Chipped Lid
 

Managed to take a big chip (1.5mm x 5mm)out of the paintwork on my lid the other day.
So I touched it in with some Humbrol Enamel paint (I just happened to have some that was a spot on colour match).

I told a mate later, who seemed quite shocked, as the paint might have damaged the helmet.

Should I be worried ? it was only the top layer of paint it chipped (one of the pattered bits) plus I thought its only polycarb lids that suffered in this way, mines Karbon-Kevlar (AGV TiTech) ?

ello there,

as far as i understand it (and that is limited) some paints can soften the shell of the lid. how much it softens and how that would affect its ability to save ya life i dont know.

personaly i would rather by a new lid than risk my spicy brains :)

I was trying to find some chemical info about the paints to get a truthfull answer to your question , but I cant find anything. I dont think you'll have anything to worry about, but do keep a close eye on it for a while, look out for signs of corrosion and stuff. If this occurs, then something isnt right. If I can find out some real info, I'll come up with a correct answer!

Matt

Personally, I would say that messing with a helmet is not a great idea. If my helmet gets damaged then I replace it, my head is too important to me to take risks.

Yea, its not a good idea to use a helmet that is damaged. From what I can find, kevlar/carbon fibre composites are genrally not so reactive so there shouldnt be too much wrong, but theres always the possibility, depending on the solvents used etc etc. If in doubt, ask a technician in a shop, or perhaps contact someone who paints helmets? They'll be able to tell you if the paint you used will affect the materials and threfore the strength of your helmet.

Matt

Bin it & get a new one :!:

I've been trying to kid myself that it was ok, I guess any impact strong enough to put that much of a chip in the paint will have probably knackered the helmet anyway.

Only bought it in August :cry:

unlucky :(

cant you get it checked out first? be a bit silly to buy a new one and potentially bin a perfectly good helmet if it was actually ok...

I took it in to Heine Gericke for them to look at, but they couldn't say either way whether it was ok or not. If you drop your Arai you can send it back and they X-ray it, sadly AGV do not offer a similar service.

Having inspected it closer there is also a hairline crack about an inch long, could just be the paint but TBH its not worth the risk.