Chris king headset

[baron von greenback]

What frames need the grove putting into a ck headset ie pace f2 now is it for the reason someone said it releaves the pressure on headtubes that are prone to cracking by 35% and thats the main reason as say some frames having a notch in so a ck wont fit (example dont know if true) and can i just fit a ck to pace f2 (or other frames) without issue except it might crack and why is it only ck headset need this doing

 

[ishaw]

I'm not sure if fancy cutting a headset. Crown race yes.

If a headset tends to work in most frames but can cause failure in others, not sure if blame the headset, though the design of the Christmas king using the rubber o-ring to grip the steerer tube over the compression style could allow movement and stress the head tube. Maybe? I'm no engineer.

I had a king on a pace with a 1 inch steerer and it did not crack. Not saying it won't as there seems to be examples.

 

[Twozaskars]

I've never heard this, is this a thing people do? In such an application I'd simply find something that fits and do it right. Or you could end up with;
Ruined frame
Ruined headset
Ruined face/teeth/hands etc
Or a combination of any of those.

 

[d8mok]

The headset isn’t cut.

You add a relief groove to the cup to help prevent cracks on well known frames that suffer.

 

[d8mok]

Read the post from Danson who is far better than me at explaining it

Post in thread '7005 Head Tubes Cracking'

Apr 21, 2025

OK, it's not because of hardening of the 7005 material.
That's already done and finished soon after the frame was built. Additional time barely increases tensile strength etc

Manufacturers will usually carry out an artificial age cycle post-weld (Put it in an oven, 10hrs @ 150°C, or similar) to drive a consistent ageing result. However, 7005 will also naturally age harden at room temperature (20°C) over a few weeks post-weld, so heat treatment is not strictly necessary, just advisable for business insurance/quality control/traceability etc. After ageing (natural or artificial), you need a...

• danson67

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[bikeworkshop]

King headsets are slightly larger than many others.
This increases the risk of cracking the head tube, specially in a 30 year old frame.

Not much though.

 

[Twozaskars]

8 years on here and I've never seen or heard this, just accepted that some are tighter than others and that's that. That groove must be shallow though? I wouldn't want to put a CK cup in my lathe and mess it up.
I do have a Chris King, but in a Soul