Kahuna fitment issue
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4th Gear
Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 8
Likes: 3
From: Pennsylvania
Kahuna fitment issue
just spent hours swapping bars out on my 2013 ultra. While apart I added kahuna heated grips. I understand that the grips have a larger side to keep them aligned so the grip doesnt twist and end up upside down. That being said, my controls wont clamp completely closed. Is it safe to say I can grind down some of the clamping area on the grip with a dremmel? I cant imagine Im the only one who ran into this. Its actually kinda ridiculous considering these grips are $310. Thanks
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 1,422
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From: Northern VA
just spent hours swapping bars out on my 2013 ultra. While apart I added kahuna heated grips. I understand that the grips have a larger side to keep them aligned so the grip doesnt twist and end up upside down. That being said, my controls wont clamp completely closed. Is it safe to say I can grind down some of the clamping area on the grip with a dremmel? I cant imagine Im the only one who ran into this. Its actually kinda ridiculous considering these grips are $310. Thanks
Thread Starter
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4th Gear
Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 8
Likes: 3
From: Pennsylvania
The grips are the correct ones for the bike. Ill fiddle with it some more and post the solution if I figure it out. First timer tackling bars here, internally wired too, lets just say the past 3 days was an experience
Thread Starter
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4th Gear
Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 8
Likes: 3
From: Pennsylvania
this is what was sent directly from Harley. Are the grips supposed to be larger on one side of the clamping area. I feel like it should just be round. The previous grip on this bike was totally round, not half mooned
Last edited by mhauck; Dec 4, 2022 at 02:37 PM.
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Road Master
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 765
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The grip is correctly positioned with the larger diameter half-circle on the bottom as shown. Rotating it 180 degrees is not possible and even if it was the bar & shield logo would be upside down. To the OP....I too have run into this issue a couple of times having completed many bar/grip swaps over the years. Your approach is the only way to tackle this. Slowly remove a small amount of material equally from both sides as well as around the circumference on the larger (bottom) half with a file or dremmel and continuously check and recheck the fitment. Eventually you will be able to get both the top and bottom switch covers to mate up without any gaps. Do not remove too much plastic though or else the grip will not clamp securely without some rocking (rolling) motion forward and back on the handlebar. And I agree....for expensive as these grips are Harley should have much tighter tolerances for their manufacturing process. As they say....all things are not created equal. This is an easy to fix problem though and once installed it's invisible inside the switch housings and no one will be the wiser. Just remove a little bit at a time and know that the plastic cannot stick up above the lower switch housing as it does in your photo.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 765
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Remove the material shown in yellow. Either all from one side or equally from both until swich housings will mate without a gap. This is what is causing your problem (interference) as the top switch housing will not fit over this. The larger diameter of the bottom half of the lip on the handgrip is what stops the "glueless" grip from rotating on your handlebar. It must be flush on both sides with the bottom switch housing to allow the top switch housing to fully close.
Last edited by wide glider; Dec 4, 2022 at 04:13 PM. Reason: Add info
