spray foam instead of cork

[m8magicandmystery]

anything to insulate element from the metal that has poor heat transfer will work fine..

the shrink tube is a fine idea, although some adhesive on the bar will be extra helpful..

and nothing to loose spraying foam inside as well..every little bit helps

 

[maxitout77]

Basically anything to get the element off the bars is the goal. Aluminum is an amazing conductor of heat. This is why you can grab alum foil right out of the oven with no mits. I bet even a few layers of heat shrink over the bars with the elemenet ontop would make a big diff. Less bulk.

 

[jeepin270]

Not if it has been mentioned but would wrapping with electrical tape work?

 

[tuneman]

You basically need to look at the thermal conductivity of the material you're going to use. These numbers are in units of W/mK. The lower the number the better:

Aluminum - 210
Electrical Tape - 0.25
Shrink Tubing - 0.20
Cork - 0.043

So, cork is 4,884 times better at insulating than aluminum, 6 times better than electrical tape and about 4.7 times better than shrink tubing.

The other options are less efficient, but if cork makes the hi heat too hot, they actually might be better. However, the adhesive is not very good with electrical tape and your grips might twist/slip. Same for shrink tubing, unless you get the kind with adhesive. I'd use cork.

 

[Oregonsledder]

I used 1/16 cork and got great results. I like the fact that I can use the low heat setting for normal cold days, and then if my hands get wet or it's a really cold day I can turn on the high setting and have the heat I need. I used the 3M expensive spray glue that works well in high heat applications. It's a simple mod and it really works guys!

 

[jeepin270]

Do you wrap the whole bar with the cork or just enough area to have heating element sit on?

 

[Scott]

Do you wrap the whole bar with the cork or just enough area to have heating element sit on?

I'd say the grip area only.

 

[Solby]

I think jeepin was asking about going all the way around the bar under the grip. Yes have the cork completely around the bar the same length as the grip.

 

[Dirty Steve]

Not if it has been mentioned but would wrapping with electrical tape work?

I think the adhesive on the electrical tape would turn to snot after the elements got hot and result in loose grips.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk

 

[dstrbdxpak]

I run RSI Carbons, corked w/ Ruffian grips. I prefer to run the lightest glove I can and this setup has been great.

 

[mountainhorse]

Here's my 2 cents for what it's worth.

The adhesive that you choose will affect how the grip stays put.

Heat up contact type glues... and they get soft and move.

Heat shrink tube... no adhesive... OR... if you use adhesive lined, will move when the grips get hot enough.

The adhesive in the Ski Doo cork inserts is higher temp than average spray adhesives... and insulated from the source.

One misconception about using spray foam is in the way the grips loose heat on aluminum bars... it is not from radiating the heat inside the bars... but rather from Conduction of the heat, through/down the bars quickly where surface area of the bars looses heat to the atmosphere. In the case of the Pro Tapers... lots of surface area. Also, Aluminum is better at conducting heat than steel.

For me... on an alumium bar... I like the carbon/resin Wrapped bars like the RSI units. I've had no need to wrap the bar further.

 

[GoBigParts]

I did the cork to mine with great results.

We sell the cork here: http://www.gobigparts.com/SPI-HANDLEBAR-HEATER-INSULATORS.html

We also have aftermarket heaters that are much hotter.

http://www.gobigparts.com/Symtech-Snowmobile-Handwarmers-Rocker-Switch.html

 

[polarisboyc]

Is cork like a rubbery material? Used for a gasket maker? I just wanna make sure I'm getting the right stuff

 

[LPIdaho]

Exactly! This is also why adding foam to the inside makes no noticeable difference. All the foam would do is keep the air inside the bars from heating up and then warming the rest of the bars. This isn't noticeable because conduction between the aluminum is so high and that the inside is would be natural convection which is nothing compared to the factor of forced convection going on outside the bars from the wind.

You basically need to look at the thermal conductivity of the material you're going to use. These numbers are in units of W/mK. The lower the number the better:

Aluminum - 210
Electrical Tape - 0.25
Shrink Tubing - 0.20
Cork - 0.043

So, cork is 4,884 times better at insulating than aluminum, 6 times better than electrical tape and about 4.7 times better than shrink tubing.

The other options are less efficient, but if cork makes the hi heat too hot, they actually might be better. However, the adhesive is not very good with electrical tape and your grips might twist/slip. Same for shrink tubing, unless you get the kind with adhesive. I'd use cork.

 

[FCR112]

There is no comparison, try it for yourself.

$10.99
Use the thin piece

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/d..._-1_3815&mn=Fel-Pro&mc=FEL&pt=N0488&ppt=C1984

And a $15 can of spray adhesive
such as: DAP weldwood

Less than $30 works awesome. No need for new heaters or grips just be gentle and use heat to unstick the stock ones from the bars.

I had no slippage whatsoever after 1 nights cure. The heaters now get HOT.

See details on the process here:

http://www.snowest.com/forum/showthread.php?t=328158&highlight=corking

 

[dstrbdxpak]

Hairspray is an excellent way to stick your grips without using a straight up adhesive. Makes plenty of tack to keep it all together.

 

[XP Summit]

Corked the bars on my 14 today, took maybe 20 minutes tops.
Here is what I did.

Went to my local Ski doo shop and bought a cork kit for $7.98
The cork has an adhesive back that peels off so it sticks to the aluminum perfectly. The kit is for the Doo curved bars so I trimmed them accordingly with scissors to fit the Pro bars

Took the bar hooks off, then used compressed air to remove the grips. All you need to do is get the tip of the air chuck under the grip edge and it will come off very easily.

Use a heat gun to get the grip and bar very hot, then slowly peel the grip off the bar and set aside. I used a sharpie to mark the wire location so I got aligned just right.

Peel the adhesive back off the cork then stick it to the bar.

Last year I used 3m spray adhesive to stick the grip on the cork, but today I just stuck the heater to the cork then heated it a little with my heat gun and the glue became very sticky and adhered perfectly.

Then I rolled the grip back on the bar a little. I plugged the bar end on the other side with the bar hook, then using a large washer on the end of my blow gun I applied air to the end of the grip and it walked on effortlessly.

Repeat with the other side!

Sorry no pics, I should have taken some.

This is such an easy and very effective mod that I highly recommend. Night and day difference for toasty hands

I tried just about every option listed up to this point on this thread and settled with doo cork, polaris element, and doo grips. When I tried polaris grips over the cork and heater my grips narrowed a 1/2 inch from stretching them on. Kind of how a rubber band gets thinner when you pull it. High is very hot and Low is just about right. I tested this with - 10 Degree F.

 

[GoBigParts]

I did the cork to mine with great results.

We sell the cork here: http://www.gobigparts.com/SPI-HANDLEBAR-HEATER-INSULATORS.html

We also have aftermarket heaters that are much hotter.

http://www.gobigparts.com/Symtech-Snowmobile-Handwarmers-Rocker-Switch.html

Our SPI cork is identical to the Doo Cork. I ended up cutting the notched area off because my heaters done run down the bar hooks.

 

[dstrbdxpak]

ODI Ruffians are about the best dam grip I've ever used. Pro grips were a bit small for my big mitts, I have less pump now since switching.

 

[FCR112]

ODI Ruffians are about the best dam grip I've ever used. Pro grips were a bit small for my big mitts, I have less pump now since switching.

Are these too long for stock pro tapers? Always looking for better bigger grips...