Foaming handlebars-A HOW TO with pics!

[ROCKERDAN]

Not to be critical, but I have played with about every kind of foam on the market (I own an insulation company)and to avoid the hastles of the mess, the window and door foam is okay, but I would recommend the minimal expanding foam. Generally I would cringe at the thought of "hardware store foam", but the minimal expanding foam is actually a more dense foam, and will resist degrading over time. Once you take the bolts out of the end of the bars, (I would leave the bolts out and just try to put something under it to catch the excess) put some clear silicone over the hole. The exposure will cause the foam to degrade, which will let moisture in and possibly rust the bars from the inside out, or worse, the moisture it will absorb could freeze and split the bars! Keep in mind that the foam seals out air but will absorb some ammount of moistureand in such a confined area will probably never dry out if it does get wet. (washing?) I would definately seal the ends of the bars, and try to fill the entire bar if you can. We do this to the rungs on ladders and it adds a huge ammount of strength to them also!
Nate

Hi Nate..

I did state to use the LOW expansion foam..I used to use the regular foam for yrs on window/door installs,then when low expansion came out i switched...the old stuff would dry hard and brittle...we would saw it off...and the new low expansion stuff stays flexible...

while i agree with much of what you said...I dont see any ILL effect,such as freezing or rusting of bars....I agree you could fill entire bar,but i feel its not needed....

thanks for your input,thats what this site is all about....I truly feel this simple cheap and easy fix will go along way to HELPING keep hands warmer then stock....and any extra heat,no matter how little is good!

Dan

 

[nate007]

Sorry - I don't mean to step on any toes, As my post stated, I own an insulation company that does upgrade insulation. I am constantly looking for better products, so I thought I'd throw my $.02 in! I actually use a special gun with the large cans of foam that are typically not available to the general public, but in a pinch, I keep a few "crap" cans around the shop!
I would, however, put a dab of clear silicone over the hole in the end of the bar. If there ever is any moisture in there (from spray washing, rainy-snowy day,etc.) to keep any thing from freezing in there if the sled happens to sit outside overnight, etc.
I decided against putting the new bars on anyway, I haven been too mad at my stockers. I wear the Team Gaunlet Yamaha gloves, and have felt a little cold before, but if my hands get that cold, there is usually other parts cold as well!
Nate

 

[SERPAGS]

I actually did seal the ends this AM with some black silicone, also ensures that the grip is full.

 

[pro116]

grips

I have done this in the past on sleds and it really does make them a lot hotter.

 

[trenchdigger3]

I am not very well read on this stuff but was wondering if it needs air to set up ,on account I foamed my bars the other day ,I put bolts in the end of the bars to hold the stuff in and left them there overnight,went out the next day ,pulled the bolts out and nothing came out ,but when I started the sled up and turned the warmers on high once they started to warm up the stuff started to ooze out ,looked like syrup coming out,thought maybe I had applied it in to cold of temp.,but it says on the can not to use in temps below 0 celcius and my shop was cool but not that cold probably about 5 celcius,the stuff that oozed out started setting up after awhile once it was in the air,the stuff I used was low expansion foam from homo hardware on sale this week for 4.50 a can,so maybe should give this stuff some time before sealing up the holes to let it set up.

 

[nate007]

It does need air to set up, but it will take a long time to harden inside the bars. Just give it time, it'll get there.
Nate

 

[ROCKERDAN]

Guys...I added a note to original post....After 24 hrs. IF you want to remove your bolts,it still will need alittle time to set near end of bar....IMO you dont need to remove the bolts ever....but IF you dont like how they look there,you can remove but let it setup enough for 24hrs so it doesnt keep expanding out the ends....then remove them and just abit of liquid will be there and setup ....

sure you can add some black silicone if you want to cover it...I cant see any water getting upward into the bar hole but if you were to spray water with a hose maybe.

