Seperating the handlebar pieces on an RT

[DonW]

I want to seperate the outer part of the handlebar (with the controls, from the inner aluminum mount. Bolt is out, but nothing is moving. Are these pressed together? Suggestions?

 

Thanks,

 

Don

[Ken H.]

They’re really not meant to be separated, but I suppose you could try heating the outer part to see if it would expand enough to release the inner.

[Joe Frickin' Friday]

They will come apart; I've done this before. The steel part is lightly press-fit into the aluminum part.

 

Ken's got part of the answer. You can loosen the press-fit substantially if you heat the aluminum. I'd recommend a heat gun rather than a torch to avoid damaging the finish on either part. It'll take a while since you will end up heating the entire aluminum piece.

 

In conjunction with the heat gun, buy a long bolt to replace the one you removed. You want it long because you're going to hammer on the exposed end to help drive the steel piece out of the aluminum. Screw the long bolt in as far as you can to get maximum thread engagement; this helps prevent the hammer blows from damaging the aluminum threads. Also helps if the aluminum part is firmly anchored, either to the bike or to a block of something secured in a vise. Hammer carefully so you don't accidentally smack/dent/gouge the aluminum.

 

To reassemble, heat the aluminum, and use the original bolt to pull the steel piece into place.

[DonW]

OK, thanks. This has convinced me to leave them together. I was looking for a quick "cheat" to get the all the hand controls off with out removing the 1,234 screws and small bolts