Boost CL Manual
Congratulations!
You have just purchased the finest hubs available. With proper care and maintenance you will enjoy many years of the legendary performance you have come to expect from all Chris King Precision Components. This manual is designed to give you the information needed for the setup, use, and basic maintenance of your new hubs.
As with all Chris King Precision Components, our hubs are superbly designed and manufactured, responsibly light, and meticulously finished. Our hubs feature our patented RingDrive engagement system spinning around a 19.5mm aluminum axle on four sets of precision bearings, all of which are manufactured in-house. This combination, housed in an elegant aluminum shell, offers the solid and reliable performance demanded by serious cyclists. Like all of our components, our ISO hubs are user serviceable.
Cautions
Do not use thread-locking compound on any part of your hub(s). The aluminum driveshells of the rear hubs are softer than the steel shells, and we recommend using “spidered”-style cassettes when possible. Avoid using individual cog-style cog sets with aluminum driveshells. We recommend using our aluminum or Ti cog lock rings when installing 9 and 10 speed drivetrains for increased thread purchase.
Chris King hubs feature adjustable bearing preload. The bearings should be kept in proper adjustment for optimum product performance. Do not allow the adjustment to become loose, as this may cause a loss of performance and could lead to damage to the hubs.
Chris King hubs with two piece axles are designed to be used in conjunction with quick-release skewers. It is recommended that the skewer develop a minimum of 1100 lbs. of clamping force when set. For best performance, use skewers with steel shafts. Titanium shafted skewers are not recommended.
Boost CenterLock™ hubs
The Chris King Centerlock™ rotor mounting system is licensed from Shimano®. Centerlock™ is a proprietary mounting system that requires a Shimano® lockring to complete installation of rotor. Chris King Boost CenterLock™ hubs are compatible with the following Shimano® lockrings:
- Front (Y8K198010) – Typically supplied with genuine Shimano rotor. Optionally, (Y26N98030) can be run to match the required rear lockring (typically sold as an aftermarket part, also available direct through Chris King under part number PHB355).
- Rear (Y26N98030) – Typically sold as an aftermarket part, also available direct through Chris King under part number PHB355 (required).
For CenterLock™ rotor installation instructions see page 3.
*Note rotors should only be installed once wheel build is completed.
Front hub diagram
Rear hub diagram
Centerlock Rotor Installation
Please follow the rotor manufacturer’s installation instructions.
Wheel building
Chris King Boost CenterLock™ hubs are designed to work with 13, 14 or 15 gauge spokes. Disc brake wheels must be laced using at least a 2 cross lacing pattern. As the torque generated by driving the cassette requires crossed spokes, so does the additional torque on the non-drive side flange generated by the braking action. Radial lacing your hubs is considered outside of the intended use and will void your warranty. We will not be responsible for damaged or destroyed hubs, any consequential damages, or any resulting labor costs due to radial lacing your hub.
Proper wheel building technique is essential in creating a strong wheel. Wheel building is a skill that requires proper training and specialized tools and should be done by a trained professional. The spoke tension on each side of the wheel should be as uniform as possible. Tension should not exceed 120kgf (1200N).
The hub(s) come pre-adjusted from the factory, however, a minor adjustment should be performed upon completion of the wheel build. Click here for a quick edit showing pre-load adjustment.
FRONT HUB SPECS FOR WHEEL BUILDING:
Axle Width: 110mm
Flange Diameter DS & NDS: 57.4mm
Center to Flange DS: 35.5mm
Center to Flange NDS: 27.5mm
REAR HUB SPECS FOR WHEEL BUILDING:
Axle Width: 148mm
Flange Diameter DS & NDS: 57.4mm
Center to Flange DS: 24mm
Center to Flange NDS: 36.3mm
Frame Preparation
Check frame and fork dropouts to ensure that they are parallel to each other. Use an appropriate tool made by a reputable bicycle tool manufacturer. Non-parallel dropouts may damage or compromise the performance of your hub.
