Hot grip replacement.

[G]

I have wrenched on sleds for years but I have never had to replace hot grip elements. Got the curved handgrip off fine. Scraped the old bad element off the handlebar. My question is how do you wrap the new element around the handlebar so that it doesn't get wrecked when you pound on the funky bent handgrip again. Does a person tape it up or heat or grease the handgrip or what? The new element was not cheap and I don't want to screw it up. Sled is an Arctic. No instructions with the part. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[mikedrh]

Warm the grip with a heat gun, put an air gun in the hole in the end of the grip, plug the hole in the opposite side grip, blow air in when pushing the grip on. Make sure you have the grip hot enough so it's soft and pliable.

 

[Tracker]

I have wrenched on sleds for years but I have never had to replace hot grip elements. Got the curved handgrip off fine. Scraped the old bad element off the handlebar. My question is how do you wrap the new element around the handlebar so that it doesn't get wrecked when you pound on the funky bent handgrip again. Does a person tape it up or heat or grease the handgrip or what? The new element was not cheap and I don't want to screw it up. Sled is an Arctic. No instructions with the part. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

we put em in pot o boiling water when at cabin and then slide em right on

 

[polarisrider1]

Hair spray. Works awesome. Spray everything, bars, heating element and inside new grip. Then slide it all on quickly. The hair spray evaporates and grips stay put.

Note: your invoice is in the mail.

 

[snowfish]

This guys actually does a pretty good job of showing what we're in for.

And also that it can be a wrestle.

One thing the video does not show is taping the wires to the bar so the element solder joints don't get stressed.
As others have mentioned, warm parts is key. Some grip glue, or even hair spray, will help the grip slide on easier.

Word of caution if using RSI Ruffian soft grips. The extended heating element may be too hot.

My nylon hook extensions do not dissipate enough heat. RSI did send me a couple extra grips, and grip glue, under warranty. They split again. I gave up and went with a harder compound grip. I question the under cork, in the above video.

Even with heat, air, grip glue, etc, it still can be a wrestle getting it around the curve. Patience and you'll be fine.

 

[rp7x]

just put 2 on tonight just use air and be carefull