Replacing Rusty Helmet Band Rivets

[Bill Greenwald]

The rivets on my old faithfull EDERLRID helmet finally rusted out and the support band gave way. I guess there's something to be said for your helmet wearing out before you do.
I checked the internet and with a couple of vendors about getting a replacement support band and the consensis was, you should buy a new helmet. Well OK I did buy a new $80 helmet but the old one I like better and it is still good it just needed (12) new rivets. Anyway I found some 5/32" Aluminum rivets and backup washers that would fit and drilled out the old rusty ones and put the new ones in and it worked out fine.

Now I suspect that there are a lot of helmets out there with rusty
metal rivets that could use a rework. Yes, buying a new one is the reccomended solution but most cavers will probaby wait till
the band pops loose like I did.
My suggestion is fix it before it breaks and avoid a head injury
and the cost of a new helmet.
Bill_G

[Rock]

any one know when a caving helmet should be replaced? is it like 5000 cave trips and it needs replaced? or like a time thing 10 years and it needs replaced? or does it just need replace when parts wear out?

[madratdan]

If memory serves me right, Nylon products have a shelf life of 5 years, which applies to helmets, ropes, tents, ect. I have a kevlar El Cap helmet that has a usable life of 12 years. These are all recommendations from manufactors, so take the advice with a grain of salt.

I've replaced a couple of rivits on my old Selewa Vert helmet and don't see a problem with doing that.