Jump to content

KS-18XL side covers coming loose, FIXED


Uno Solo

Recommended Posts

The left cover shell on my new King Song KS18XL came loose after a couple weeks at around 500km. When it happened, I took off the cover shell and found that it is screwed to the body through nuts that are semi-embedded into the body and glued.

My first attempt at repairing was to super-glue all of the nuts back on. It held for another 100km, but pulled apart again, and then the right side shell cover also started having the same issue.

Knowing that re-gluing was only a temporary fix, I was determined to come up with a permanent solution. I decided that backing screws would be the strongest, but the original screws were too long to allow a second screw through the other side.

I recognized that the screws are the same as used in computers for securing a motherboard to the chassis, so I started searching through the screws I had accumulated over the years. I found that I had the correct length screws and enough of them for the entire project. The replacement screw lengths are 6mm for the cover shell side (down from the original 7.67mm), and 4.75mm for the inside backing screw.

I used a rounded head for the inside backing screws, but ideally the screw head would be flat and thin. The third of the five screws has a possibility of rubbing the tire. However, I've found that with the improved rigidity after the upgrade, there is no rubbing. Before the upgrade with the cover shells separating, the body flexed enough for the tire to rub against the inner side of the plastic body.

I found many videos on YouTube with KS-18L disassembly instructions. I liked KingSong KS-18L tyre and inner tube change - disassembly - Justina's Garage (ep. 6). I figured that removing the wheel from the body would give me enough room to install the backing screws and I was right, but it was difficult and I needed a special tool. I used this PITTSBURGH Right Angle Screwdriver Set from Harbor Freight. Taping the screws to the bit helped a lot for the hard to reach holes.

I hope that King Song incorporates this improvement into their design. I also highly recommend that anyone with a KS-18L or KS-18XL do this upgrade. Especially since I and rode with with the cover loose and lost one of the nuts to vibration.

1_cover_off.jpg

2_glue_failure.jpg

3_original_screw.jpg

4_new_screw.jpg

5_new_back_screw.jpg

6_new_screws.jpg

7_installed.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

5 hours ago, Stephen Halford said:

on my ks18-l they breaking off ... made a 3d print to go round the brass nuts link below

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3213894

That looks like an easier solution if one has a 3d printer handy. How are they holding up?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...
On 1/28/2019 at 6:36 AM, nguymin said:

Hello Uno solo,

I checked the inside side of my KS 18XL and i don't see any hole so i wonder how do you do to to put the screw from the inside ?

Thanks

Hi nguymin,

That is interesting, mine had holes, but they were too small for the screws. I had to enlarge the holes, which I did with a powered screwdriver and the screws themselves. It was easy since the existing small holes were good pilot holes.

If you don't have any hole, a drill would be better.

How many standoff nuts have failed so far?

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have just received my wheel so none nuts have failed but i see many posts were the nuts are gone. Maybe it’s a good prevention to do what you have done.

But i don’t think it’s possible if the nut is not broken because the hole of the nut is too small to perforate from the other side.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

18 hours ago, nguymin said:

I have just received my wheel so none nuts have failed but i see many posts were the nuts are gone. Maybe it’s a good prevention to do what you have done.

But i don’t think it’s possible if the nut is not broken because the hole of the nut is too small to perforate from the other side.

If you have a new wheel with all of the nuts still in place then @Seba's hot glue solution looks like the way to go.  It would be significantly less work than installing backing screws.  If I bought a new wheel I would immediately add a big hot glue base to each nut going all the way up and over the top of the nut a little, just like Seba did. If @Stephen Halford released his 3D printer model file, I would be tempted to try his method too. There are 3D printers at many libraries and makerspaces now.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...