Chris King NoThreadSet Replacement Bearing?

[emersungold]

Hi all - I recently purchased a Dean Colonel and it had a 1 1/8" Chris King NoThreadSet headset installed. When I removed the headset for servicing I was surprised to find that the lower cup was missing its bearing entirely.

My question is: do you know if replacement bearings are available for 1 1/8" NoThreadSet headsets? I don't see anything in the way of replacement bearings for NoThreadSets on the Chris King website and can't find any info via a Google search. There are other replacement bearings (i.e. DropSet) on the CK site but nothing indicating compatibility with 1 1/8" NoThreadSets.

I've contacted Chris King ([email protected]) but have yet to receive a reply.

Cheers and many thanks

 

[emersungold]

I heard back from the folks at Chris King. Here is their reply:

"We do not sell our headset bearings separately since the fitment of the bearing in the cup is something we like to control. That being said once a bearing has been removed from a cup and that removal was not done by us, we can no longer guarantee the integrity of the cup thus we are not able to install a bearing in it. So unfortunately there is no way to get that headset up and running again."

 

[uno-speedo]

I've never come across that scenario, as CK will happily service a headset. Bad form from the previous owner. And I've never seen the tool they use to remove or install their bearings into their cups. That brain-dump thought is just me being curious.

Would they entertain providing a new cup and bearing at your expense?

 

[ishaw]

I have seen someone on here selling or even sold one with replacement bearings. Not the same as original but seemed to work.

Herein lies the challenge with Chris king headsets. Bearings are serviceable to s degree Vis removing the circlip and flushing, cleaning and regressing, but as they are not 'removable' i.e. pop out like most headsets, you are kind of stuck when they need replacing.

Granted their bearings are very good, and last ages, but still.

Iirc the cost of having them replace the bearings is costly and you can buy a very decent headset for the same money.

Maybe keep an eye out for a single cup, people do sell odds and sods.

Or hopefully someone can provide a bearing size you can pop in and happy days.

 

[scant]

a C.King dropset headset is for modern frames that dont use conventional cups, so yes in that instance its literally just the bearings that sit in the frame & obviously they are available

I guess C.King are just protecting themselves from potential issues. that said i've pulled forks out of frames before & the king bearings came out of the cup. regreased & reassembled with no further issues. I guess you'll be forced to find another headset cup.. or other headset

 

[emersungold]

Update: CK has offered to sell me a bottom cup & bearing for $75 USD. They don't make NoThreadSet in the pewter colour any more, so silver would be the closest match.

I'll likely just purchase a complete, second-hand NoThreadSet locally, as I see them on FB marketplace for around $120 CAD ($85 USD).

I'll hang on to my incomplete pewter set for spare parts while keeping an eye out, as @ishaw suggested, in the event a matching bottom + bearing show up for sale.

 

[markoc]

Is it an urban myth that BITD King bearings were "for life"?

(I may have made that up, and it's not relevant in the second hand market)

I'd go second hand and sell the bits you have as spares.

 

[rentedmule]

Before giving up on it totally, I'd try taking it to a fastener/bearing shop to see if they can find something that will fit and work properly with the crown race. I've had great luck with finding replacement bearings for hubs and suspension pivots that way. I doubt CK manufacturers their own bearings, they probably just picked a good quality unit that was available.

Most fastener shops sell bearings or there may even be a specialty bearing shop close to you.

 

[gtturbo]

@rentedmule Chris King do indeed manufacture their own bearings. However if they are made to a standard size and spec I have no idea.

More can be found here -

https://chrisking.com/pages/technology#:~:text=At Chris King, we design,for use in our components.

 

[rentedmule]

Did not know that - cool!

I have 5 or 6 of their headsets, some 15-20 years old, and I've never had one fail in any way.