Re: [CR]Re:Hi-E - Still in Business???

(Example: Framebuilding:Norris Lockley)

Date: Wed, 13 Jul 2005 11:48:16 -0700 (PDT)
From: Jerome & Elizabeth Moos <jerrymoos@sbcglobal.net>
Subject: Re: [CR]Re:Hi-E - Still in Business???
To: George Allen <jgallen@lexairinc.com>, classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
In-Reply-To: <6.1.2.0.0.20050713133716.01c06bd0@mail1.lexairinc.com>


I haven't used them much, so no warranty implied. Ride at your own risk. I have a ride with a 60 kph mountain descent and I'm not sure I'd ride them on that one. That said, if the nut works loose (I presume that is the typical problem) on level ground, you wouldn't expect to lose the front wheel unless you hit a bump large enough to lift the front wheel clearly off the ground. On the rear, a loose nut would usually cause the chain to pull the wheel forward into the seattube. So it would seem a problem would not be catastropic at moderate speed on flat ground, but at high speed or over rough surfaces, it could be pretty nasty. Maybe someone who's had these fail can give some more detail of exactly what resulted.

Regards,

Jerry Moos Houston, TX

George Allen <jgallen@lexairinc.com> wrote: Thanks so much for the guidance on the Hi-E hub re-spacing. The two Marks, Jerry and Eugene have been extremely helpful.

I have 3 of the Hi-E QR skewars and I haven't summoned the courage to use them. The tightening pin is so short I can't imagine much torque could be applied unless one were to use a cheater bar on them. And, of course, then you would need the cheater bar for removal. They are unbelievably light, though, and very well machined. Now that Jerry has used them without serious injury I guess I'll have to give them a try.

George Allen Lexington, Ky

At 01:03 PM 7/13/2005, Jerome & Elizabeth Moos wrote:
>Was the skewer problem with the later plastic-nut version, or the original
>alloy-nut version, or both?
>
>Regards,
>
>Jerry Moos
>Houston, TX
>
>Eugene Powell wrote:
>First off, those were called "Hi-E Death Skewers" for a reason. A
>friend had many opportunities to chase his own wheel down the road and
>
>trail before switching out for a pair of American Classic QRs. Your
>dissatisfaction may have saved your life..............................
>
>A friend and housemate in college (que Tom Lehrer) was raised in
>Nashville TN, and went home to work at a local shop in the summers. He
>
>knew Harlan's son through the shop, he even went out to the shop a few
>
>times. I've been at him to find out what's become of Hi-E for several
>years now, and if old inventory, drawings, etc. could be had to keep
>all this fun stuff on the road. No luck so far, these folks seem to
>have dropped of the face of the earth.
>
>Anybody from Nashville?
>
>On Jul 13, 2005, at 9:13 AM, Jerome & Elizabeth Moos wrote:
>
> > So, does anyone know the answer to whether Hi-E is still in business
>
> > and whether Harlan is still involved? Several years ago I bought
>some
> > not-so-quick release skewers from them, but even then, I understood
> > that Harlan was trying to retire. I was a little disappointed in
>the
> > skewers, BTW, as they had plastic wingnute, not the original-type
> > alloy nuts.
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > Jerry Moos

>

>

>Gene Powell

>Rad Finishes

>Portland, OR