Hi-E
 

I'd like this thread to be a comprehensive resource for all things Hi-E. If you've got pics of your Hi-E parts, reviews of the parts you have used, links, insight or any info at all post it up! I've amassed a little collection so I'll start with some pics of my stuff.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3663/...f2bec897_o.jpghttp://farm4.static.flickr.com/3453/...1f7782588a.jpg


And one link ('cause there isn't much out there....):
http://www.classicrendezvous.com/USA/Hi_E.htm


So...Whatcha got?

I used to have one of the front hubs on the right. I think I may have had a rear hub. Don't remember what happened to them. If I did have a rear hub, it was either high flange or hi/low. My friend had high/low laced radially on the non-drive side. We both had weight weenie Teledyne titans.

I saw Phil Wood's site said he pioneered the use of sealed bearings on bicycles, and I was wondering if Harlan didn't beat him by a short time. I loved the Hi-E pedals, never owned any though.

Those rims were a trip. I knew a fairly large guy that used to ride them, he ran a stop sign (during a race? I forget) and wiped the rims out on a car. My friend with the Teledyne had the rims. Incredibly light, but my friend only weight about 120.

Did he make seatposts? I have one I have been thinking is a Hi-E, but now I'm doubting myself.

Here's the link to the current Hi-E entries over at Velobase.

Most rims are extrusions, the Hi-E rims were made from aluminum sheet.

I remember there being a seam that should be visible in the rims pictured above.

There certainly is a seam on the other side. It's kinda scary looking! The seam coupled with the extremely light weight of the rims is not very confidence inspiring....:twitchy:

only one front hub, and it's SOLD 32-hole NOS and included the not-correct but still sort of related American Classic skewer in B&W.
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g1...20hub/HiE1.jpg
I wonder if both Bullseye (Burbank, CA) and Harlan didn't beat out Phil Woods in the use of seal cartridge bearings...anybody know? Another trivia question: Harlan was selling a load of his equipment and supplies a few years back (but not *everything*, primarily just his rim-making stuff) anybody know who bought him out?

Phil was around in 1971 for sure.

Hi-E was the first to use needle bearings in a front hub, the small diameter early units promoted that, the heavy duty larger barrel diameter versions might have been different.

Don't forget Bill Shook, his hubs migrated to become Weyless. (Designing the Future)

Bill Shook also was the man behind American Classic, which he sold and then *bought back*! I see there's a pic on CR showing Harlan making adjustments to one of his Cosmopolitan bikes in 1971...so maybe he tied with Phil Wood in the "first cartridge bearing" race.

I had forgotten about Bill Shook. I don't think it was all that easy in the mid '70s for a teenager in the mountains of Virginia to get his stuff. Saw it at races every now and then.

This is the only photo I found. I used to have a pair of Hi-E's that came on my wife's old Super Course. They were laced to a pristine pair of Module E rims. I dismantled the wheels, sold the Hi-E's and rebuilt the rims up with Campy hubs that are now in use on my P-13.

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...la/Hi-Ehub.jpg

I posted about my "free" Hi-e hub in another post. It's a high/low flange rear. I figured it was 36 holes, but when I went to count, it is 12 holes on one side and 24 on the drive side! I guess I need to find some symmetrically drilled 36 hole rims.

I still have a set of those.:) 5 speed spacing though :(

I had a Hi-E water bottle cage that was held on with a traditional hose clamp...It wobbled too loose to use after a month or so...

i also had a club set of wjeels i always borrowed for time trials...The superlight ones woth the spoke nipples hidden in the rim.I always used my campy skewers,though. Never had any problems....They had green-label clement silks with red tread...They sure looked trick...

Hi-E 32hole 135mm I hear his shop is closed/For Sale (Hi-E Engineering 2420 Cruzen St Nashville, TN, 37211)
Anyone know any more about Harlen Meyers?

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/h...r/DSC00736.jpg

Thanks for adding your hub! I've got some more bits to add myself including some minty pedals, a spoke wrench and nipples...

The last post in this thread is from 9 years ago but I just lucked into some NOS Hi-E hubs for cheap so I'll post them on here.

Rear 130mm OLD with freewheel threading, blue anodized, 28h. It has the same number of holes on both sides (14) but the driveside flange is slightly larger than the NDS. Front, pink anodized, 32h, symmetric.

Not sure when these are from. I've seen a blue ano one on the internet before but that's the only non-silver one I've seen besides the black one above. I have a feeling late 80s or early 90s due to the ano and rear spacing.

Now the question...should I build some wheels with these? I'm 140 pounds. It would be a 700Cx38mm wheelset going on a 70s road bike.




https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4903/...0dab960c_b.jpg

Killer weight weenie hubs and you're the right size to use them. Can't really help you with dating but 130 OLD freewheel probably puts them late 80's. The Hi-Lo is cool too.

Oh h**l yeah, make it so. ;)

I'm running these Hi-E hubs laced to Fiamme tubular rims on my 1971 P13 Paramount. I tried using the Hi-E wingnut QR skewers, but they would not hold. I felt the Simplex ones looked the part.

https://i125.photobucket.com/albums/...ps1jugsnid.jpg
https://i125.photobucket.com/albums/...ps92xlzmfc.jpg
@TenGrainBread, thanks for resurrecting this thread. I made this purchase after it faded into our C&V past. :thumb:

Might be the colors.
The rear hubs could be set up in several different lengths.

I have a set that @speedevil just finished building for my Titan, which will pretty much finish the build.
(though I waffle to/from Dura Ace AX pieces in my head....)

HOWEVER

I still have a set of hubs. The front is 32h, the rear is 36h (hi/low) but I'm missing the outer cap on the DS for the rear. I need the one for 120mm.
Any help on this?

I went to the First Flight site, no response, so I called them, and they said the Hi-E founder's son now has the large stash of hub parts.

If anyone has a rear complete or a DS cap, I'd be most interested.
MO$T.

UPDATE: a BF member sent me the phone number for the guy with the Hi-E hubs/parts/etc.
Nice guy, but if I want a part, I would have to drive there, which is 10 hours.
I don't think he considers them as a business venture, that's all.