Replacing Heater Element/grip

[Kevin]

Lost heat to one grip on the weekend
Tested with multi meter and heater element is done
Likely due to grip turning a bit

Just going to order all Yamaha stuff
Any tricks to replacing grip and element?

 

[steiner]

Get the RSI/Yamaha replacement kit. Cut off the old grips and then peel off the heater elements.
What I did to try to get more heat from the elements was to install an insulator between the bars and the element. Heat shrink tubing (from an auto parts store) works well as well as gluing a thin layer of cork on the bars.
Install the elements and wire as per directions. Then apply the grip glue to the elements before you slip on the new grips. Let the glue setup over night.

 

[thor452]

I ordered hot grips replacement elements from ebay quite cheap and replaced just the one that went bad and found them to be allot warmer then stock one hand burning other cold so i replaced the other what i found to make it easier was with the first one i striped it down to the bar and the grip fit loose with the new element with the second i just left the old element on and went over the top of it all the second one went perfect if i had to do it on another one i would just leave the old elements in place and glue over them on both sides. end result is i have hotter then stock grips and that is always a good thing i think i spent 20 bucks on the elements.

 

[Mooseman]

There is also a way to wire the RSI a way to get more heat out of them too.

Yamaha (2 Wire): Wire the RSI Blue and White together to make the heater a 2 wire set up. Connect the RSI wires to the Black Yamaha wires. It doesn’t matter which black Yamaha wire goes to the RSI wires.

Blue wire is low, white is high and red is common ground.

If that's still not enough heat, put the red and blue wires together instead. I did that to my rear passenger grips and they get plenty hot.

 

[steiner]

If that's still not enough heat, put the red and blue wires together instead. I did that to my rear passenger grips and they get plenty hot.

What is the ohm reading when you wire them like that?

 

[Kevin]

I already have a ymaheater so not looking for more heat

 

[Mooseman]

I really don't know. My son has some hooked bars on his '09 GT with RSI's. Don't remember how I wired them but they're not working now so I'll check them. I think I had put the harness in his but the grips are wired the normal way (as per RSI instructions). If the grips are still good, I'll rewire them as per my instructions and see what the resistance is. In fact, I'll try and get all the resistances.

 

[Mooseman]

Found another thread that gives some values:
http://www.ty4stroke.com/threads/rsi-wiring-with-aluminum-bars.75955/#post-661175

With the RED/BLUE wire combination the resistance thru the heater is about 3.2-Ohms. The stock heater elements provide about 7-Ohms resistance. This translates to about twice the wattage (~21W vs. ~45W at 12V) output per grip from the RSI units. This calculation does not take into account the variation from the pulsed current delivery, but both systems would be affected equally by this influence.

The RSI units wired with the RED and BLUE combined will get hotter under similar circumstances, but this is pushing the output of the design and may reduce their longevity.

 

[Kevin]

So I won't have my parts till tomorrow, but from looking at the Yamaha online catalogue
Does the element have 2 holes that the rivets go throught?
So you glue the element then with next day put glue on the grips and push them on?
missing anything?

 

[Mooseman]

If it's the RSI/Yamaha replacements, the elements have their own peel off sticky back that you stick to the bar then slip on the grip over it. Not sure about the rivets. What part number did you order?

 

[Kevin]

Not sure on the part number
From the Yami dealer
When I asked for the grip, element and rivets he said it all comes in a kit now.

 

[burg226]

Order a new grip as well. Mine was all stretched and useless after peeling it off using heat and elbow grease.

 

[thor452]

peal and stick new on watching for hole alignment leave old elements on to take up slack in stretched out grips add grip glue and slide on old grips and rivit in place leave sit over night done.

 

[thor452]

I just used some silver rivets i had in the garage. 2 seasons so far almost 4000 miles no issues.

 

[Mooseman]

If it's the stock ones, then it should have a rivet hole in the grip, like the old one. Not sure if the element is embedded in the grip or separate. You'll find out when you get it I guess.