Cracking Chris King titanium headset?
07-08-08 | 01:02 PM
#1
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Junior Member
Joined: May 2008
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Cracking Chris King titanium headset?
I bought a Chris King titanium 1 inch no thread headset. This week it was fitted by a professional mechanic with the proper tools and decades of experience. The headset fits perfectly in my titanium frame but there seems to be a problem with it. Its a problem we have never encountered before... and does not sound like faulty placement.
It makes a harsch loud crack when the steer is turned or when force is put upon it. We suspect that one of the sealed bearings produces this loud crack when the steer is turned or when force is put upon it.
The mechanic checked everything several times for correct placement and fitting and we also changed the steer to be sure none of the other parts was making this sound. Today as an experiment we have changed the titanium headset with another King aluminium standard 1 inch headset. This headset turns out to run smooth, correct and without any problems. After this we fitted the titanium headset again and the same problem as described occurs.
The only conclusion can now be the defect must lay in this titanium headset. Our experiment has clearly shown the problem must lay here, but we can also say this must be a rare malfunction since its a King.
I trust in Kings High quality products, thats why I bought it and they are not really cheap here in Europe I must admit. I believe this to be a warranty issue and contacted the King-tech department. Until now this has not lead to a customer satisfactory solution however,.. Interesting to see how high their warranty standards lie and the companies service-attitude stretches.
Did anyone of you ever encounter a problem like this with a King (titanium) headset?
IŽll keep you informed.
It makes a harsch loud crack when the steer is turned or when force is put upon it. We suspect that one of the sealed bearings produces this loud crack when the steer is turned or when force is put upon it.
The mechanic checked everything several times for correct placement and fitting and we also changed the steer to be sure none of the other parts was making this sound. Today as an experiment we have changed the titanium headset with another King aluminium standard 1 inch headset. This headset turns out to run smooth, correct and without any problems. After this we fitted the titanium headset again and the same problem as described occurs.
The only conclusion can now be the defect must lay in this titanium headset. Our experiment has clearly shown the problem must lay here, but we can also say this must be a rare malfunction since its a King.
I trust in Kings High quality products, thats why I bought it and they are not really cheap here in Europe I must admit. I believe this to be a warranty issue and contacted the King-tech department. Until now this has not lead to a customer satisfactory solution however,.. Interesting to see how high their warranty standards lie and the companies service-attitude stretches.
Did anyone of you ever encounter a problem like this with a King (titanium) headset?
IŽll keep you informed.
Last edited by Vajra; 07-08-08 at 01:59 PM.
07-08-08 | 01:10 PM
#2
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 33,657
Likes: 1,119
From: Pittsburgh, PA
Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!
Never had a problem with the one CK headset (Al) I own but i'm sure they will warranty it no questions asked, particularly based on the evidence you have.
07-08-08 | 01:19 PM
#3
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 5
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Agree, I never had any problems either, thats why I went for the best (CK) on this new project,... titanium frame, all campa (QS) 10sp record, and CK titanium headset,... could last forever,.. so imagine my surprise this problem occured,..
No one I know has ever encountered this weird "crack" before,.. must be a one in a million chance I guess,..
The sound is also really difficult to describe, its sounds like a harsh snapping sound,... but not like anything heard before....
No one I know has ever encountered this weird "crack" before,.. must be a one in a million chance I guess,..
The sound is also really difficult to describe, its sounds like a harsh snapping sound,... but not like anything heard before....
Last edited by Vajra; 07-08-08 at 01:29 PM.
