King sealed headdset: grease?

Jeff said:

I am installing a new Chris King headset (sealed bearings) and was
wondering if I should put grease on the cups & bearing surfaces.
thanks in advance
Jeff

Yes...altho it is 'sealed', it still can have water intrude..Grease
helps to prevent this.

Jeff who? said:

I am installing a new Chris King headset (sealed bearings) and was
wondering if I should put grease on the cups & bearing surfaces.

The cartridge bearing sits on steel supports on which it slides to
absorb skewing to prevent indexing wear from ball fretting. These
support surfaces must be greased for proper performance. There are no
bearings on the bicycle that don't require grease on installation.

Jobst Brandt

Quoted message said:

There are no bearings on the bicycle that don't require grease on
installation.

Quoted message said:

Jobst Brandt

Careful here, racing hubs and bottom brackets can be run on oil, and
would not require grease upon installation if used in this manner.

- Don Gillies
San Diego, CA

In article <[email hidden]>, Jeff

Quoted message said:

I am installing a new Chris King headset (sealed bearings) and was
wondering if I should put grease on the cups & bearing surfaces.
thanks in advance
Jeff

CK recommends that their headset cartridge bearings be serviced
(flushed and greased) if they're exposed to water or contaminants.
Download the installation and/or service .pdf manual from CK's website;
therein you should find instructions detailing the removal of the
cartridge bearings seals - required before greasing the bearings.

I've found that reinstalling the metal snap rings (retaining the seals)
can be tricky.

The following excerpt is from a CK Gripnut .pdf manual

Quoted post said:

_________

Service of Bearings
€ Our sealed bearings have removable snap rings holding the seals in
place. Carefully remove snap ring and then seal to gain access to
the bearings. Flush with solvent, blow dry, then lubricate with a
waterproof grease and reassemble. Reuse seals and snap rings unless
damaged.
€ If necessary, seals and snap rings are available through your dealer
or directly from Chris King Precision Components.
PLEASE NOTE: Water is the most common cause of problems with any sealed
bearing. When water enters the frame through breather
or other holes it can eventually work its way to the head tube and into
the headset bearings. High pressure spray wash, transporting or
riding the bicycle in the rain, or submersion in water while riding can
quickly lead to this condition. Although the stainless steel bearings
will resist corrosion, the grease will eventually deteriorate. Avoid
these situations if possible or service as if in wet conditions.

_________

Luke

[quote="Luke"]In article <[email hidden]>, Jeff

Quoted message said:

I am installing a new Chris King headset (sealed bearings) and was
wondering if I should put grease on the cups & bearing surfaces.
thanks in advance
Jeff

Quoted post said:

_________

Service of Bearings
PLEASE NOTE: Water is the most common cause of problems with any sealed
bearing. When water enters the frame through breather
or other holes it can eventually work its way to the head tube and into
the headset bearings. High pressure spray wash, transporting or
riding the bicycle in the rain, or submersion in water while riding can
quickly lead to this condition. Although the stainless steel bearings
will resist corrosion, the grease will eventually deteriorate. Avoid
these situations if possible or service as if in wet conditions.

(Donald Gillies) said:

Quoted message said:

There are no bearings on the bicycle that don't require grease on
installation.

Quoted message said:

Jobst Brandt

Careful here, racing hubs and bottom brackets can be run on oil, and
would not require grease upon installation if used in this manner.

You're implying that there is something special about "racing" hubs.
There is not.

Any hub or BB can be lubricated with oil. Some racers have used oil in
the (mistaken) belief that it makes a difference in the RR of the bike.

Oil is inferior to grease in this application because it won't stay in
the bearing for nearly as long, and prevents less of a physical barrier
to the ingress of water or other contanimants.

--
Ted Bennett

Jeff said:

I am installing a new Chris King headset (sealed bearings) and was
wondering if I should put grease on the cups & bearing surfaces.
thanks in advance
Jeff

You could just follow the instructions that came with your hs.
http://www.chrisking.com/pdfs/NoThreadSet.pdf

Robin Hubert

Quoted message said:

Jeff who? said:

I am installing a new Chris King headset (sealed bearings) and was
wondering if I should put grease on the cups & bearing surfaces.

The cartridge bearing sits on steel supports on which it slides to
absorb skewing to prevent indexing wear from ball fretting. These
support surfaces must be greased for proper performance. There are no
bearings on the bicycle that don't require grease on installation.

Jobst Brandt

Are you familiar with Chris King headsets? Unlike your Shimano
cartridge heasdset bearings (like these -
http://www.fullspeedahead.com/downloads/headsetbook.pdf), the King's are
press fit, so there's no greasing the cartridge/cup interface.

Robin Hubert

[quote="Quoted message"]

Luke said:

In article <[email hidden]>, Jeff

Quoted message said:

I am installing a new Chris King headset (sealed bearings) and was
wondering if I should put grease on the cups & bearing surfaces.
thanks in advance
Jeff

CK recommends that their headset cartridge bearings be serviced
(flushed and greased) if they're exposed to water or contaminants.
The following excerpt is from a CK Gripnut .pdf manual

Quoted post said:

_________

Service of Bearings
PLEASE NOTE: Water is the most common cause of problems with any sealed
bearing. When water enters the frame through breather
or other holes it can eventually work its way to the head tube and into
the headset bearings. High pressure spray wash, transporting or
riding the bicycle in the rain, or submersion in water while riding can
quickly lead to this condition. Although the stainless steel bearings
will resist corrosion, the grease will eventually deteriorate. Avoid
these situations if possible or service as if in wet conditions.

So Chris King recommends servicing and greasing their headsets whenever
you ride in the rain. Just like the makers of regular, old style, non
sealed, non cartridge bearing headset makers.