Removing HEATED grips

[Prairiehammer]

My Venture is equipped with Hot Grips™ heated grips. The right grip is not fully installed onto the throttle tube, leaving it approximately three-eighths shy of the switch housing. This is unsightly and annoying, because of the increased reach to the various switches, especially the cruise control button.

According to Hot Grip, the grip should have been installed with a slow set epoxy. There is some epoxy appearing residue on the end of the grip closest to the switch housing.

How would one remove the grip without damaging the grip or the throttle tube?

[dingy]

I found a junk throttle grip in my spare parts that was glued like yours probably is. I took a razor knife and split outer and inner shell to get tube out. Try this and if you can't get it I will send you this tube.

 

Gary

[Guest tx2sturgis]

I would try this first:

 

Turn on the grips, set for 'high', and after several minutes, see if the epoxy has begun to soften. If the epoxy type really is the quickset (200f) variety, it may soften a bit as the grip gets hot. Obviously you should try this in a heated garage, not outside when its 20 degrees!

 

If the epoxy stays hard, they may have used slow-set. (250f)

 

You may need to provide a potent 12V supply to the single grip directly, by disconnecting it and attaching it directly to a regular car or marine battery. If no luck, wrap a single small piece of aluminum foil around the grip to increase the heat level. You dont want to melt the throttle sleeve, so keep a watchful eye on things. I also would not try this for more than about 15 or 20 minutes. You should know something by then.

 

If it loosens even a little bit, it may be possible to slowly remove it from the throttle sleeve.

 

If not, you may have to cut the grip off and buy a new one, and/or possibly a new throttle sleeve.

 

Good luck.

Edited November 4, 2013 by tx2sturgis

[dacheedah]

I was going to say a heat gun

[dingy]

I guess I was wrong assuming your goal was to save inner tube and replace grips.

Hate it when that happens.

Gary

[Prairiehammer]

I guess I was wrong assuming your goal was to save inner tube and replace grips.

 

That's OK, Gary.

 

From my OP:

 

How would one remove the grip without damaging the grip or the throttle tube?

 

I would try this first:

 

Turn on the grips, set for 'high', and after several minutes, see if the epoxy has begun to soften. If the epoxy type really is the quickset (200f) variety, it may soften a bit as the grip gets hot. Obviously you should try this in a heated garage, not outside when its 20 degrees!

 

If the epoxy stays hard, they may have used slow-set. (250f)

 

You may need to provide a potent 12V supply to the single grip directly, by disconnecting it and attaching it directly to a regular car or marine battery. If no luck, wrap a single small piece of aluminum foil around the grip to increase the heat level. You dont want to melt the throttle sleeve, so keep a watchful eye on things. I also would not try this for more than about 15 or 20 minutes. You should know something by then.

 

If it loosens even a little bit, it may be possible to slowly remove it from the throttle sleeve.

 

If not, you may have to cut the grip off and buy a new one, and/or possibly a new throttle sleeve.

 

Good luck.

 

Brian, I agree. My research indicates that heat is effective for decomposing epoxy. The trick is to heat the epoxy sufficiently without damaging the grip or the throttle tube.

Edited November 4, 2013 by Prairiehammer

[Guest tx2sturgis]

Any progress made here?

 

[Prairiehammer]

None, Brian.

 

I tried heating with a heat gun (1500 watt) while running the heater in the grip, but there was no movement or degradation of the epoxy. I did succeed in softening the grip's outer surface to the point of leaving weaving impressions from the shop rag I was using to protect my hands as I attempted to elicit some movement.

 

My next attempt is going to involve removing the grip/throttle tube from the bike and immersing the whole thing in boiling water.

 

If that fails, the grip and throttle tube are going into a 250º oven.

 

I have contacted Hot Grips™ support via email, but they have not replied.

[Guest tx2sturgis]

None, Brian.

 

I tried heating with a heat gun (1500 watt) while running the heater in the grip, but there was no movement or degradation of the epoxy. I did succeed in softening the grip's outer surface to the point of leaving weaving impressions from the shop rag I was using to protect my hands as I attempted to elicit some movement.

 

 

Heating the grip internally was my suggestion...heating it externally, the heat wont be able to reach the epoxy and heat it to over 200 degrees without softening or melting the rubber grip.

 

It may come to the point where you have to replace both the sleeve and the grip...good luck.

 

 

 

 

[Prairiehammer]

Heating the grip internally was my suggestion...heating it externally, the heat wont be able to reach the epoxy and heat it to over 200 degrees without softening or melting the rubber grip.

 

It may come to the point where you have to replace both the sleeve and the grip...good luck.

 

 

 

 

 

I did heat it internally, note that I had the grip heater running (direct wired to a deep cycle trolling motor battery). Nothing happened after 25 minutes, so I added some external heat in addition to the internally generated heat.

[Guest tx2sturgis]

I did heat it internally, note that I had the grip heater running (direct wired to a deep cycle trolling motor battery). Nothing happened after 25 minutes, so I added some external heat in addition to the internally generated heat.

 

Yes.

 

Well, it seems that the original installer probably used the proper slow-set epoxy, he just didnt push the grip onto the sleeve far enough, for whatever reason.

 

Its been about 6 years, so I'm barely able to recall, but it seems like I had to use a dremel tool to remove the 'ribs' on the throttle sleeve. Its possible he did something similar but not enough material was removed. Of course, I'm just speculating.

 

I also installed a set of HotGrips on my 2000 ElectraGlide back in 2001 I think. Its possible I'm confusing the throttle sleeve ribs on that one with what the sleeve on the RSV looks like. I'm an old fart and I admit it.

