The bearings in your new Chris King hubs are of the highest quality. However, all bear-
ings will settle and eventually wear with use. Since looseness or “play” in the bearing
assembly can develop as a result of wear, Chris King hubs have been designed with
an adjustable bearing preload mechanism and any normal play can be eliminated
(see the appropriate “Adjustment” section, pgs. 6 - 14). *Do not ride hub without the
proper preload adjustment
Notes on RingDrive
™
maintenance
Normal preventative maintenance of the RingDrive is simple and can be performed using
basic tools (see “The RingDrive”, pg. 15). In many cases, a minor cleaning and reapplication
of lubricant is all that may be necessary. Judging when to perform this basic maintenance is
determined by riding style and conditions. As a guideline, your hubs should be maintained every
6-12 months in normal and dry conditions and every 3 months in wet or muddy conditions.
Annually or if bearing and freewheel drag is noticed or foreign debris is detected in the grease
and/or the grease looks hard or dry, a complete servicing (removal and cleaning) of the
RingDrive should be performed. Complete service includes the removal of the RingDrive
engagement mechanism and requires the use of our Hub Service Tool. See any authorized
Chris King dealer for complete service or you may purchase a Hub Service Tool Kit from your
dealer or directly from Chris King Precision Components. Chris King Precision Components
provides overhaul ser vices at reasonable rates. Contact the Customer Ser vice hotline
at 800-523-6008 for details.
Lubrication
Normal conditions
In normal riding conditions (32°-110°F), our RingDrive grease is recommended for the
bearings and the R ingDrive. Do not substitute other brands of grease, as they may
cause premature wear and/or be too sticky for the helix of the RingDrive inhibiting
proper engagement.
Cold conditions
To ensure proper engagement in sub-freezing conditions, first be sure that there is no
water or moisture inside the hubshell. The hub may require an overhaul to ensure that the
hub interior is completely water-free. Then mix the grease in the RingDrive area, especially
on the helical splines of the driveshell, with 5-10 drops of Tri-flow. If you expect to be rid-
ing in temperatures that are consistently at or below freezing replace all internal lube with
a quality 10w synthetic oil. Do not over fill. We reccomend using a siliconal oil (Pedros
®
SynLube or Mobil 1
®
)
Wet conditions
Riding in wet conditions necessitates more frequent service. Often this is as simple as remov-
ing the axle and driveshell from the hub, removing any moisture from inside the hub shell, and
applying more grease to the needle bearing. This should not replace periodic complete disas-
sembly and maintenance, especially in extreme or prolonged wet conditions.
Since it is nearly impossible to seal a hub from water and still have it spin freely, we have designed
our hubs to be able to operate normally with some water intrusion. Although the bearings are stain-
less steel and will resist water induced corrosion, the lubricant will eventually deteriorate, leading to
premature bearing wear and possible failure. High-pressure spray washing, transporting or riding
the bicycle in the rain, or submersion in water while riding can all lead to lubricant contamination
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