The left grip...

[yochanon]

Heya gang,

Is there any trick anyone might know to get the left grip off a handlebar without having to cut it?

[gruss]

if you have the grip type that uses a cap, and has an open ended grip, you can remove the cap, and get an old butter knife...gently insert the blade into the grip to work the glue loose, also adding a little water into the gap will prevent the glue from re-attaching once it makes contact again...if the grip has a sealed end....well....you might be looking at a new set. or....you can carefully cut the end cap off, and put caps on when completed....
be careful with this approach, as some throttle side assemblies wont allow for a grip cap without interfering with the throttle sleeve..
i successfully removed both grips on my sporty, and went in from the clamp side with a butter knife after removing the handle hardware...this proved successful as well......i just re-glued them on when finished...
i also recall hearing about using compressed air to break the seal on the grips, but have never tried it.
perhaps someone else can chime in, and answer for this as well...g

Heya gang,

Is there any trick anyone might know to get the left grip off a handlebar without having to cut it?

[axxell33]

I changed my bars out a few weeks ago and couldn't get the original factory grip off. i figured they glued it..

[yochanon]

Welp....I didn't want to wait for an answer (yeah, I know...dumb!), so I went out and got everything off and found that the left grip would twist with a good deal of effort. I just kept twisting it back and forth and pulling at the same time and eventually got it off. Doesn't matter though...the mini-apes won't work on an FXD - the throttle cables are about 1 inch too short. I had to take it all back apart and put my old bars back on. Kinda bummed atm, but at least it ain't in pieces and the test ride to make sure I put everything back together correctly did good, even got to see a big tom and 6 hens.

Thanks for the answer though, gruss.

[gruss]

no worries, sorry the bars wont fit, that sucks....

Welp....I didn't want to wait for an answer (yeah, I know...dumb!), so I went out and got everything off and found that the left grip would twist with a good deal of effort. I just kept twisting it back and forth and pulling at the same time and eventually got it off. Doesn't matter though...the mini-apes won't work on an FXD - the throttle cables are about 1 inch too short. I had to take it all back apart and put my old bars back on. Kinda bummed atm, but at least it ain't in pieces and the test ride to make sure I put everything back together correctly did good, even got to see a big tom and 6 hens.

Thanks for the answer though, gruss.

[Ironhead]

newer big twins have a left grip that is held in place by the switch housing, much like the throttle side


on an older bike, something that I have done with good results is to take the bare bars with the left grip still on, and soak that side ina pan of HOT water for about 15 to 20 minutes, then it will slide off

[axxell33]

hey John, burly makes a real nice set for upgrading your cables and they have it all measured out by the height of the bars.

http://www.burlybrand.com/cablekits/index.html

I think the msrp is only $199.. and even though thats a lot, it's about half the price of gettin all the parts from the stealer. I bet you could get it for $179 at another retailer. Just a thought..

[yochanon]

Hey Ironhead...yeah, I noticed that about the grip. I think it's just an extra precaution for someone like me who might forget the glue too, lol.

Thanks for that axxell! I'm gonna go take a look now.

[Check 6]

Yo-

That sucks...

[yochanon]

Not to worry, check 6...it just means now I gotta somehow save up for longer cables, and it's only the throttle cables, so maybe it won't take me too awful long to save up for those, heh heh.