Oxford Heated Grip Install Questions

[marku8a]

I bought a pair of Oxford heated grips with a Symtec controller. The quality looks excellent.

What I thought was going to be a 30 installation is turning out to be a bit longer than expected. Electrical is not a problem. It's the mechanical fit of the grips. The grips are rigid and no amount of compressed air is going to work.

The clutch side is not possible to simply push on. I managed to get in place by pushing and twisting and removing a 1/4" at a time. I even lubed it with water and it didn't make a significant difference. By the twist and remove method I can see where it removed some high high spots on the inside diameter of the grip. I thought about reaming the grip with some sand paper but am afraid of damaging the grip. Now that I can get the grip in place I am questing the need to glue it on.

The throttle side is another story. I have a throttle tamer where the middle of the tamer has a knurled surface. I looks like I am going to need to file the knurling off in order to make that work.

Anyone else that has "been there done that" that can offer advice?

Mark

[The Pope]

Have you tried heating the grips to make them more flexable?

[Jeremy Mitchell]

I used a rubber mallet (and a couple four letter words) and those suckers are getting cut off if I ever need to uninstall them.  They were more than a snug fit.

[jjsC6]

Regarding the glue, I have not used anything as an adhesive in a number of years.  I use the compressed air method and they stay in place fine.  I understand what you are saying about compressed air not working though.  I have had some that just took an unusual amount of work and the nastiest language I could come up with (and I'm quite good at it).

Good luck.

[jjnorc]

I installed them in the spring and found the same "snug" fit.

I wired them up and turned them on. Once they heated up, they went on easier.
I also dremmeled down the high ridges on the inside of the grips.

They've been a great addition to the bike since.

[JoeR]

Hairspray on the inside of the grips helps them slide on easier and when it dries helps them stay in place.

[556ALPHA]

A small amount of dish washing soap will answer your prayers.

[MikeERideWNC]

Altough others have answered with great tips for other types of grips...

I used a mallet and a large socket which fit on the round end of the grip.
All the compressed air, soapy water, hair spray in the world will not slide those grips on.

If you are not using a true BFH, then you are using the wrong tool for this job.
I did two sets of them on two different bikes and the fit was more than snug.
I feel bad for the poor guy who has to remove them later.
But the feel of the grips is better than stock. The added diameter is nice.
The heat is pretty good but not as hot as I would like.
They do look good on a bike, as well.

[Jeremy Mitchell]

MikerideWNC, you must have gotten a bum set of Oxfords or your hands can take a bunch of heat.  My Oxfords get plenty warm and that is even with grip puppies over the top.

[MikeERideWNC]

It might be the other way around... You could have gotten and odd set.

I installed two kits and nether got hot, warm but never hot.
I wear gauntlet race gloves year around when I ride, I can feel hot and cold through them. I would be OK
with my hands sweating.

I have the tape on pads under the grips on all of my other bikes and they warm up nicely.

 

[marku8a]

I used a mallet and a large socket which fit on the round end of the grip.
All the compressed air, soapy water, hair spray in the world will not slide those grips on.

Agreed! I finely got these on. The clutch side was push and twist like I mentioned in my original post. With the throttle tamer I had to remove the knurling like I expected. It turned out to be a slip fit.

I installed them in the spring and found the same "snug" fit.

I wired them up and turned them on. Once they heated up, they went on easier.
I also dremmeled down the high ridges on the inside of the grips.

Also agreed with the heating and easier fit. When installed and heated they rotated a bit when twisted pretty hard. Not wanting to take a chance that things would get worse with time I decided to glue them on with JB Weld.

The Symtec controller is great! Easy installation. It operates and looks better than the OEM installation. Highly recommended! ...

http://lockitt.com/Lockitt/product/ELGPHGGC/EHST21.html