I just recieved a new HED 3 spoke rear and mounted it and it has some play…seems I can jiggle it side to side a bit.
How do I tighten it up? Do I have to take the cluster off first?
You adjust the cones from the kickstand side, so you don’t need to take the cogs off. You will need a 13mm cone wrench and a 17mm wrench for the outer lock nut. Put both wrenches on and loosen the outer locknut. Next finger tighten the cone (the inner threaded part that goes into the cartridge bearing) and then put both wrenches back on and snug them up tight again. The thing to remember is that you do not put a wrench on both sides of the wheel to tighten stuff up - wrenches always go on the same side of the wheel.
I believe there is a write-up somewhere on this site about adjusting bearings, it is probably better than my quickie explanation. You can also always call: 888-246-3639. No voicemail jail, if someone is here you get a real human, if not it is the answering machine.
-andy
Thanks for the response, Andy. I spoke to All3Sports, where I bought it and they said they it is not unusual for HED’s to required the lock nut under the cluster to be tightened…and their practice with returned wheels is to clean the threads and use locktite on them…
Since I have a race Sun., where I am trying to qualify for Kona, and have to leave for it tomorrow morning…I took it to an LBS to do the work since it sounded not so easy…They tell me that it is more complicated than what All3 said and that they are “taking the wheel apart” . I will let you know what they come up with. Too bad it happened to a new wheel right before a race…