HillRider

I haven't seen any replacement parts listed and the claim is nothing wears out. We'll see. Check back with me in 10 years or so.

However, only "wear part" is the gasket and since the knurled ring adjusts it for clearance and the fact it isn't tight on the valve stem until you shut the side lever means the wear should be very minor. Unlike the Silca head, the gasket isn't forced over and off the stem each time it's used.

chucky

Does it get the tires pumped up or not?

kamtsa

Thanks HillRider, very clear description. I just order the KCNC valve. From the pictures it seems that it operates in a similar way. I liked its colors.

Occasional indulgences lift the spirit ;-)

2_i 

Please provide a report when you feel ready.

HillRider

+1. I'll be very interested in knowing how this very similar looking head works out.

kamtsa

Will do but of course I will not be able to provide a comparison between the two ;-)

Soil_Sampler

looks nice.


https://fairwheelbikes.com/kcnc-pump-head-p-2000.html

DRietz

It pumps up schrader tires. Doesn't get my presta tubes past 60psi, which sucks because I don't even ride 'cross. Bummer.

Mr. Fly

I have a friend who wrenches for professional teams and he also highly recommends the Hirame chuck. Perhaps due to use in a professional environment, the gasket in his chuck has a service life of less than a year (at least that's how I remembered it).

He mentioned that the gaskets are not very expensive ($2 each?) but they're fairly hard to find, so he picks up a few when he transits through Japan. I know that Jitensha in Berkeley, CA has these listed for about $3 but I don't know if they actually have them in stock.

kamtsa

[QUOTE=Soil_Sampler;12063706]looks nice.



The valve picture seems to me as synthetic rendering from a CAD software. Too pretty to be true.

HillRider

Thanks for the lead on the replacement gaskets. I hope that my home use will make it last a lot longer than one year but it's nice to know new ones are available. Perhaps the pro mechanics set the head a lot tighter than I do so the gasket sees more wear when it's pressed on and off the valve stem.

ibis_ti

Bought the same one. It works only marginally better than the silca...basically the same design with the release valve. It's a pain to get off on stems that are not smooth, especially with a short hose. Good thing I didn't spend that much on it.

I guess I'll try the kcnc or topeak head/hose next.

kamtsa

Just got the KCNC valve. Construction looks solid and it feels like quality. However, it barely hold my Presta valve (Schwalbe tires with threaded stem valve). The problem is the depth of the KCNC valve hole which is only 11.5mm. This requires to fully unthread the presta lock ring and even then it barely hold the valve on 2-3 stem threads. Compare this with the Silca valve which is 26mm deep and holds the stem securely.

I don't recommended purchasing this valve, at least if your Presta valves looks like mine. The Silca valve is definitely better. I Will call the vendor tomorrow and see if I can return it.

HillRider, what is the depth of the hole of the Hirame valve?

HillRider

The Hirame measures 27 mm internally from the top of the knurled adjustment collar to the far end the of the body.

I've used it on valve stems with very short exposure and those with a lot of exposed length, both smooth and threaded, and it works on all of them.

kamtsa

Sounds much better than the KCNC one.

BTW, the Hirame is out of stock at https://www.excelsports.com , your posting must created an increasing demand.

HillRider

It was out of stock at Excel when I bought mine too. I got it from Ben's Cycle in Milwaukee after finding them with a Google search. (www.benscycle.net) Delivery was super fast by USPS priority mail and shipping was reasonable.

kamtsa

Thanks HillRider. I ended ordering it from AlexCycles with a spare replacement seal.

https://www.alexscycle.com/misc-/othe...hose-band.html

With shipping to the US, it came to about the same price.

They also have few kinds of adapters that I did not buy.

2_i 

Wow, thanks, I did not realize there was a Japanese store that actually was forthcoming with assisting foreign customers. I had plenty of problems ordering from Japan before. Is there any chance HillRider, that you might assess how well this Schrader adapter, offered by Alex's Cycles, could work with the Hirame head? Several bikes I need to service have Schrader valves that will not go away anytime soon, so versatility or potential versatility is welcome for me.

HillRider

I looked at the web site and I believe the Schrader adapter would be a PITA to use as you would have to disassemble the head and change and adjust the collar each time you changed valve types

If I had to deal with Schrader valves with any frequency I'd just get a second cheap pump with a dual head. In my experience, dual heads work better with Schrader valves than they do with prestas. For infrequent Schrader use, I'd just use one of the Schrader-to-presta thread on adapters. And yes they make adapters to allow a presta pump to work on Schrader valves but are not quite as easy to find as the more common reverse type.

Soil_Sampler

Jitensa has been selling the Hirame for a long time.

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...=1#post6759283

kamtsa

Got today the Hirame valve. It arrived from Japan in less than a week and the total cost is competitive with US online vendors (cost me about $80 including shipping and a spare rubber seal).

The valve is larger and heavier than the KCNC valve (which did not really work), feels like quality and holds well the Presta stem.

Cons:
1. In the open state the lever is loose which gives it a cheap cheap feel (vs. the more stable feel of the KCNC which uses ball bearing).
2. The lever is on the right side which makes it optimized for left hand operation (I am right handed).

Overall it works very well for me and is definitely a keeper.

Verdict: If you care about value, the Silca valve is probably a much better choice. If you have money that burns a hole in your pocket you may want to try the Hirame.

2_i 

A slightly cheaper option for Hirame, than Alex's Cycles, is the Track Supermarket. However, they do not offer replacement washers. Now I wonder whether someone fluent in Japanese can decipher what at least the main replacement parts are in the leaflet provided with the HP-20 head:



I am puzzled in particular by the items identified in terms of millimeters, from 4 mm to 8 mm.

Below is my Schrader-Presta adapter, combining Silca #2220 adapter with Topeak Pressure-Rite right-angle adapter:

2_i 

UPDATE: I now have the Schrader pieces for the Hirame head. While the head generally works fine with Schrader valves, one aspect that some might not like is that the central pin gets depressed right when placing the head over the valve, rather than when tightening the grip. If you do it quickly, you do not care. Change of the setup, between Presta and Schrader, is quick - you replace two ring inserts under the front nut.

Sixty Fiver

My least favourite pump is the Park... they are not well made enough to handle a shop environment and develop seal issues as well as having a head that does not have a good operational life.

I normally use a compressor in my shop with a regular chuck and an adapter for Presta valves and my floor pump is a $25.00 BCTO with a replacement universal head and longer hose that I have been using for years with no issues.

* There is nothing wrong with Shrader valves on bicycles if the rim is wide enough and you are not using tubulars... Presta valve use is limited to bicycles while Shraders are used in every other application that requires compressed air.

Soil_Sampler

Tanaka


EAI