Pulling wires...
Thread Starter
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 4,605
Likes: 8,911
From: Long Island, NY
Pulling wires...
So, I got a set of Harley heated grips. I have a 2020 Road Glide Special. I have Yaffe Bagger Monkey bars. They're already on the bike. I know the connectors are behind the instrument cluster. My question is this: How hard is it to run the wires when the bars are already on the bike? Any tips or tricks would be greatly appreciated.
Thread Starter
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 4,605
Likes: 8,911
From: Long Island, NY
Thank you! I would never have thought of that.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,806
Likes: 1,754
From: New Bern NC
It can be difficult to add wire to a bar that already has wire in it, not to say it can't be done but it'll be difficult. I usually remove the wire in the bars add the heated grip wire to the bundle and re-pull all of them together. How ever you decide to do it make sure to attach what ever your pulling with to the wire NOT TO THE CONNECTOR. The can bus connectors can be damaged easily.
Good Luck
Good Luck
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 2,231
Likes: 653
From: Atlantic Canada, eh
I've never run wires through bike handlebars........THAT BEING SAID;
I used to be an electrician and one thing I can tell you is that you want to tape your connection between whatever it is you use as a "fish" (trimmer string, coat hanger, real fish tape, aluminum welding rod...whatever... and the wires you are pulling through the bars)
Reason being, in the case of a bike, the connector could get caught up and you may need to pull it backwards. You don't want to break the connector (even breaking a tab can be a royal PITA) or yank a wire out of a connector.
Use electrical tape wrapped really tightly around the junction. Just enough to cover everything. Leave a little pigtail "flapping in the breeze" after you've done your wraps and squoosh it a little and roll it around in your fingers. a bit (so it can't stick back down onto the layer you just wrapped.
Once you've done your "fishing" you'll be very thankful you can grab the 1" or whatever you've left flapping free and then unwrap it all quite easily. (instead of clawing at it like a madman, or worse yet, getting at it with a knife and cutting a wire.
Don't force it. Some pulling back and forth may be needed. You taped it good, so this shouldn't scare you.
HTH
I used to be an electrician and one thing I can tell you is that you want to tape your connection between whatever it is you use as a "fish" (trimmer string, coat hanger, real fish tape, aluminum welding rod...whatever... and the wires you are pulling through the bars)
Reason being, in the case of a bike, the connector could get caught up and you may need to pull it backwards. You don't want to break the connector (even breaking a tab can be a royal PITA) or yank a wire out of a connector.
Use electrical tape wrapped really tightly around the junction. Just enough to cover everything. Leave a little pigtail "flapping in the breeze" after you've done your wraps and squoosh it a little and roll it around in your fingers. a bit (so it can't stick back down onto the layer you just wrapped.
Once you've done your "fishing" you'll be very thankful you can grab the 1" or whatever you've left flapping free and then unwrap it all quite easily. (instead of clawing at it like a madman, or worse yet, getting at it with a knife and cutting a wire.
Don't force it. Some pulling back and forth may be needed. You taped it good, so this shouldn't scare you.
HTH
Thread Starter
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 4,605
Likes: 8,911
From: Long Island, NY
Thanks for all the replies. I will be doing this over the weekend. Taking the bike on a long trip next week and will be heading North, so the heated grip will come in handy!
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Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 565
Likes: 152
From: Calgary, Alberta
Never thought of that. I've used that silicone grease (dielectric grease). Non corrosive, electrically inert, and won't hang onto moisture. KY would be great though, once it dries up, it's essentially gone. Good hack brother! That's my go to from now on.
