Has anybody done this?
Oakley stated it was easy but I doubt it.

I need to change out my sleeves.
I figure the best way is hot water?

Advice?

I used hair spay to put on he new ones. Cut off the old ones. Or did I just throw on a new pair. Oh the days gone bye.

WD-40 works great. I did this many times on B1Bs bitd. Not a big deal. Hope this helps.

Heh - thanks Stu.

I'm talking about the sleeves, not the actual grips

So' I'm changing my yellow sleeves on my blue grips to white sleeves

PS: You liked your B-1Bs BITD it seems

[ November 27, 2006, 11:40 PM: Message edited by: AndyDiamond ]

I liked the B-1Bs. the outer sleeves wore out quite fast. I would just tear them off and use hair spray to apply the new ones. I liked the fact that they were smaller in dia then most other grips. Way BITD I liked Oury grips. Sooooo soft. Had two buy two pairs and throw away the rights. (Motorcycle throttle).

Interesting question!

I just remember that the sleeves came off when you didn't want them to. They would get a tear in them, and then rip in half as you were powering out of turn one, or hopping the front side of a tabletop! lol But they are so awesome when new!

FWIW, I haven't changed a set out... But, I would stay away from spraying any petroleum products on them. It will soak in, and keep softening them for years to come IMO. Like pouring gas on styrofoam, only not quite as dramatic.

Personally, I would stuff an air nozzle in the end and remove the grips with air. (Not too much pressure, or they blow up like pregnant toads!)

Then I would change out the sleeves with the grips off. That way you can squish them, and fold them, and work on them in your lap, as opposed to trying to do it when they are stretched out tight on a handle bar. Just a theory.

Ourays were cool! Soft, but still calous builders!

Funny though, after trying every Oakley ever made. I liked the A'me Tri's best. The .5's were good too.

I think A'me made them all for Oakley fwiw.

Anybody ever remember using those jellyfish mushroom grips? They feel like squishing a tur-d! lol

LOL - not trying to hijack Andy - but isn't it cool when one of the legends posts! Every time I read a Stu post, I flash back in my mind to the Pontiac Silverdome for that UBMXF or IBMXF or whatever it was in 1981 or was it 1982? I always forget.

Met Stu, face to face, he was sitting on his ride and I was just about passing out with nervous excitement. I handed him my program and pen. He flipped open the book to the page that had his picture and signed for me. Then he signed the cover as well.

I think I just stared.....

Good to see you posting Stu....now back to the topic at hand....

No worries KIW.

I agree - thanks for the input Stu.
After all they were one of your sponsors I guess so it's good too hear you actually LIKED the grips - lol.

I will take the grips off the bars to change the sleeves.

I agree - A'ME Tris are nice grips to use.
Unitrons look cool but aren't very nice on the hands.

Grab On MX3s were cool until the plastic parts busted.

I'll put a vote in for Oakley B2s as being on a par with the A'ME Tris.

Let us know the results for future reference...

Grab On MX3's were cool until the foam wore out.... That was generally after a few hours

on the back of the box they came in it explains, and i quote :

How to install B-1B outer sleeve
1)Remove old outer sleeve
2)Soak newer outer sleeve in paint thinner (caution paint thinner is volatile. Don't inhale, drink or light matches near)
3) Slide outer sleeve over the inner w/rows of bumps and holes misaligned (1/2 row off) so they won't engage each other.When outer sleeveis all the way on, twist it to engage corresponding bumps on the inner sleeve.


i always had a problem w/this suggestion - but how funny in step 2

personally - i would remove the grip - unroll the sleeve towards the end cap and using your thumbs push the end cap through (so as not to tear the inner sleeve and end cap apart)

then roll up the new sleeve inside out (similar to how it was removed) pinch the end cap and force it through/on -still rolled up- line up the 1st row of bumps and then begin to on roll making sure you clip each and every bump then roll it around in your hand to engage them or lock them in (or pinch the grip ensuring each and every bump is clipped securely into its corresonding hole)

then re-install

OK - I did it!

The Oakley instructions I laughed at too.

I did it the same way as Frankenripper suggested.

It took about one and a half hours for both grips, lots of boiling water (to soften the rubber) and a lot of elbow grease!

No solvents etc - just water.

They came out great and are no very clean (go figure).

Still, it was kind of like putting a condom on an octopus!!!

I'll post a pic (of the grips, not the octopus).

I don't use my grips so I armour-All them. It makes the sleeve slide on the base easier.

Ha ha, condom on an octopus...

Ha Ha.... "Condom on an octopus"

That there is the single funiest thing I have read on Vintage...... Brilliant!

mid-way through...

Original grips were blue with yellow sleeves.

Changed to white sleeves.

Chopstiks used as a tool for the sleeves!

Okay, I figured out a way to get a brand new sleeve on in literally 30 seconds without the risk for damage.

1. Buy a spray-bomb can of silicone mold release. Plastics injection-molding companies use this to help the molded parts release from the tool. The MSDS (material safety data specs) on my can say that it is FDA Approved for food-grade use, and from my previous understanding, silicone is a non-hazerdous material. The silicone spray should cost $5.00 or less, but is probably not sold in a retail environment. Look at Grainger or MSC.com.

2. Spray the large outer hump of the grip, the grip shaft and nubs, and the inner grip sleeve. Everything will become very slippery.

3. Use one hand and thumb to pinch the outer hump of the grip. Hold the sleeve with the other hand and use a twisting action to get over the hump. Reposition the hand on the grip to hold the donut flange, then twist the sleeve all the way onto the grip.

4. Using warm water and a drop of dishsoap, massage the grips with soapy water to remove the majority of the slippery silicone, allowing soapy water to get under the sleeve. Pat dry with a paper towel.

5. Install grips on bars. Align all the nubs with holes in sleeve.

All of that can be done in a commercial break without risking damage to those valuable white sleeves. Tip: make sure your hands are very clean before starting the process.

Thanks for the info!

PS: this is what happens when you crash on NOS grips:

just did it last night beleive it was andydiamond who stated like putting a condom on an octopus. how funny cuz hell now that i read that thats kinda how it was. took about 30 minutes to change out a set. used hot soapy water then tried a lil lube (what youll find next to night stand) think the real hot water was the trick yeah it did take a lil elbow grease also. but i see why bitd u would just cut em off and replace whole grip. but at todays inflated prices i cant do that just my .02