Its all just experimental and I hope this thread helps guys who have no clue about foaming...I had many guys PMing me about foaming and felt this was the easiest way for everyone to see how i did mine...ofcourse like anything there are more then one way to do something.....


good luck,and Im very confident this will at least HELP somewhat....how warm they are on minus 30 days remains to be seen.

dan

 

[SledFreak]

Once it is dry, and the bars get hot, will it turn back to a liquid form?

 

[ROCKERDAN]

Once it is dry, and the bars get hot, will it turn back to a liquid form?

LOL...no no...it will be fine...staying solid,but slightly pliable....the older stuff would be rigid and not pliable at all...which actually would be fine for this project too...but it woud frey off over time...the low expansion will have a hard but semi rigid finish to it....unlike normal expanding foam which is rigid and brittle.

I cant wait to try mine...they feel really really warm when ran in COLD garage for only a few minutes..im sure before they didnt get this warm this fast.

dan

 

[trenchdigger3]

Once it is dry, and the bars get hot, will it turn back to a liquid form?

LOL...no no...it will be fine...staying solid,but slightly pliable....the older stuff would be rigid and not pliable at all...which actually would be fine for this project too...but it woud frey off over time...the low expansion will have a hard but semi rigid finish to it....unlike normal expanding foam which is rigid and brittle.

I cant wait to try mine...they feel really really warm when ran in COLD garage for only a few minutes..im sure before they didnt get this warm this fast.

dan

went out for a ride with mine this afternoon,seemed to be a little warmer but it was only -7 celcius so not really a good indicaton as to how well they will perform when riding in real cold,I also noticed that they seemed to heat up better when I run the sled in my garage,like you say every little bit helps,thanks for the how to .

 

[Mikecam]

I did ride mine after and I believe that it did help but it certainly isn't a cut and dried "It is better " answer. Mine is an 07 and I truly believe that Yamaha thought that the wire not going to the end of the hook was the problem but I believe that it just isn't hot enough. They do work at high rev's but need to be warm at idle and they are for sure not.

 

[SERPAGS]

I am not very well read on this stuff but was wondering if it needs air to set up ,on account I foamed my bars the other day ,I put bolts in the end of the bars to hold the stuff in and left them there overnight,went out the next day ,pulled the bolts out and nothing came out ,but when I started the sled up and turned the warmers on high once they started to warm up the stuff started to ooze out ,looked like syrup coming out,thought maybe I had applied it in to cold of temp.,but it says on the can not to use in temps below 0 celcius and my shop was cool but not that cold probably about 5 celcius,the stuff that oozed out started setting up after awhile once it was in the air,the stuff I used was low expansion foam from homo hardware on sale this week for 4.50 a can,so maybe should give this stuff some time before sealing up the holes to let it set up.

I say let them stand overnight and then seal the ends with silicone and let it cure on its own time.

 

[SharkAttak]

Dan is awesome for posting this, but this is crazy, these machines are 06' and 07' brand new, we should not have to deal with this, i hope Yamaha is taking notes, cause it is utter b.s., you can have the fastest or best handling machine but if your hands are cold it means squat, i know there is going to be issues and we can live with it, but handwarmers?? Yamaha is got to fix this

 

[SERPAGS]

Dan is awesome for posting this, but this is crazy, these machines are 06' and 07' brand new, we should not have to deal with this, i hope Yamaha is taking notes, cause it is utter b.s., you can have the fastest or best handling machine but if your hands are cold it means squat, i know there is going to be issues and we can live with it, but handwarmers?? Yamaha is got to fix this

I doubt Yamaha will address the same issue twice. In their minds, its fixed!

 

[ROCKERDAN]

I am sure its a issue of not enough power to accessories....

My dealer hooked my heated shield to my cigar lighter wire....like most guys do.

well,when i plugged in my GPS to cigar lighter....my shield fogged up instantly!....

to me that means the power to these accessories is not enough....Im not sure why the heck they wouldn't fix this right.....

I heard someone say they took these new bars and hooked up to a different sled,and they got HOT!....that to me indicates not enough power to them...

can we just run them off battery?..would that give them more power???

i HATE cold hands!...and these damn gauntlets are a pain in #*$&@

dan