reinstalled every few years.

Thanks

 

The funny part about that is I think thats what he does for a living:?:!!

HUGH

 

I've heard that a rigid fork will eventually break a scuff washer.:?:

 

Hugh,

Thanks for your note! Sure, I could write every single line on my blog using proper English and grammar but I choose to be lazy occasionally because I do write for a publication where I cannot. My blog is not a professional piece of publication, it is a tool for me to share my thoughts, experiences and photographers with my friends and anyone else that comes across the site. I abbreviate words, use run on sentences, heck I even make up words every now and then. Why? Why not! It doesn't make me look stupid, most people realize that a blog is a blog and not scripture. I will try and post only perfect writing samples, amazing photographs and 100% accurate installs from now on since it seems like STR these days is a critic haven.

Jordan

 

seriously dude, well put. i hope siskel & eberts review of your friends DIY doesn't discourage others from posting some in the future.

 

well put Jordan well put.

i think people get bored and they end up picking things apart. Just send the DIY stuff to them first for approval prior to publishing.

 

I liked the tutorial - thanks for showing us newbies some of the tricks.

I'll also highly recommend the Bondhus wrenches. :bang: Everyone at our shop uses them. I supply 'em and I won't let cheaper stuff on the floor. We use them 20 - 30 times a day for adjusting our lathe & mill tooling and assembly. They flat out last a long time.

 

Hey my posts are never perfect! I suck at spelling and such. I think the writeup was great and the pictures to match were perfect!
In addition to my earlier post I would like to add: Thanks for the writeup and pictures! They were great. I think installing a headset is no big deal. But to those who are affraid to tackle the job on their own I think this pictorial will ease the fear.. Thank You!

HUGH

 

dont think it was directed at you Hugh

 

I don't think the criticism was meant to be mean but more like additions to this to make it better. Following your steps could help most of us but some people but some of the additions that were noted could be very helpful for others.

Also two of those who have added points are some of the most helpful people I know here when it comes to bike maintenance and repair.

 

Whew, all this for installing a simple headset.
I'm surprised no one jumped in that a torque wrench was not used on the stem bolts.

I was thinking about posting up a wheelbuild and true walkthrough, but since I don't own a tensiometer nor a "real" trueing stand, I think I'll reconsider.