Right handwarmer not working on 2016 Polaris Switchback

[cklett]

Hey All,

New to the forum here, however looking for some insight.

My wifes 2016 Polaris Switchback 600 is having hand warmer issues. The right handwarmer is not functioning. I took the plastics off and the steering column to access the harness. Tested voltage at each connector for the left hand warmer, thumb warmer and right hand warmer all seem to have tested at 14 volts. There are 4 connectors. One of which to the left hand warmer, one to the thumb warmer, and two to the right hand warmer.

If I have voltage at each of the connecting plugs from the harness, but no heat to the right hand warmer wouldn't that mean its the hand warmer itself?

I didn't test the wires near the hand warmer because I didn't want to probe and damage them, however I am wondering what happens when the wires run through the small box that the accelerator/throttle mounts too.

Again any insight here would be helpful, I can follow direction, however am not entirely mechanically inclined.

Thanks! -Chris

 

[ZR SLEDHEAD]

Wires are prone to damage / breaking right at the handwarmer itself.
If you need to replace, dramatic increase in heat from alum handlebar version (assuming sled has steel bars now of course).

 

[cklett]

I pulled/folded back the handgrip and the ground wire and hot wire seemed to be somewhat loose from the heat grid. The glue that holds them in place looked to be cracked. I tested and had voltage, then later retested and didn't have voltage. Not certain why that would be? I tried to press the two wires against the grid while the machine was running and other warmers were working, however the right warmer didn't work. I wondering what glue or adhesive/epoxy or what I can use to adhere the wires to the heat grid? I will have to test voltage again tomorrow, and will make sure to idle the machine up when doing so. Do you feel it is the element itself? How do we explain getting voltage at one point when testing, then no voltage a little while later?

I have a 2016 Switchback 600 which has the hand warmer issue, and a 2017 Switchback 800, The 600 has black painted bars, so I am not certain if they are steel or aluminum? The 800 has aluminum bars I believe because they are the aluminum gray.

Any further assistance would be appreciated.

Thanks, Chris

 

[ZR SLEDHEAD]

In my case, trying to repair did not seem prudent for two reasons.
1- need it to be reliable
2- last thing I wanted is to created a short
With that in mind, did not attempt to repair / replaced element.
Air method to remove grip works like a charm.

Simple test with a magnet to confirm steel or alum bar.
Was told I'm wrong about heat from alum bar version being higher but once installed crystal clear it's considerably hotter / replaced second one to match.

 

[Kelly Van de sype]

Big learning on a near miss with a stuck throttle on RMK 800. The hand grip was being pushed by a loose throttle mechanism to the point of rolling the inside hand grip, over it self. Throttle was pushed and thumb pad got stuck on “thicker” hand grip
So beware. Could not post photo