homebody146

Just put these on the bar (stock 7.3FX) but can't get them tight.....the screw at the end is as tight as it can go but the grips are still loose.....anyone use these with success on the Trek 7.3FX and help with what I may be doing incorrectly is appreciated.

KungPaoSchwinn

I really want to buy one of them for my bike too,i will wait for my stock grips to get loose again before the purchase, check on their spec for the diameter it fits and go from there, may be you can make a spacer for them.ask Panther 27,he really know his stuffs.

Panthers007

I have the Bontrager Crowbar on my former 7.5 FX - one of the very few original parts I kept on my hybrid Trek. As I recall, when I put on the Ergon GC-2 grips, I rotated them to the angle I wanted, inserted the end-caps, and THEN tightened the 4mm hex-bolt.

They are tight and don't shift. Try this - any other problems with these? Post a few pics to help us diagnose.

bbphill

I had the LBS put on a pair for me (on my 2010 7.3FX) the other day without any problems. I saw that before they put the end covers on there was a stainless ring that went inside where the screw tightens down. Just wanted to make sure that was in there as I'm sure its pretty important to the whole tightening process.

homebody146

thanks for the suggestions...think i've found the problem....downloaded the manual from the ergon website and it's a bit clearer than what came with them....these old eyes can't read the fine print in the directions.......the grips are on now but the bar end is still confusing to me.....it may just need some pressure to get into the bar end opening.........i'll keep trying and i'll get some pics up later tonight.......

Wanderer

Make sure you get them all the way on the bar. They have to be flush on the end. You may have to move the shifters or brake handles in a little bit.

Panthers007

Oh really? Welcome to the Wonderful World of Prebyopia! Get some good reading-glasses - test the magnification by trying on different diopters - strengths like 1.5X, 2X, so forth - at your local drug-store.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbyopia

Steve in MA

+1

I use the GR-2 grips (in large) on my 7.3 FX, and I needed to move the brake/shift levers a bit to get the grips on all the way. Then they tightened up fine, and haven't moved at all.

homebody146

Steve in MA, that's what I discovered....but how did you fit the bar ends "covers" in?

Panthers007

They just slip in and are held tight once you torque-down on the 4mm hex-bolt. It's really not rocket-surgery. Keep trying - you'll get it.

homebody146

thanks all.....had an oops moment....one of the grips' hex bolts broke when I was opening it to put on. Called rei (where I had purchased these earlier this summer)...they'll honor the warranty and replace them. So it's off to rei later this morning and start over.....REI is good.....;-)

homebody146

here's my concern.....the ridges (shown with arrows) are larger than the opening in the handlebar......do I just push down with force to get them in?

Wanderer

Yep, that's what keeps them in there.

mikeybikes

I used a rubber mallet to get a pair into a set of bars yesterday. The damn things were much wider than the opening of the bar.

Steve in MA

Now that you mention that...the ridges were slightly too big to fit into the handlebars on my 7.3 (even w/ a good amount of force), so I shaved the large ridge down slightly with an x-acto knife. Don't remove too much, you should still need some amount of force to get them in, since it's a friction fit.

homebody146

thanks all...got the new ones from REI and will try again today.....with the weather, rain today and tomorrow, i won't be out until monday anyway.....and Panthers007 it's not just the presbyopia but i just started with arthritis in my right thumb.....maybe I should have posted this in the 50+ forum...since that's where I belong. ;-)

Wanderer

Nope, you're in the right spot - as most of us are already in the geriatric crowd anyway......

Randy Bosma

Yup. I used a tack hammer to get them in, and held them with a needle nose pliers to avoid smashing my fingers. mikeshoup's rubber mallet technique is a good idea.

bbphill

My LBS used a grinder on them for a second to trim them down a little so they'd fit better

Panthers007

PUSH! Young man - PUSH! Lordy! You think this is tough - try getting Velox plugs with expander-bolts on my handlebars with my top-down wrap of leather-handlebar tape.

homebody146

if you're referring to me as "Young man"....thank you.....i'm on medicare! ;-) You made my day.

Panthers007

You're welcome!

fret3

I used a rubber mallet and one broke...lucky I had a spare(have a mirror in one bar end) so I just used the trusty box cutter and trimmed it down so now it fits just fine...

Wanderer

Flip it into a glass of HOT (boiled) water for a couple minutes, and it will be as flexible as a stick of warm butter.........

Ergon

You might need to slide in your shifters and brake levers. Also note, that the edge of the barend/grip needs to be flush with the end of your Bontrager bar. If not, you will have not clamping force to keep the grips tight.

As for the bar plugs....
You might need to trim them. Bars come in many different O.D.'s....so there is not one magical bar plug size. If you need to trim, scissors or a small knife will trim the plastic very easily.

Jeff K
Ergon USA