I’m about to purchase a disk. I’m looking at a gently used HED. I see people talking about difficulties inflating disks and the need for a “track pump” and “crack pipe” Can’t I use my regular pump. What do you think about a used HED disk?
I would be careful with the HED stuff…I got a new HED3 rear and first time I rode it something “cracked” and it was definitely out of true…the HED folks were nice enough but said it was a problem that could be fixed with the kickstand side…then I called the place I bought it (All3 Sports) who said HED’s often had a problem with the drive side lock nut and they have to reset them…then I took it to my LBS who found a cracked shim. When I told HED this, they said “that” couldn’t be possible. I have the broken shim in a bag…but the wheel seemed to be rideable. (it was that which is tubular to match my front wheel or my trainers which are both clinchers…)
HED said they would re-true it for me.
Anyway, the wheel was noted at the bike check-in at Eagleman as being out of true, but I rode on it anyway…and now I have a full schedule of races and my new wheel is either less than what I expected or it will have to be returned to the shop and I’ll be riding on training wheels for a key race or two.
I have heard HED’s never quite get into true and that isn’t a big problem as long as it is minor, being that you can’t adjust the carbon “spokes”. But the hub thing seems like either a design flaw or a manufacturing error.
I will let you know how my situation gets resolved.
Felix. the cutout for the valve stem only goes half way through the wheel, which means you have to have a chuck head on the pump that is smaller in depth and there fore needs to be replaced with the “crack pipe” (low profile) chuck head that you can buy from most tri shops
As an alternate view. . .I have had 3 sets of Hed wheels, bought new. I currently have the Hed aerobars mounted on my TT bike. I have had NONE of the issues that Reggiedog writes of. In fact, my H3s are, if anything, more true than the set of original Specialized Trispokes that I had. Just a second opinion.
As for the pump issue, there are some pumps that work, some that don’t. The crack pipe solution applies to Silca products in that the stock head doesn’t fit the cutout very well, if at all. You have to use the crack pipe.
I have a HED Jet front, Jet DEEP rear, and a Disc. I bought all of them used and have not had any problems with them. I have a HED wheel bag also, which I think is the best wheel bag out there. It carries 2 wheels, has pockets for skewers and is nicely padded.
I use Silca adapter (crack pipe), on the Disc, since my pump has a large head. It’s inexpensive and works.
i’ve owned a hed disc actually 2 of them, and currently own a rear hed jet and hed stinger deep.
I’ve not had any problems except ripping the hub out of the disc once during a warm up for a TT. it somehow unattached itself from the carbon, it was also about 5 yrs old. I had a new hed disc w/in about 10 days from them. the replacement policy was $150 for any wheel i wanted.
I’ve had no problems witht the hed wheels otherwise