bearing cap askew on Chris King headset...
03-07-07, 03:47 PM
#1
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bearing cap askew on Chris King headset...
Hey all,
Just got a new King headset installed.
I wonder how many times until i learn the lesson : "Always check the work BEFORE you leave the store."
I get my bike home and set about inspecting the fine fine Chris King workmanship.
I notice that the bearing cap is askew-- that is, viewed from the side, the cap is tilted so that the front is almost touching the upper cup and the rear is higher.
I pulled the stem off and fiddled with the setup for a few minutes trying to get the bearing cap to sit level.
So far nothing has worked and i haven't since gone back to work on the HS any more. I have a couple of ideas, but i thought i'd check in here and see if any experienced types have any advice for me.
Here's my set-up, in order, from top down:
Stem
Spacer
Cable hanger (clamping type)
Thin nylon washer
Bearing cap
(should there be a seal of some sort between the bearing cap and upper cup?)
Upper cup
Head tube
Etcetera...
Is the bearing cap supposed to compensate for irregularities of stem/spacer (not even/square) and thus okay if it doesn't sit level with the upper cup?
Yeah, i should probably send a message to Chris King and get it straight from the source.
Anyway-- thanks for any tips.
Just got a new King headset installed.
I wonder how many times until i learn the lesson : "Always check the work BEFORE you leave the store."
I get my bike home and set about inspecting the fine fine Chris King workmanship.
I notice that the bearing cap is askew-- that is, viewed from the side, the cap is tilted so that the front is almost touching the upper cup and the rear is higher.
I pulled the stem off and fiddled with the setup for a few minutes trying to get the bearing cap to sit level.
So far nothing has worked and i haven't since gone back to work on the HS any more. I have a couple of ideas, but i thought i'd check in here and see if any experienced types have any advice for me.
Here's my set-up, in order, from top down:
Stem
Spacer
Cable hanger (clamping type)
Thin nylon washer
Bearing cap
(should there be a seal of some sort between the bearing cap and upper cup?)
Upper cup
Head tube
Etcetera...
Is the bearing cap supposed to compensate for irregularities of stem/spacer (not even/square) and thus okay if it doesn't sit level with the upper cup?
Yeah, i should probably send a message to Chris King and get it straight from the source.
Anyway-- thanks for any tips.
03-07-07, 04:12 PM
#2
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Steerer tube bent?
Upper bearing cup not seated square with head tube?
Head tube not faced properly before installation?
Just throwing out ideas. Got a photo?
Upper bearing cup not seated square with head tube?
Head tube not faced properly before installation?
Just throwing out ideas. Got a photo?
03-07-07, 06:53 PM
#3
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Originally Posted by Svr
Steerer tube bent?
Upper bearing cup not seated square with head tube?
Head tube not faced properly before installation?
Just throwing out ideas. Got a photo?
Upper bearing cup not seated square with head tube?
Head tube not faced properly before installation?
Just throwing out ideas. Got a photo?
Alternately, the starnut could be crooked.
03-07-07, 07:38 PM
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The starnut has nothing to do with the bearing cap sitting flush with the cup.
OP: Everything is installed in the correct order. King bearing caps are usually (from my experience) a very tight fit, and it's entirely possible that it just wasn't seated fully upon installation. If you happen to have a pipe that fits over your steerer you can remove the stem and cable hanger and give the bearing cap a few light taps to try and seat it. Don't worry about scratching the cap, the finish is surprisingly durable.
OP: Everything is installed in the correct order. King bearing caps are usually (from my experience) a very tight fit, and it's entirely possible that it just wasn't seated fully upon installation. If you happen to have a pipe that fits over your steerer you can remove the stem and cable hanger and give the bearing cap a few light taps to try and seat it. Don't worry about scratching the cap, the finish is surprisingly durable.
03-07-07, 07:45 PM
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It would just about have to be the upper cup not seated fully. Those caps are so tight you can barely get them on the steerer.
Is there a gap under the cup, between it and the head tube?
Is there a gap under the cup, between it and the head tube?
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03-07-07, 07:57 PM
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Another vote for an upper cup that's either not seated all the way or seated on a headtube that's not square.
I've seen a similar weird thing with a King headset and a very long 1" carbon steerer. When you'd put a lot of pressure on the handlebars, the top race would cock foward due to the flexibility of the steerer. That's not what's happening here (probably), but it definitely took a while to figure out.
I've seen a similar weird thing with a King headset and a very long 1" carbon steerer. When you'd put a lot of pressure on the handlebars, the top race would cock foward due to the flexibility of the steerer. That's not what's happening here (probably), but it definitely took a while to figure out.
03-07-07, 10:11 PM
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Does the chris king have differerently sized bearing rings for the top and bottom? Perhaps they are inversely installed. That might account for a wobbley fit, if they didn't seat into the cups due to being slightly different slizes.
Just a thought.
Just a thought.
03-07-07, 10:15 PM
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king bearings are pressed into the cups at the factory, and aside from the etching on the outside of the cups top and bottom are identical. you could, if you were so inclined, install the bottom cup on top and vice-versa, and it'd work just fine.
