King Headset
#1
King Headset
Being somewhat anxious, I contacted King with a few questions. They replied by sending me a link and advising me to use their grease. $12 plus shipping seems a little exorbitant for a small amount of grease that I will only use once. Also, since it is not giving me any trouble, perhaps I should just forget about it.
#2
Senior Member
Use a synthetic aircraft grease = this will be of the highest quality possible, when something 'goes wrong' on a aircraft, they cannot just 'pull over' ....consequently everything on aircraft is designed to a very high standard
#3
I find one thing in respect to the lubrication process troubling. The bearing have to be cleaned inside of the cup. I would think that any contaminants that are present would be pushed to the bottom. I prefer soaking the bearings or replacing them. But what do I know?
Likes For TPL:
#5
Constant tinkerer
Special grease is not necessary for headset bearings. I use marine grease for pretty much everything on a bicycle. As long as you have mostly grease in the headset, and not mostly dirt/sand/dried grease/water/etc. you'll be fine.
Likes For FastJake:
#6
Dont fix whats not broken
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Mooresville, NC
Posts: 302
Bikes: Steelman Stage Race, Dura-Ace 9s
Liked 166 Times
in
93 Posts
Servicing the bearings while installed really isn't too bad -
If you have a repair stand it's not too hard to do with the cups still on the bike.
- remove snap ring and neoprene seal
- I use spray degreaser to clean (King advises against citrus based degreaser as it interacts with their anodizing) - automotive brake cleaner works fine for me.
- I spray the bearing with compressed air to remove residual degreaser
- Pack the bearing with just about any grease of your choice
- Replace neoprene seal and snap ring - cup done
If you have a repair stand it's not too hard to do with the cups still on the bike.
#7
Servicing the bearings while installed really isn't too bad -
If you have a repair stand it's not too hard to do with the cups still on the bike.
- remove snap ring and neoprene seal
- I use spray degreaser to clean (King advises against citrus based degreaser as it interacts with their anodizing) - automotive brake cleaner works fine for me.
- I spray the bearing with compressed air to remove residual degreaser
- Pack the bearing with just about any grease of your choice
- Replace neoprene seal and snap ring - cup done
If you have a repair stand it's not too hard to do with the cups still on the bike.
#8
Dont fix whats not broken
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Mooresville, NC
Posts: 302
Bikes: Steelman Stage Race, Dura-Ace 9s
Liked 166 Times
in
93 Posts
If you want to, sure. I normally wouldn't use WD-40 as a cleaner so I can't say if this is advisable or not. I'd probably use mineral (white) spirits and a toothbrush before I grab a can of WD-40 for this job.
#9
Heft On Wheels
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 3,123
Bikes: Specialized,Cannondale,Argon 18
Liked 561 Times
in
347 Posts
I agree with what everyone is saying but one thing if they are ceramic bearing you shouldn't use conventional grease. But short of that use what you have on hand. I have for years and never had an issue. I don't own a King anything because of the cost..I think its crazy. But have used FSA and Cane creek for years without an issue.
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: West Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Posts: 5,773
Liked 104 Times
in
87 Posts
You buy a very high end premium product and then complain about service costs of that product? Should have bought a cheaper but just as functional one in the first place, as suggested FSA & Cane Creek as good.
Likes For jimc101:
#11
Likes For daniell:
#12
Clark W. Griswold
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: ,location, location
Posts: 14,662
Bikes: Foundry Chilkoot Ti W/Ultegra Di2, Salsa Timberjack Ti, Cinelli Mash Work RandoCross Fun Time Machine, 1x9 XT Parts Hybrid, Co-Motion Cascadia, Specialized Langster, Phil Wood Apple VeloXS Frame (w/DA 7400), R+M Supercharger2 Rohloff, Habanero Ti 26
Liked 4,569 Times
in
3,060 Posts
Chris King is good stuff, people always love to complain about nicer stuff but there is a reason it exists and lasts and lasts. In terms of grease I like Phil Wood Grease for most things but it was designed well for bearings. You don't need a special grease of any sort but the Phil is good stuff and generally easy to get.
Likes For veganbikes:
#13
Mad bike riding scientist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 27,700
Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones
Liked 4,537 Times
in
2,522 Posts
If you are just now servicing the headset, I think you’ve gotten very good value out of the headset. You likely paid about $110 for it (as I have). That’s $5.50 per year of use. Not a bad bargain at all. As to the cost of the lubricant, again, you’ve done this once in 20 years and $12 isn’t going to break the bank. But King says to use a “medium viscosity [lubricant]. That says to me to use whatever you have on hand.
__________________
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Likes For cyccommute:
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: San Jose (Willow Glen) Ca
Posts: 10,390
Bikes: Kirk Custom JK Special, '84 Team Miyata,(dura ace old school) 80?? SR Semi-Pro 600 Arabesque
Liked 3,490 Times
in
1,825 Posts
Just get a tube of phil's grease and be done with it. Unless you have a huge fleet or you put way to much grease on it will last for years.
now get off lawn you whippersnappers
now get off lawn you whippersnappers
__________________
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can.
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can.
Likes For squirtdad:
#15
If you are just now servicing the headset, I think you’ve gotten very good value out of the headset. You likely paid about $110 for it (as I have). That’s $5.50 per year of use. Not a bad bargain at all. As to the cost of the lubricant, again, you’ve done this once in 20 years and $12 isn’t going to break the bank. But King says to use a “medium viscosity [lubricant]. That says to me to use whatever you have on hand.
#16
Mad bike riding scientist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 27,700
Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones
Liked 4,537 Times
in
2,522 Posts
I had a bearing seize on a King bottom bracket and had to regrease it. It’s not that difficult. Soaking a headset in solvent may be a bit more challenging if you can’t remove the cup from the frame but not impossible. If you have the tools, I’d just pop it out of the frame and soak it. If you can’t take it out of the frame, I’d probably just flow mineral spirits over it with a squirt bottle until the bearings are clean, then fill it with grease.
__________________
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!