Helmet failure
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
From: Savannah, GA
Helmet failure
The chin strap on my Stand 21 helmet came off in my hand during a race.
The helmet is less than two years old. It turns out that the metal fasteners that attach the strap inside the helmet were corroded from sweat.
To make a long story short - I got stuck with $85. + for shipping to France.
The factory claims no responsibility for a "maintaince item" but agreed to fix it at no charge.
Has anyone ever heard of anything like this?
The helmet is less than two years old. It turns out that the metal fasteners that attach the strap inside the helmet were corroded from sweat.
To make a long story short - I got stuck with $85. + for shipping to France.
The factory claims no responsibility for a "maintaince item" but agreed to fix it at no charge.
Has anyone ever heard of anything like this?
Addict
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,513
Likes: 6
From: NorCal
Originally Posted by billlynes
The helmet is less than two years old. It turns out that the metal fasteners that attach the strap inside the helmet were corroded from sweat.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 408
Likes: 0
From: Nürburg DE Greystones IRL
There was a similar failure of a helmet worn by an Italian woman bobsleigh driver training at Winterberg last winter. She was unfortunate to have it come off during a crash. Not sure but the helmet may have come loose earlier in the run and shifted, blinding her, and causing the crash in the first place.
She was quite lucky and although she recieved a fair few sutures was back in action later in the season.
She was quite lucky and although she recieved a fair few sutures was back in action later in the season.
Trending Topics
Rennlist Member
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 9,686
Likes: 1,289
From: Ohio
If you think about it your sweat has salt as one of the components. So now you have salt, moisture and a crevice. Classic crevice corrosion. I wonder what alloy Stand uses for the internal hardware? It would be easy for the average guy to overlook the problem. One would hope the average guy doesn't make the decissions on helmet hardware.
The balaclava is a good suggestion as it will wick the moisture and salt keeping it away from the harware.
The balaclava is a good suggestion as it will wick the moisture and salt keeping it away from the harware.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
From: Savannah, GA
Quote:
"we finally found that this anodized aluminium part received some battery acid or equivalent and this is the only case known up to day on all the helmets sold".
This is BS.
The part in question is aluminum and appears to be severly corroded
similar to what you would expect from exposure to saltwater. I have not had a chemical analysis done. My next door neighbor owns a testing lab, I may talk with him.
Stainless steel would have been a better choice.
The part is underneath a fabric covered rigid foam pad that I thought was glued in place. When the helmet was returned both pads were removed and I reinstalled them.
The helmet has never been exposed to anything like battery acid. In fact the only cars it has been used in have gel cells. Even if someone had attempted to intenionally damage the helmet with some type of acid there would be other damage to the padding. None exists.
The bottom line is this could have been a serious problem and a huge product liability problem for Stand 21.
I thought I was buying the best available, this is not a cheap helmet $1200.+
the product fails and all I get is lies and a cavalier response.
"we finally found that this anodized aluminium part received some battery acid or equivalent and this is the only case known up to day on all the helmets sold".
This is BS.
The part in question is aluminum and appears to be severly corroded
similar to what you would expect from exposure to saltwater. I have not had a chemical analysis done. My next door neighbor owns a testing lab, I may talk with him.
Stainless steel would have been a better choice.
The part is underneath a fabric covered rigid foam pad that I thought was glued in place. When the helmet was returned both pads were removed and I reinstalled them.
The helmet has never been exposed to anything like battery acid. In fact the only cars it has been used in have gel cells. Even if someone had attempted to intenionally damage the helmet with some type of acid there would be other damage to the padding. None exists.
The bottom line is this could have been a serious problem and a huge product liability problem for Stand 21.
I thought I was buying the best available, this is not a cheap helmet $1200.+
the product fails and all I get is lies and a cavalier response.
Rennlist Member
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 9,686
Likes: 1,289
From: Ohio
Curious as to what Stand found as battery acid contains the same components used in the anodizing process. If they based their analysis on the presence of sulfates from H2SO4 how would they know that they were not present from manufacturing, i.e. not rinsed well.
If the anodized surface is breached and the aluminum part is mated to a steel part then the salt and moisture in your sweat could result in the formation of a galvanic cell.
I'd also wonder about saving a couple of grams using aluminum hardware on a helmet.
So, any details?
If the anodized surface is breached and the aluminum part is mated to a steel part then the salt and moisture in your sweat could result in the formation of a galvanic cell.
I'd also wonder about saving a couple of grams using aluminum hardware on a helmet.
So, any details?