 

I wish I had taken pictures during the install...oh wait...maybe I did. Who knows where that 'film' would be....

 

 

 

 

[billmac]

I have removed them by taking a wire coat hanger and hammering it flat then working it into the grip then blowing air into the opening. just remember if all else fails you will be buying new grips. be careful.

[trippmann]

use compressed air. inject air between the grip and tube. this should help to separate the two materials

[Prairiehammer]

I have removed them by taking a wire coat hanger and hammering it flat then working it into the grip then blowing air into the opening.

 

That method works for conventional grips, but these heated grips consist of a soft rubbery compound cemented to a RIGID tube that contains the heating element. One can not work any tool between the rigid internal tube and the motorcycle's throttle tube. And the outboard end of the heated grip is closed, precluding attempts to break the epoxy loose.

 

just remember if all else fails you will be buying new grips. be careful.

 

And at $58 per grip from Hot Grips, I am trying valiantly to save the grips.

 

use compressed air. inject air between the grip and tube. this should help to separate the two materials

 

See above. There is no way to inject air between the grip and the throttle tube. What little void MAY have existed before being glued and installed was filled with impenetrable epoxy.

[Guest tx2sturgis]

And the outboard end of the heated grip is closed, precluding attempts to break the epoxy loose.

 

 

 

 

You might try drillling out the end...it should have been an open end grip anyway, since the RSV uses bar-end weights. With the open end, maybe you could direct hot air from the heatgun thru the opening, and possibly remove the sleeve. Maybe.

 

Then you can always replace the weights on both sides.

 

I think some of the members here dont realize the HotGrips are EPOXIED. Not glued, not friction fit. Epoxy gets HARD and permanently bonds the underside of the grip, which is ribbed, to the sleeve or handlebar.

 

Compressed air wont do it. Heatguns applied externally wont help. It only comes off with directly applied extreme heat, which softens the epoxy, or it gets cut off with a utility knife or wire wheel or cutting wheel on a power tool or grinder.

 

A good machine shop might be able to bore out the inner plastic sleeve...of course, you might pay more for that service than the grip and sleeve are worth.

 

I suspect that either the sleeve or the grip (or both) will have to be sacrificed.

 

Again...good luck.

 

 

 

 

[Prairiehammer]

You might try drillling out the end...it should have been an open end grip anyway, since the RSV uses bar-end weights.

 

Brian, your "seniority" is showing again.

I don't have a RSV. The troublesome grip is on my 1991.

But, it is OK, I still appreciate the help.

[Guest tx2sturgis]

Brian, your "seniority" is showing again.

I don't have a RSV. The troublesome grip is on my 1991.

But, it is OK, I still appreciate the help.

 

Yeah...see what I mean?

 

In my defense, I cant keep up with all the bikes that you young whipper-snappers ride!

 

 

 

[Prairiehammer]

I cant keep up with all the bikes that you young whipper-snappers ride!

 

Thanks! This "young whipper-snapper" (61½ years old) needed that ego boost.

[Guest tx2sturgis]

Thanks! This "young whipper-snapper" (61½ years old) needed that ego boost.

 

Dang.

 

Funny thing happened to me last week.

 

At the age of 55, I find myself to be somewhat old, but its always relative.

 

I occasionally get offered the senior discount at restaurants, but what I'm waiting for is the senior discount at the gas station!

 

Anyway, I rode over to the senior citizens center for lunch last week. First time for me...I'm like a senior citizen virgin! It was coolish, and I had my leather jacket on, and parked the bike out front. I walked in, asked where the $5 lunch was, and the little old ladies directed me to the lunch room, and I got my meal and sat down at a table with an obviously much older gentleman.

 

We visited, and he was hard of hearing, so I had to speak up. This got the attention of the gal who runs the place, and she came over and introduced herself, and asked how they could get more 'young' people like myself to come in! I laughed and said, well...a jukebox might help!

 

Anyway...kindve made my day.

 

 

 

[Prairiehammer]

well...a jukebox might help!

 

She probably walked away muttering something about "young people nowadays"...

 

Just saying, one young whipper-snapper to another.

[dacheedah]

Thanks! This "young whipper-snapper" (61½ years old) needed that ego boost.

 

61 1/2, don't look a day over 61

[Flyinfool]

Just a thought here.

That gap may be because the PO bought the wrong grips and they were to short. The MKIIs use the longest grips available. I had a hard finding grips long enough when I replaced mine. Maybe hot grips does not make a grip that long so the PO did what he could with them.

[Guest tx2sturgis]

Just a thought here.

That gap may be because the PO bought the wrong grips and they were to short. The MKIIs use the longest grips available. I had a hard finding grips long enough when I replaced mine. Maybe hot grips does not make a grip that long so the PO did what he could with them.

 

Its possible, but in the picture, they look like the long grips...about 6 inches.

 

You can make shorter grips work, I've done it. I simply shortened the throttle sleeve, and moved the control housings outward about 1/3 inch or so, to line everything up. (this wont work on every motorcycle out there, but it worked on my Ural.)

 

[Prairiehammer]

Just a thought here.

That gap may be because the PO bought the wrong grips and they were to short. The MKIIs use the longest grips available. I had a hard finding grips long enough when I replaced mine. Maybe hot grips does not make a grip that long so the PO did what he could with them.

 

These are the proper length (5.75") for our Ventures and the Goldwings. The PO managed to get the left grip on fully, but failed on the right grip. I don't know why. Maybe he put the right grip on the left side first, only to discover that the smaller left grip was too tight on the throttle tube and he ran out of time and the epoxy cured enough to prevent further installation.