Installation and Removal of the rotor
Please follow your brake manufacturer’s specifications for rotor installation and rotor bolt torque specifications.
Hub Identification and Attachment Type
Boost CL 110 x 15mm front and 148 x 12mm rear Boost hubs are attached with a thru axle. The thru axle is supplied by the fork and / or frame manufacturer. Chris King 148 x 12mm rear hubs are designed to be used in conjunction with 12mm thru-axles only. Total axle width is 148mm.
Break-In
Once your new hub is placed in service, some settling may occur. Check adjustment by attaching wheel into dropouts. Ride for 5-10 minutes, check for play or binding, and readjust if necessary. Recheck after the first 1-5 hours of riding. Check cog lock ring on rear hubs after the first 20 hours of use, and tighten if necessary. Continue monitoring for the first 60 hours of use.
During the first 60 hours of use, above average amounts of drag may be noticed. This is normal as the seals break in, and will soon diminish. If this causes chain sag while back-pedaling, increase the B-tension (cage tension) on the rear derailleur.
The bearing grease is intentionally overpacked and excess grease may seep from the bearing seals during the break-in period.
Maintenance
Maintenance schedule
Chris King ISO Hubs are designed to provide long life and high performance. Beyond an occasional adjustment, the only maintenance necessary is cleaning, lubricating the RingDrive (see “The RingDrive”, pg. 15), and re-lubricating the bearings (see “Service of the bearings”, pg. 17). Riding conditions will determine how often to maintain your hubs. As a beginning guideline, your hubs should be maintained every 6-12 months in normal and dry conditions and every 3 months in wet or muddy conditions.
The bearings in your new Chris King hubs are of the highest quality. However, all bearings 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.
A complete servicing (removal and cleaning) of the RingDrive should be performed annually or if foreign debris is detected in the grease and/or the grease looks hard or dry. This may be needed if bearing and freewheel drag is noticed as well.
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 services at reasonable rates. Contact the Customer Service hotline at 800-523-6008 for details.
Lubrication
Normal conditions
In normal riding conditions (32°-110°F), Use Chris King Silver Grease for our bearings and RingDrive Lube 2.0 for the RingDrive. 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.
Wet conditions
Riding in wet conditions necessitates more frequent service. Often this is as simple as removing the axle and driveshell from the hub and removing any moisture from inside the hub shell. This should not replace periodic complete disassembly 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 stainless 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 by water. Be aware of these situations and service more frequently when they occur.
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 stainless 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 by water. Be aware of these situations and service more frequently when they occur.
The RingDrive™
Inspection
Having removed the axle and driveshell (as instructed in “Disassembly...” pgs 10 and 11), the RingDrive is accessible through the large side of the hub shell. Visually inspect the hub’s interior. Under normal conditions the grease should look moist and may have darkened slightly. A modest film should coat the moving parts.
As with the rest of the hub, the RingDrive is designed to operate with some water contamination. Water intrusion can usually be remedied with basic maintenance. However, if foreign debris is detectable in the grease and/or the grease looks hard or dry, then a complete removal and servicing of the RingDrive may be necessary.
Basic Service
- Push the drive ring with helical splines inward to open a gap, exposing the drive teeth and flush the interior with a light solvent-based lubricant until the area appears clean.
- Using a toothbrush, pull the bristles across the helix in an outward direction. Work your way all the way around the inner circumference to remove any small particles that may be in the spline grooves.
- Clean the Helix on the Driveshell with the same solvent and toothbrush. Brush outwards along the splines to clean out any debris and old lube.
- Clean the helix inside the hub, and driveshell with a lint free rag until dry. If compressed air is available, blow along the helix to remove any debris or leftover solvent, and wipe dry with a lint free rag.
- Lubricate the Drive Ring helical splines with RingDrive Lube 2.0. Apply so all splines are coated. Open a gap between the Drive and Driven rings and apply lube in the gap so all teeth are coated.
