Anyone install your own chrome hand controls?
Banned
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 249
Likes: 0
Putting on chrome switch housings when there are radio and cruise control switches is a very difficult job and is definitely a PIA. I have done it sucessfully three times. When there are no radio or cruise control switches, it is much easier. I have done two of those sucessfully. In any case, after the last time I went around and told at least five people that if I started talking about doing another set to remind me that I said "Never again."
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 96
Likes: 0
From: Northern Ohio
Its a take your time kind of project, when i changed mine i spent most of my time searching for the pieces i dropped. +1 on starting with a clean floor! Wires are easily pinched, i chased a radio short for a week after, ending up being an eversosmall break in the insulation and it made the radio controls unresponsive at certain times. Show the bundles of wire much respect and it should go well. good luck!
Road Master
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 930
Likes: 4
From: Jacksonville, FL
I wish I could get up the nerve to tackle it. I tried just changing the housings out to chrome on my old fat boy and would not even consider trying to do it with all the switches. My hats off to those of you that successfully got it done, you are far more daring than I.
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,832
Likes: 37
From: Rockland County, NY
I started this job then put everything back together and paid the dealer to do it. As stated by everybody above it's a real tedious job with many tiny parts and things that can go wrong. I knew I could do it but I no longer wanted to. Some things are worth paying someone else to do. For me this in one of those things.
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 544
Likes: 2
From: Houston, TX
Don't let all this "PIA" discourage you from doing it. Ive installed a bunch of these and all I can tell you is to take your time. Open both and look at the other while you're doing one side. Tape everything up. I usually just take the factoy stuff and have it chromed. It comes out better to me. Be sure space out the brake lever so you don't mess up the brake switch.
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 474
Likes: 5
I've done it twice now. Its not bad, but it takes time. Take the bars off, put them on a table in the basement and do them over the Winter. No rush to get them done, run the wires internally.
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Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 232
Likes: 2
From: lakeland,florida
watch copper spacer between brake light switch and housing had paint work done on mine and they pulled switches ane covers off to remove fairing well when i picked it up no brake light ask them about copper pice they had lost look well hd does no just sell them but i go to jim's hd in st. pete shop manager hooked me up !!real nice people!!