heat grips -- heat troller installed
Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 11:44 pm
Listers,
I've had issues with my heated grips since I installed the first set
three years ago. I've finally got the issues sorted by installing a dual
control heat troller and finished the installation this afternoon about
3. I've posted 5 pictures in the group photo section in an album titled
"* Heated Grip Controller". The * makes it the first album in the photo
section. In a few days I'll remove the * and you'll have to hunt to find
the pictures. I took a test ride today of 78 miles using the heated
grips for about 50 of them. Ambient temp today was 68 degrees in Rapid
City it got down to the high 50s when I got to higher elevations. But
that was a good test as I know the heating elements work well on full
power at the low or high settings in cold weather. Normally using full
power I would only be able to have the power on the low elements for
about 4 minutes before they would get so hot it was uncomfortable. Today
I was able to regulate the grip temperatures for comfort for the entire
50 mile test.
The original problem was uneven heat levels between the left and right
grips. I was using Dual-Star heating elements. I over came one common
problem by using bicycle grip cork tape over the left handle bar before
installing the heating element. That served to insulate the heating
element from the metal bar reducing the heat sink effect. The problem
with the uneven heat levels was maybe compounded by the insulation of the
cork tape. The Dual-Star elements are different wattages for each side.
One note for folks considering doing the installation with cork tape. It
makes the left grip larger than a normal left grip inside diameter. So
what I did was buy two sets of grips and use the throttle side grips.
I'm installing the clutch side grips on bicycles this spring. You could
also install them on ATVs. Kid size motorcycles, like 50s, use smaller
diameter bars so they won't fit on them.
I didn't like the uneven heating try Moose ATV heating elements. They
electrically tested the same for each side which was the same as the
clutch side of the Dual-Star elements. The new problem was the clutch
side now got so hot after about 4 minutes I couldn't hold on any more.
It was cooking my hand. The good thing is they were effective. I didn't
like having to continually reach up to the switch on the dash of my KLR
and flip the grip heaters on and off.
After a year of only being able to use the heated grips for about 4
minutes at a time I researched Heat Trollers. I got one for a heated
vest and decided I'd try it on the grips. I think you can learn more
about them at http://www.warmnsafe.com . I decided to get the dual
control so I would have comfortable temperature levels on all my cooler
weather riding. If you order from them make sure you look around for the
discount. You have to be a member of an organized club and it cuts a bit
off the price. It was still kind of pricey at $95 but man did I enjoy
the use of it today. I'm confident I'll get lots of use from it on other
cooler weather rides.
After a bunch of thinking I decided to mount the controller on the left
grip using the original mirror mount. In 2004 I made a new mirror and
choke lever mount as a machining exercise so the stock mirror mount on
the left controls was available. I like this location as I don't have to
take my hand off the grip to change heat settings for either grip. I
made a small mount with a M10 1.00 pitch stud and a thin locknut. The
controller is held to the mount with velcro. In use during my test ride
today the mount was easy to use and firmly in place.
The controller is mounted on the lower right inside of the fairing. I
made a bracket that hangs from the right turn signal stalk mount nut. I
figured this was a strong point as it also holds a bracket that helps
hang the fairing. Although my initial test fits worked well, in actual
use the lower triple tree just brushed the lower rear bracket cover
mounting bolt when the bars were moved left. The bracket is way over
designed so I had no problem removing the lower corner and only using one
lower mount bolt. I now have about 3/8" clearance. I think the only
time the forks will ever be turned so far left as to brush the bracket
would be when stopped, but I didn't want to chance a problem. The
bracket is quite rigid and serves it's purpose well.
I've wired the heat troller so it's power supply is controlled by the
key. That way if I forget to turn off the heat troller knobs I still
kill the power when the key is off. I've got the troller power going to
a switch so I can select either the low or high heating elements. I
think I'll usually use the low setting but if a low element is
inoperative I can select the high setting and just turn the heat troller
control to a lower level.
So that's my most recent KLR activity. Oh, the 2nd radiator continues to
work well.
Best,
Jeff Saline
ABC # 4412 South Dakota Airmarshal
Airheads Beemer Club www.airheads.org
The Beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota
75 R90/6, 03 KLR650, 79 R100RT