Helmets Neotec Version 1 not locking shut

ak85lp

ak85lp

(Paul)
Joined
Jul 12, 2009
Messages
232
Location
Franktown Ontario Canada
Bike
2018 VStrom 1000XA
I have a 5 year old first version of the Shoei Neotec that has stopped fastening shut unless it is closed very hard. I had a look at the fastening pieces and sprayed them a fair bit with WD40 but still did not make a difference.
I have never dropped it and keep it dry and clean. Also, I'm not one of those folks who throw away their helmets every 5 years just because the vendors say we should. Looking for things to look for.
Thanks!
 
ak85lp said:
I have a 5 year old first version of the Shoei Neotec that has stopped fastening shut unless it is closed very hard. I had a look at the fastening pieces and sprayed them a fair bit with WD40 but still did not make a difference.
I have never dropped it and keep it dry and clean. Also, I'm not one of those folks who throw away their helmets every 5 years just because the vendors say we should. Looking for things to look for.
Thanks!
Click to expand...

Kind of wondering where this is going to go.

Some things are not worth wondering if they are OK are not or going to work when needed or not and the industries recommendation of life cycle shouldn't have a whit to do with it. The mechanism is very simple as it should be. The latches on either side of the chin bar and the steel studs on the cheek area aren't bent or otherwise damaged?
 
True dduelin, I maybe jumped the gun about the helmet and not wanting a new one. I just wondered if anyone had a similar problem. I'll take a closer look at the mechanism and see if I can find anything.
 
Did you try getting a hold of Shoei? I'm betting seeing how it effects the safety of the helmet they will be glad to help you repair it.
 
ak85lp said:
I have a 5 year old first version of the Shoei Neotec that has stopped fastening shut unless it is closed very hard. I had a look at the fastening pieces and sprayed them a fair bit with WD40 but still did not make a difference.
I have never dropped it and keep it dry and clean. Also, I'm not one of those folks who throw away their helmets every 5 years just because the vendors say we should. Looking for things to look for.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Mine has done that from the beginning. Sometimes it requires quite a slam to get it to latch. I've had mine for 2-3 years, got it on clearance just as the Neotec II was coming out.

My biggest complaint it the the head liner keeps coming unsnapped when I take the helmet off, esp if my head is sweaty.
 
ST-venture said:
My biggest complaint it the the head liner keeps coming unsnapped when I take the helmet off, esp if my head is sweaty.
Click to expand...
Definitely! The forehead pad sticks and comes out, and sometimes the left side loosens, and the Sena gets loose.

It seems the plastic snaps are a weird combination of too hard to snap and too easy to un-snap.

I do like the ability to remove the insides to run them through a laundry load in a delicate-clothing bag.
 
Since returning to motorcycling, I’ve had two helmets, both Nolan modular. The first, an N90, took a firm hand... from day one to today. However, there was no question it wasn’t locked.

My new N100-5, which is very nice, by the way, doesn’t take anything to latch. I bring down the chin piece and... it’s latched?! No effort at all.
 
GGely said:
Since returning to motorcycling, I’ve had two helmets, both Nolan modular. The first, an N90, took a firm hand... from day one to today. However, there was no question it wasn’t locked.

My new N100-5, which is very nice, by the way, doesn’t take anything to latch. I bring down the chin piece and... it’s latched?! No effort at all.
Click to expand...
That’s how my 4 year old Neotec closes. No effort. I replaced the cheek pads and center top pad at 3 years to preserve the original fit of the helmet.
 
Either something is causing the chin bar to need to be moved father than before to latch, or something is impeding its being moved as far as it used to move easily.

I hope that was understandable. :oops:
 
I'm of the opinion of the OP, in that I don't think I'll replace my Neotec just because of age. Right now, my helmet acts like new...and gets used a lot. It's taken a couple drops, but other than looking like it has a couple scratches on the outer shell, it looks fine. The inside padding gets to feeling crushed and loose...and I wash it by hand, let it dry and it feels like new.

If mine started giving me issues in closing, I'd pull out those pads again. It's a good excuse to wash them. ;) And then I'd start looking at the pivot points and locking mechanism. If it appeared that they had a mechanical failure...then I'd replace the helmet. But if it appeared that something just got caught and was causing it to bind, I'd fix that and keep using the helmet.

And mine has always taken a firm hand to close and lock it.

Chris
 
Ok, so I think I fixed the issue. With a closer look I could see the cable that moves the latch assembly on the left side was was sitting there with about 1/2 of slack (I am holding it to that spot in the first picture). Once I gave it more WD40 it was much tighter (2nd picture) and then the helmet actually clicks shut now. I must have missed that spot before.

Anyway, no response from Shoei yet but I will test it out this weekend. Thanks for all the help, stupid oversight on my part!

20200918_134028.jpg



20200918_134034.jpg
 
I hope takes care of it as I can't imagine Shoei sells any latch or strap parts for liability reasons.
 
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