Greetings Posted April 11, 2012 Report Share Posted April 11, 2012 I've ridden my Karbon fork maybe 20 hours since I got it and it's recently developed an awful noise, reminiscent of an about to snap aluminium fork. Perhaps it's worth noting that I couldn't have killed it, it takes me 1 whole season to get through a pair of 4-bolt SL forks. There is no play anywhere, this clicking noise is only present when rotation is applied - be it when riding or when you just turn the bars with the wheel in the air which suggests to me that something is bent. It will click only once maybe twice in each direction, after that no more clicking occurs when it rotates in the air until you ride it for a very brief moment. A pivot is enough to get it clicking again. Headset is new, took some effort to squeeze in, everything else is nice and tight. The fork rotates freely, there are no signs of it getting tight anywhere. Now the only thing other than the fork that could make a noise is the headset. It's a Bonz Pro Light and the split ring in the top race doesn't seem to want to go deep enough into the top bearing race. I'd assume it should level out with the cup, instead it sticks out about 1mm. This is the only odd thing I've noticed in this headset that doesn't seem 100% right to me. I don't recall seeing this on complete Ozonys bikes. Headset: Perhaps someone else on here had a similar problem with this fork? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghostrider88 Posted April 11, 2012 Report Share Posted April 11, 2012 Sometimes brake lines can make simmilar noise,so I would take a look there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
i like cunning stunts Posted April 11, 2012 Report Share Posted April 11, 2012 Are you running an insert ? If not don't ride it till you have one in. Could be that there about to go mine are flexing more than when I first put them on, luckily I am out the country and will have an insert to put in by the time I get back . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurence--Trials Posted April 11, 2012 Report Share Posted April 11, 2012 They look similar bearings to the one on my V!Z headset, and on that headset the bottom bearing would explode and fall to pieces, could be the same problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdamR28 Posted April 11, 2012 Report Share Posted April 11, 2012 That's some sort of headtube/headset/crown race alignment issue. Bearings moving around in the cups. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greetings Posted April 11, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 11, 2012 (edited) Are you running an insert ? If not don't ride it till you have one in. Could be that there about to go mine are flexing more than when I first put them on, luckily I am out the country and will have an insert to put in by the time I get back . Yep, got an insert. Wouldn't want to ride without one. That's some sort of headtube/headset/crown race alignment issue. Bearings moving around in the cups. Good call. This is the strangely poking out split ring: And bottom, not that there appears to be anything wrong here. The Echo head tubes don't need facing if I'm not mistaken so this would bring the problem down to the headset. Unless there could be a problem with the fork crown not being level? I could try changing back to an SL fork and seeing if that makes a similar noise. If not then one can rule the headset out. Edited April 11, 2012 by Greetings Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghostrider88 Posted April 11, 2012 Report Share Posted April 11, 2012 Yep, got an insert. Wouldn't want to ride without one. Good call. This is the strangely poking out split ring: And bottom, not that there appears to be anything wrong here. The Echo head tubes don't need facing if I'm not mistaken so this would bring the problem down to the headset. Unless there could be a problem with the fork crown not being level? I could try changing back to an SL fork and seeing if that makes a similar noise. If not then one can rule the headset out. Maybe it´s just the photo and dust on the cup,but it looks like the upper cup isn´t fully pressed in? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdamR28 Posted April 11, 2012 Report Share Posted April 11, 2012 Yeah, the headtubes seem to be faced from the factory, but wouldn't harm to do it yourself to be sure. Fitting a different set of forks may give the same noise if the crown hasn't been faced. I would be tempted to smear grease on all the contact surfaces in the headset (bearings to races, bearings to cups) and try again. That will tell you if it's defo bearings shifting around, then you know you need to look at alignments. Edit: Yeah, that split ring doesn't look to be the correct one for the headset... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greetings Posted April 11, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 11, 2012 (edited) It does look like that in the pic but it's fully in. Edit: Thanks Ads, I'll look into the points you suggested. 100% sure that split ring came with this headset but I'll double check it against a new one. Edited April 11, 2012 by Greetings Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greetings Posted April 11, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 11, 2012 Split ring is definitely from that headset or the factory made numerous mistakes. It's actually a really odd headset, not sure if you have them in stock but it seems to clamp the steerer in two places. There's definitely some movement in the top cup. While the anodizing in the bottom cup is worn evenly, the top cup is worn in one axis. Also found this, would it be something to worry about? There's actually a fracture going into the carbon weave on the bottom of the pic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FamilyBiker Posted April 11, 2012 Report Share Posted April 11, 2012 aren´t those split compression rings normally UNDER the upper dust cap??