- Lubricate the helical splines on the driveshell with RingDrive Lube 2.0, so that all splines have a light coating of lube.
*A max of 40 drops (2ml) should be used for steps 5 and 6 combined
- Reinstall the Driveshell and test the engagement of the RingDrive by spinning in both directions. If there is no engagement, or a delay in engagement, follow steps 1-6 again until hub engages properly.
Full Service of the RingDrive™
In addition to the basic maintenance of the RingDrive, a complete removal and servicing may be necessary. Complete service requires our Hub Service Tool Kit and, as a basic guideline, should be performed at least once every 12 to 24 months. 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 services at reasonable rates. Contact the Customer Service hotline at 800-523-6008 for details.
Basic Disassembly of rear Centerlock Boost
- Remove the thru axle, cassette lockring and cassette from hub.
- Remove the non-driveside axle end cap from the axle assembly by pulling it off the axle, or use a small flat head screwdriver to gently pry it off at the split.
- Loosen the T10 Torx Screw on the adjusting clamp. Insert the T10 Torx Key into the helper hole on the adjusting clamp opposite to the T10 Torx bolt. Use the T10 Torx key as a lever to unscrew the adjusting clamp (counter clockwise) and remove it from the axle.
- Remove the driveshell and axle by holding the hubshell or wheel in one hand and with the other hand pull the driveshell out of the hubshell assembly while rotating counterclockwise.
Service of the bearings
Please click here for detailed information on servicing our bearings.
Additional Support
Additional questions? Please email us at info@chrisking.com or call the Customer Service hotline at 800-523-6008.
Lifetime Warranty
Hubs, Headsets, and Bottom Brackets, including the bearings, are warranted for the lifetime of the original purchaser. All other products are warranted for the following periods: Cielo Frames and Stems (5 years), Accessories (1 year), Soft Goods (90 days), Wheels (The hubs only are warranted for the life of the original purchaser. All other wheel components that are not manufactured by King Cycle such as, but without limitation, rims, spokes, and nipples, are not warranted by King Cycle.).
This Limited Warranty does not cover damage or failure resulting from misuse, abuse, alteration, neglect, crash or impact, accidents, failure to perform routine maintenance, improper installation, use other than that for which the Product was intended, and normal wear and tear. This Limited Warranty does not cover any Product where the serial number has been altered or removed.
Any Chris King product that is found by Chris King Precision Components to be defective in materials or workmanship will be repaired or replaced at the discretion of Chris King Precision Components.
In order to make a warranty claim, the Chris King product alone (i.e., not including any other equipment such as cassettes, skewers, steering tubes, etc.), together with a copy of the original receipt showing the date of purchase of the product, must be returned to Chris King Precision Components at the address set forth on its website (www.chrisking.com) postage prepaid. If a defect is found, our entire liability and your sole remedy shall be, at our option, free repair or replacement of the Chris King product. Chris King Precision Components shall not be held liable for any indirect, special, punitive, or consequential damages. The warranty does not cover any Chris King Precision Components product where the serial number has been altered or removed.
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, this written express limited warranty is in lieu of all other warranties, implied or expressed, and does not cover any representation or warranty made by dealers beyond the provisions of this warranty. If any implied warranties exist by applicable law, such implied warranties shall be limited to the duration of the express limited warranty for the product. Some U.S. states and foreign countries provide rights in addition to those above or do not allow the exclusion or limitation of certain warranties or limitation of liability for certain types of damages. Therefore, the above limitations may not apply to you or there may be laws of a state or foreign country which supersede the above. Any clause of this limited warranty or any disclaimer or limitation of liability contained herein that is declared invalid shall be deemed severable and not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining clauses.
You are strongly encouraged to register your Chris King product on the website within thirty (30) days of the original date of purchase. Registration will assist us in processing your warranty claim and in expediting our response.