It was hot again today, as usual.
They say the temperature in Nagoya topped 34°C today—or maybe it didn't.
The Circles pit is its usual sweltering self, but everyone is working hard and keeping their spirits up.
Anyway, I'm JUS, and I recently got my hands on my first-ever compact digital camera. I’ve been learning how to use it by asking Nabetaku all sorts of questions.
Since I took some photos with my new camera, today I’ll be showing you the process of overhauling a CHRIS KING hub with plenty of photos and minimal text.
I've introduced CHRIS KING hub overhauls on the blog before, but this time I'll be teaching you how to perform an overhaul without any specialized tools!
If you're a King hub user, by all means, give it a try yourself!
First, use a 2.5mm Allen key to loosen the bolt on the "adjustment clamp."
Insert a 5mm Allen key into the freehub side and turn the adjustment clamp counterclockwise to remove it. If the adjustment clamp won’t turn by hand, insert the 2.5mm Allen key firmly into the hole next to the bolt to turn it. You can also pull out the "axle end," seen on the far right of the photo, at the same time.
⚠️ Be careful; if the 2.5mm Allen key is not inserted fully, you might strip the hole next to the bolt.
⚠️ When reassembling, do not insert the 2.5mm Allen key; use your hands to tighten it and adjust the bearing preload.
After that, just pull the axle and freehub straight out.
Disassembly is easy up to this point, but there are some small parts, so laying them out in order or taking photos as you go will prevent that "Wait, where did this go?" feeling during reassembly!
Next, it’s time to maintain the bearings. Even though the exterior of this wheel is very well-maintained, the inside is still gritty.
First, remove the "snap ring," which is the outer part of the bearing. I think this is the most difficult part of this overhaul. You can pry it off with a precision flat-head screwdriver or a thin, pointed tool!
⚠️ Be careful not to pry too aggressively, or you might tear the black rubber "seal" located beneath the snap ring!
By the way, I use a homemade tool to remove the snap ring. If you don't have the proper tool, it might be fun to make one that’s easy for you to use. Just remember, do it at your own risk.
The bearings on the shell side use the same mechanism, so remove them following the same steps!
Now! Use parts cleaner and the like to thoroughly polish everything!
Once you've finished polishing, it’s time for the part you’ve been waiting for: greasing!! Chris King hubs use a specific "Ring Drive Lube" for their bearings, so apply that.
Finally, apply grease and lubricants to the shaft and other parts as you reassemble, and you're done!!
If you happen to break a part, don't worry; CHRIS KING provides a solid supply of small parts.
Of course, we carry them at Circles as well, so feel free to consult us if you run into any trouble.