HD Heated Grips - Failures
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 194
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HD Heated Grips - Failures
We all know of the poor life-expectancy of the HD heated grips. I have them on three Road Kings and while they are all working now, I expect one or more to fail any time now. I expect the heating element itself to be very robust and not the cause of failures. I concluded failures were caused somewhere in the control/rheostat system and that perhaps a work-around was possible. Maybe bypass the control system and use just an off-on switch or even an off-low-high switch.
I was not able to obtain a real wiring diagram for the grips. Yes, I have the SCHEMATIC included in the installation instructions but not a wiring diagram so I obtained a left grip assembly and took it apart to see if I could find a work around. Pics below.
The control system inside the left grip is astonishingly complex. It consists of a printed circuit board with 14 electronic components. The circuit board is encapsulated in foam. I can see no way to build a work-around. I don't know why this had to be so complicated and failure-prone. A simple on off switch would have been more than effective.
The first pic shows the circuit board with components. You can barely see the heating wires wound around the white sleeve at the top. The very small temp sensor is attached to the two blue wires and the connector leading to the right grip is also shown.
This is the foam liner poured around the circuit board. Had to remove this. You can see the outer plastic sleeve that has been removed.
This is the grip with the outer sleeve removed. Lotsa wires.
As I said, I don't think there is a work-around. I am sorry I bought any of these. Next time I will use a simpler system.
Eric
95 RK (Mine)
07 RKC (The Wife's)
09 RKC (Mine)
I was not able to obtain a real wiring diagram for the grips. Yes, I have the SCHEMATIC included in the installation instructions but not a wiring diagram so I obtained a left grip assembly and took it apart to see if I could find a work around. Pics below.
The control system inside the left grip is astonishingly complex. It consists of a printed circuit board with 14 electronic components. The circuit board is encapsulated in foam. I can see no way to build a work-around. I don't know why this had to be so complicated and failure-prone. A simple on off switch would have been more than effective.
The first pic shows the circuit board with components. You can barely see the heating wires wound around the white sleeve at the top. The very small temp sensor is attached to the two blue wires and the connector leading to the right grip is also shown.
This is the foam liner poured around the circuit board. Had to remove this. You can see the outer plastic sleeve that has been removed.
This is the grip with the outer sleeve removed. Lotsa wires.
As I said, I don't think there is a work-around. I am sorry I bought any of these. Next time I will use a simpler system.
Eric
95 RK (Mine)
07 RKC (The Wife's)
09 RKC (Mine)
I've had good luck with these on 2 different bikes..
http://www.dual-star.com/index2/Ride...d_grip_kit.htm
http://www.dual-star.com/index2/Ride...d_grip_kit.htm
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 743
Likes: 0
From: Morris, Il
Had Conrads harley put them on when I purchased bike along with painted inner fairing. Took it back to dealers and they fixed free of charge, covered under 2 year bike warrenty. Just picked it up today felt good having them back in the morning chill.
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 743
Likes: 0
From: Morris, Il
103 started today
Just dropped bike off at PJ Cycles a indy in morris Il to have a 103 installed. He sent out a set of heads for porting an spring change and had the cylinders bored. installing TW7h woods cams. Going with a low compression SE flat top pistons. Will have it back thursday if all goes well. I'm stoked will up date thursday.
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 552
Likes: 50
From:
Eric - Thanks for doing the post mortem on the grips. I've had failed grips on my 07 Road King; currently the replacement ones are working and I also installed them on my 09 Ultra. The factory heated grips have to be the most stupid approach to a fairly simple problem. Even knowing about their complexity and lack of reliability, I don't see a nice alternative, because I want nice, normal-looking and -feeling grips. If it's 50°F, I'd rather not have to plug in my somewhat bulky heated gloves; heated grips make my hands comfortable.
Wish they would just use grips like those on all of my BMWs, which have no special circuitry within the grips, just a high/low/off switch located away from the grips. Guess that would be too easy.
Wish they would just use grips like those on all of my BMWs, which have no special circuitry within the grips, just a high/low/off switch located away from the grips. Guess that would be too easy.
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 552
Likes: 50
From:
I've had good luck with these on 2 different bikes..
http://www.dual-star.com/index2/Ride...d_grip_kit.htm
http://www.dual-star.com/index2/Ride...d_grip_kit.htm
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Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2007
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Just looked at the Heat Demons and it appears that they aren't available for '08 - '10 Touring models.
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 90
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mine failed horribly
Had heated grips installed on my 08 Ultra when new. 2 months later turned them on to try on PA turnpike in fast lane I lost all throttle response. Got safely off road and shut bike off. Resumed travel and turned on again and in a few minutes lost throttle again. Felt racheting feeling in throttle grip. Returned to dealer and had removed. Said never had this happen. Use heated gloves now.
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TomWoodgeard
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