Tight spot in Chris King headset

[Trunions]

I just had a Chris King headset installed and it has a tight spot. Does anyone have any ideas on how to fix it.

[mackdaddy]

You probably have the stem tightened down too tight. Loosen the stem bolt and the head lock then retighten the head lock till the stem doesnt flop back and forth. Then set your bar straight and tighten the stem bolts back.
Should spin smoothly

[Trunions]

When I turn the bars to the right just past 90 degrees I can hear it rub. It rubs for just about a quarter turn then the rubbing sound stops. I can get it to where it doesn't make the rubbing sound, but then stem flops a little. Anyone have any ideas what could cause that.

[Rope]

Face your head tube most likely their not square to each other most bike shops can do it I think. If not I know for sure The Bike Shoppe in Ogden can.

[BLong]

did you happen to check and see if the top or bottom tube welds protude into the seating area for the headset? if one does, it can cause a pinch in the race.

-Brian

[bnd]

We have Kings on all of our race bikes (3). I noticed when they are new, they need to be broken in some. They are alittle tight but after a day of riding they seem to loosen up & the final adjustment can be made. That's what Iv'e encountered with ours.


b.

[JAlvey]

On the Intense frames like your's the headtube is often not square, and might even have paint on it where the cups press in. Rope is right, face the head tube (also taking all the paint off) and make sure the cups and the fork race are all pressed in straight, then it'll work fine. On that frame, your BB will start creaking also, sand/file the paint off the contact area there too to stop it.

[Curtis Newkirk]

I give a third vote for facing.

I have Kings on several bikes ranging from MTB to road to BMX. I make sure to face every headset I install and they have always been flawlessly smooth from the moment they were installed. The one on Bennett's bike is an old road one of mine that is over twelve years old.

Have it done at a bike shop and not with a Dremel. Most shops will have the proper Park Facing tool which will ensure the cups seat squarely. I would not think it would cost more than $10 or so and it just takes a couple of minutes. Well worth the cost for a smooth headset that will last for years.

[Trunions]

Thanks everyone for your help. When I had it installed I asked the shop to make sure they faced it. At first I thought they didn't do it, it turns out they did. The problem was my stem, it wasn't square so it put more pressure on one side of the headset. I installed a new stem and now it works great!

[Curtis Newkirk]

Go figure: The bike shop faces it right, but the stem company can't make a cut at a right angle? Odd, but I guess not that surprising.