I like the contrast between black and chrome. I want to switch out the control housings and or buttons to chrome. I want to either switch out the black housings with chrome and retain the black buttons or keep the black housings and use chrome buttons. I have read about some of the issues concerning the possibility of creating a short with the wiring when replacing the black housings to chrome and the requirement of small hands..Now for your opinion, what would you do and which one of the two would be the least difficult. Thanks from one H.D rider to another....

 

I kept the black housing and installed chrome switches. Nice contrast. I run the nostalgic grips, so there is a chrome ring between the black housing and the black grip, and the bars are chrome on the opposite side, so looks good together. Sorry, no pics.

 

I did the same as BackRoader did, grips and all. I even got the chrome hardware too. I wasn't really liking the chrome housing because of glare from the sun, I get enough of that from the glass on the speedo.

 

I have the chrome housing as well as switch covers so to answer your question, swapping to chrome housing is much simpler. Should take just a couple minutes.

 

I did the buttons, like the look. Watch the throttle side it harder than you think.
Mines 2012 SG

 

I also have the chrome buttons to be different. I like the constrast of the look too.

I don't recommend the Kury Iso-Grips if you do have small hands. My friend has some great grips for small hands from Avon. For big hands I love the Iso-Grips.

Also, when i was working on installing the buttons I created a short in the wiring when some wires got pinched in the housing. I don't think it has anything to do with the housings being chrome. Just housings in general.

Also just a note, I use Turtle Wax Ice polish on the stock black housings and they look great. My friends go "damn dude, you got custom gloss black housings!".

 

I swapped my housings to chrome and kept my black buttons. My advice to you is to take pictures of the inside of both controls before you take everything out. I did and was glad I did. I had never taken that stuff apart and didnt know where the hell the copper clip came from. I now know it goes between the stoplight switch and the housing, but damn if I could figure that out then!! LOL!!

 

What a simple and great idea to start any project, especially ones with tiny parts. I hadn't ever thought of that before.

 

If you are a "chrome" person, do the housings, if your more into the "blackout" look, then do the switches. I have never heard of shorting problems when switching out either one, both are pretty easy to do if you are halfway mechanically inclined.

 

You don't need small hands,but you need plenty of patience. Slow and easy,plan on a full day to do it[won't take that long,but..go SLOW!] Unhook your battery first. I have the chrome housings and chrome buttons on the bagger,but the softail has chrome housing & black buttons. i like the chrome hsng and black buttons better.