I bought new rubber Raytheon grip pads from PM to replace my old pads on my Performance Machine contour black XL grips.

3 circular rubber pads per grip.

I cut my old ones off cause the Nubs were worn smooth from use and tried to replace them with the new ones. The problem is these round replacement strips are 11/16 round and have to be stretched to over 1 1/4 inch to get it over the end part of the grip which is the fattest part. Then you have to get it to slide all the way down to it's proper resting place to snap into the cutout of the grip. There are 3 cut outs per grip that get the 3 new pads.

No way in hell can you get these pads to stretch by hand.
I called them and they said they use some kind of cone device to get them on. I said I don't know what your device is but now as I try to do this myself I can almost imagine that it's some sort of plastic thing that they slide the grip pad onto with some lube and then slide that thing over the grip itself and push the rubber grip pad into it's proper place. (I guess)

I don't have this "cone thing" and although I can imagine it kinda in my head I can't think of where to get one or one like it. I tried lube but with the lube and no cone tool you wind up not being able to grip the grip band cause every things all lubed up. does anyone have any suggestions besides calling pm back which I did but they are closed now and mailbox is full. Thanks

 

Not sure exactly what these components are, but when we have to fit seals in tight spaces or get extra stretch the thing to do is get them really hot. Have you tried leaving them in boiling water for a minute or so? I am sure that will ease them up sufficiently

 

Not only not tried it but didn't think of it either. Lol
I'll keep that in mind in the very near future. Thank you

 

Use compressed air, no lube...

My son's BMX grips are nearly impossible to put on with or without lube. Someone told me to use air, it's the only way I'll do it from now on!

 

Real hot water with a little soap in it.

 

Ok I'm going to try the hot water thing this week. I'll let you know.

 

+1 on the air compressor method

 

The hot water, 2 pair pliers, soap, and a little good luck worked! Thanks for the suggestions. No damage to the grips or pads but it was still a bitch to get them on.

I just did the throttle today. Was so freaking stressful I stopped after doing one side. I'll do the other side tomorrow. Thanks again fellas.

 

I sound like such a lil bitch....it was so stressful.........

BUT IT WAS!........lol

 

Wrap a piece of a plastic license plate around the grip lube it up with soap, slide them on one at a time.