Helmet Kit

[GrahamLoughead35]

I recently purchased a helmet kit with mic from Racing Electronics, but they don't install it. Does anyone know of someone who will install the helmet kit?

[EricP]

I recently purchased a helmet kit with mic from Racing Electronics, but they don't install it. Does anyone know of someone who will install the helmet kit?

I’ve always done it myself. Are there instructions? I haven’t seen their kits but You could probably do it yourself.

[DaveW]

Google "racing helmet radio installation" and you'll get multiple hits.

[Bob Wright]

a glue gun, a rivet gun and a sharp knife are very helpful- its not that hard to do.

[Dave J]

Don't forget the drill!!!

[Keith Carter]

Don't drill or rivet anything on the shell if you can help it. I don't remember exactly where, but there is a wording change in the GCR that prohibits the use of drilling on helmet shells. I just did mine last year and needed to use a clip with double sided tape to hold the plug adapter in place (included in the kit).

[reidhazelton]

Be sure to take the helmet off before you drill it. Don't make the same mistake I did.

[DaveW]

Don't drill or rivet anything on the shell if you can help it. I don't remember exactly where, but there is a wording change in the GCR that prohibits the use of drilling on helmet shells. I just did mine last year and needed to use a clip with double sided tape to hold the plug adapter in place (included in the kit).

I just searched the entire GCR for "helmet" and there is no mention of this. Where did you see it?

[marshall9]

Be sure to take the helmet off before you drill it. Don't make the same mistake I did.

Now that is funny. Love you Reid, lol

[Keith Carter]

I just searched the entire GCR for "helmet" and there is no mention of this. Where did you see it?

Hi Dave,
I remember reading something about it here on the forums where it was one of those "Interpretation of the rules" type scenarios. If you got a tech inspector with the Barney Fife high on power attitude, it could ruin your weekend by following the GCR to the letter. Under section 9.3.19, it states:

"Required Equipment
The following required equipment shall be in good condition and free of defects, holes, cracks, frays, etc." where the helmets were included in the list. While I would think someone logical and sees a new helmet with rivet holes drilled into it, they would think it was acceptable. I would think this just means that your gear can't be old ratty stuff, but when I spoke with Larry from Trackside Radios about it, he had double sided tape radio plug holders included in the helmet kits for this very reason.

[Keith Carter]

Here's the post from last year that I read right before I needed to do my helmet.

http://www.apexspeed.com/forums/show...mic-attachment

[Raceworks]

Rules or not drilling holes in the helmet shell is a less than good idea if you can avoid it. Most of the installers I work with use hot glue guns and velcro.

Make sure you get some dielectric grease for the connectors. In my experience the Racing Electronics components have a much higher tendency to short out in the rain.

[Fred Michael]

There is no need to drill holes in the helmet. Hot glue does an excellent job of securing the wires.

[reidhazelton]

An 1/8" hole in the skirt isn't going to hurt anything. As to the rules, if you can't have any holes in the helmet, how do you see out of the thing?

Much ado about nothing.

[DaveW]

An 1/8" hole in the skirt isn't going to hurt anything. As to the rules, if you can't have any holes in the helmet, how do you see out of the thing?

Much ado about nothing.

I agree. I have my radio plugs and their wires held to the bottom of the helmet by plastic clips attached with 1/8" blind rivets. No one has ever questioned that attachment method.

The largest holes in my helmet other than the eyeport are the vents and the holes for the HANS attachment posts.

[Steve Demeter]

If drilling of holes is not permitted, then how can one install HNR anchors as Dave points out. IIRC the frog posted something about this a while back involving it being OK to trim the bottom of the shell in certain areas, such as IIRC he did to allow less discomfort when looking down when the HANS legs were in the way of the helmet. YMMV>

[DanW]

If drilling of holes is not permitted, then how can one install HNR anchors as Dave points out. IIRC the frog posted something about this a while back involving it being OK to trim the bottom of the shell in certain areas, such as IIRC he did to allow less discomfort when looking down when the HANS legs were in the way of the helmet. YMMV>

New helmets have threaded inserts bonded in the shell.

[scorp997]

once the drilled opening is filled with a rivet, is it still a 'hole' by definition?

[DaveW]

once the drilled opening is filled with a rivet, is it still a 'hole' by definition?

IMO, no. The uncertainty would be in the interpretation by a tech person, which is the main issue raised in this thread.

[BeerBudgetRacing]

Here's the post from last year that I read right before I needed to do my helmet.

http://www.apexspeed.com/forums/show...mic-attachment

I know this is an old thread but like many I'll be getting a new helmet soon.

My reading indicates that the manufacturer's warranty is void if you drill into the shell...

You'd think manufacturers would provide for installing helmet kits - it's no longer a luxury.


Here's my question. IMSA kit. What is the standard SIDE for the connection?

[BorkRacing]

I know this is an old thread but like many I'll be getting a new helmet soon.

My reading indicates that the manufacturer's warranty is void if you drill into the shell...

You'd think manufacturers would provide for installing helmet kits - it's no longer a luxury.


Here's my question. IMSA kit. What is the standard SIDE for the connection?

Left side to avoid tangle/interference with shifting.

[pacratt]

Hammer.

Use a BIG hammer.





Glenn

[Fred Michael]

I know this is an old thread but like many I'll be getting a new helmet soon.

My reading indicates that the manufacturer's warranty is void if you drill into the shell...

You'd think manufacturers would provide for installing helmet kits - it's no longer a luxury.


Here's my question. IMSA kit. What is the standard SIDE for the connection?

I have never had to drill to install a helmet kit. A little hot glue and a sticky back ty-wrap block is all that's needed

[hdsporty1988]

If you want to be able to easily remove the helmet kit this is great product from Rugged Radios.

https://www.ruggedradios.com/collect...crophone-mount

[BeerBudgetRacing]

If you want to be able to easily remove the helmet kit this is great product from Rugged Radios.

https://www.ruggedradios.com/collect...crophone-mount

Looks cool.

Now only if it held the 1/8 jack for the ear buds. 1 unit that holds the receptacle and the mike boom!

This would be a perfect project for a 3d printer !

[hdsporty1988]

Looks cool.

Now only if it held the 1/8 jack for the ear buds. 1 unit that holds the receptacle and the mike boom!

This would be a perfect project for a 3d printer !

With my setup from Racing Radios the ear bud jack, mic boom and radio receptacle are one piece so this works well for me. It can be a fixed or removed within two minutes.

[Rick Kirchner]

couple of prototypes

[BeerBudgetRacing]

Considering making a plate that gets sandwiched under the HANS mount so that I can attach radio wires without drilling the shell.

Would keep the wires above the edge of the helmet.

See any problem with doing that?