Hi Jerry,
I've got a Hi-E spoke wrench I'm happy to lend to you if you need it. I've never used it, so can't speak to the technique to be used. From its appearance, I'd say it is inserted into the rim hole from the outside of the rim and is used to turn the head of the spoke nipple.
On the other hand, I have three wheels built with Hi-E rims and one extra rim. All three built rims use conventional spoke nipples that require a conventional spoke wrench. Two of these have Avocet hubs and the third is a rear wheel built with a Hi-E hub and Hi-E rim. Regarding spokes, all three are built 3x. All three have spokes with an "E" on the end. Does this mean they are Hi-E spokes? I don't know. Do you?
The rear wheel built with a Hi-E hub and rim is 3x. It is a bit hard to measure precisely, but the spokes appear to be approx. 292cm. It looks as if they could be as long as, say, 298cm without projecting beyond the outside of the rim.
Off-list, I will email you photos of the spoke wrench, wheels and spoke nipples.
Hope that helps. Let me know if you have any other questions.
Best,
David
David G. White Burlington, VT
Jerome & Elizabeth Moos wrote:
> Thanks to the CR members who helped me sort out the Hi-E wheelset, bought from another CR member, which I installed on my recently rebuilt Cuevas. Top quality American road parts are relatively rare, but I like to use them on American frames whenever possible.
>
> Now another question. I have (obtained a while back from a CR member of course) a Hi-E front wheel with Hi-E hub, Hi-E rim, and I assume Hi-E spokes. It is 2x. But there are no spoke nipples in the usual sense, no place to use a conventional spoke wrench. Does anyone know how the heck one goes about tensioning this wheel? I obtained at the same time an unbuilt Hi-E rim. Could these rims be built with conventional spokes? Any clue where one would find a spoke length chart for Hi-E rims?
>
> Regards,
>
> Jerry Moos
> Big Spring, TX