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andeee Posted April 11, 2012 Report Share Posted April 11, 2012 Move up in the world get a chris king headset.. fully sealed bearings its pretty much press the cups in and go! Had mine 6 years and have never come across any problems as of yet ( Just ensure you put a bit of grease inside the cups to keep it fully sealed in a working order and had the headset in about 5 different frames. Im not a fan of headsets like yours with all the seperate bearings n parts to go with it. Kings seems to be easy and take hassle away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greetings Posted April 11, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 11, 2012 (edited) Move up in the world get a chris king headset.. fully sealed bearings its pretty much press the cups in and go! Had mine 6 years and have never come across any problems as of yet ( Just ensure you put a bit of grease inside the cups to keep it fully sealed in a working order and had the headset in about 5 different frames. Im not a fan of headsets like yours with all the seperate bearings n parts to go with it. Kings seems to be easy and take hassle away. Don't really see the point of spending 10x more on a King headset than anything else that does the job just as well. Only briefly used a CK headset and didn't find it any better than an Echo for instance. Besides, I wouldn't buy anything from Chris King now having seen how much the hub quality deteriorated over the past few years. The reason I went for the Bonz headset is that it clamps the steerer very high up which can only be a good thing when you've got a fork that has a determined minimum stack height. aren´t those split compression rings normally UNDER the upper dust cap??? Depends on the headset. Anyway, re-assembled now, put grease on the contact areas and it's quiet. Will post again if problem persists. Edited April 11, 2012 by Greetings Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andeee Posted April 11, 2012 Report Share Posted April 11, 2012 (edited) Don't really see the point of spending 10x more on a King headset than anything else that does the job just as well. Only briefly used a CK headset and didn't find it any better than an Echo for instance. Besides, I wouldn't buy anything from Chris King now having seen how much the hub quality deteriorated over the past few years. I got mine for £70.00 from usa about 6 years ago and that was brand new with the shipping sent as gift. I think this was the years before manufacturers went downhill in production and quality on products. If you are worried about price even the Tensile Ace headset is pretty much a replica of the king with the sealed bearings and half the price. Also forgot to ask what method are you using to press your headset and crown race? Andy Edited April 11, 2012 by Andeee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Rainbird Posted April 11, 2012 Report Share Posted April 11, 2012 Alternatively it's really not necessary to blow so much on a headset? You really are just paying for the name. Grab a Cane Creek S3 headset for instance. Can pick them up for £18 brand new on a certain popular auction site. Want uprated bearings, despite the fact that you'll never kill the normal ones? Upgrade to the S8 for under £25 instead. A King, even at "just" £70, that's utterly retarded for a headset. The Tensile is a better shout and a more realistic price for sure, but yeah Edit; Monsieur Inur, if you did want to replace the headset at all I can;t recommend these enough. All I've run for the past few years and never had a single issue S8 here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greetings Posted April 11, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 11, 2012 Also forgot to ask what method are you using to press your headset and crown race? Just a normal headset tool, nothing fancy. 70 quid sounds good, but it's still 70 quid. I've been hanging on to a rear King for 7 years now because it works brilliantly and kind of contributes to my safety but a headset is just a headset. Each of their own I guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andeee Posted April 11, 2012 Report Share Posted April 11, 2012 (edited) A King, even at "just" £70, that's utterly retarded for a headset. There is a vital saying out in the world of sales and buying stuff.. " The more you pay the more you get for your money". 6 years i have had my king and not one problem.. worth every penny pal...! Some of us do like the quality and manufacturing that go into products unlike mass produced taiwan cack. Edited April 11, 2012 by Andeee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Rainbird Posted April 11, 2012 Report Share Posted April 11, 2012 " The more you pay the more you get for your money". That "saying" is f**king retarded too, the "world of sales and buying stuff" need to rethink it. Unless of course you pay as much as you can for a product expecting it to be guaranteed to be better? I'm all for quality engineering and high quality components all day long and I'm more than happy to pay a premium for it, but there's good kit and there's unnecessary. I've run CC headsets on all my bikes for the past 8 years or so and never had a single issue. Other folks I know that have done much the same also more than happy. Most people I know that've run King headsets for trials have all had the usual King "wobble" that develops (which is an easy fix, but that's not the point.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghostrider88 Posted April 11, 2012 Report Share Posted April 11, 2012 (edited) There is a vital saying out in the world of sales and buying stuff.. " The more you pay the more you get for your money". Unfortunately,this isn´t the case as there´s plenty of headsets just as good or even better(which don´t dig in you steerer tube like king does).I would say this is very important especially in case you use carbon forks http://www.peterverdone.com/wiki/index.php?title=The_BEST_Headset#Why_not_a_Chris_King_headset.3F . Edited April 11, 2012 by ghostrider88 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trialsbeginner Posted April 11, 2012 Report Share Posted April 11, 2012 this happened to my mtb i just lathered the headset in grease, and it worked! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
omgnoseat Posted April 20, 2012 Report Share Posted April 20, 2012 Did you ever discover the problem? I'm having the same issue (different fork and headset though). Greased everthing up today and it seemed to be gone, but returned 5 minutes later Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greetings Posted April 20, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 20, 2012 Well Adam's suggestions seem to have worked, not sure what exactly was the cause though. Shit, I can't even remember what I did to fix it Definitely something other than just lube. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan6061 Posted April 20, 2012 Report Share Posted April 20, 2012 I somehow destroyed the bearings in my Chris King headset. It was pretty old and battered when I got it though, so I wasn't that suprised. Still have it too! Might replace the bearings one day and re use it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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