hazben1

The rubber pad which was glued to the plastic adjustable strap on the rear of my almost new helmet came off this morning. Any suggestions why type of glue I should try to reattach it with? The padding is definitely rubber not foam and where it was glued is just smooth plastic.

wschruba

Do you have a picture?

Andrew R Stewart 

Any helmet company will tell you that you should never glue anything to a helmet due to unknown chemical interactions. Andy

AnkleWork

Warranty?

jyl

Double sided tape would be my choice.

HillRider

+1

SnowCYYCling

I'm not a representative but... amazing goop is really amazing. Screw superglue that stains certain plastics. Amazing goop is basically a hot glue in a tube. A little messy to apply but it works great. Superglue didn't want to work on fabrics and foam but goop did. Doesn't react to anything I don't think. Just use it on things you're 100% sure you want it there, otherwise it's not coming off. (I've applied it to fix a 2 inch sidewall cut but have yet to gather the courage to ride it)

canklecat

Padding on the back strap doesn't sound like it'll affect the helmet's structural safety. I'd try the 3M Command or stronger 3M double stick tapes, which are widely used throughout many industries to attach metals, plastics and fabrics. There are a couple other manufacturers of similar double stick tapes for versatile uses, but 3M is the best known and easiest to find locally, or order online.

hazben1

Thanks for the replies folks. Unfortunately I am unable to post photo. Where the rubber is located I don't think it would effect the structural integrity of the helmet. I don't remember where I ordered the helmet and the paper work is long gone. I think I have some double sided tape around here. I will probably try that. If that doesn't hold I guess I will go the Goop route.

Thanks, again.

dsbrantjr

I consider safety equipment to be consumable. My policy on helmets is that if they develop any flaw or defect, or are subjected to any impact, they get immediately rendered unusable, binned and replaced. I have a very low risk tolerance on my head; helmets are cheap insurance.

Looigi

The band or strap that passes behind the head is part of the retention system of the helmet and is tested for strength and function during helmet certification. The helmet is placed on a specific head form, the retention system fastened as it would be when worn and specified forces are applied to the helmet to test the adequacy of retention on the head form. Modification of the strap can have effect on it's performance in these tests.

Maelochs

Probably most helmet manufacturers would tell you not to do Anything to a helmet except replace it with a more expensive model. And an adhesives specialist would point out that there are adhesives for almost every application which don't do harm to the parts involved.

I wouldn't glue up a cracked helmet, but I cannot see why a helmet would not offer sufficient protection if I re-glued (or taped) a cloth pad back into place.

Anyone who has ridden much MTB has got scuffs and scrapes all over his/her helmet ... if "Every slight flaw is fatal," we'd need a new lid after every ride. But ... I cannot criticize another for his/her concern for his/her cranium. Still, I say, glue away, and unless the glue melts the helmet ... after all, the manufacturer glued the thing in in the first place, right?

canklecat

The structural integrity issue has already been muddied by the lucrative accessories market. Many of us are already wearing lights on our helmets. And I'm seeing products that suggest using adhesives to help attach camera mounts. I already feel like I'm taking a risk with lights attached via rubber straps and Velcro. I'm not willing to push it by attaching a camera.

I'm not particularly worried about the Vivo-Bike Illuminati strapped to the top of my helmet. That's probably the least likely point of impact in a crash. But I'll admit I'm a bit concerned about the Blackburn 2'Fer strapped to the back of the helmet. That's a more likely primary impact point. Would that little bit of rigid plastic attached to the styrofoam beer cooler material cause it to split and fail in an impact, reducing protection for my noggin? Seems plausible.

I'd feel more comfortable with a combo light made like the Illuminati, a single small lightweight device flashing white on the front and red on the rear. It's just a to-be-seen light, and I'd feel more confident without a device attached to the most likely impact points, on the front, sides and rear of the helmet.

rmfnla

I second Goop.

I've used it to keep pads in place on helmets many times; it's waterproof and it doesn't attack any of the materials involved...

fietsbob

Lots of solvents in Glues will dissolve the EPS ,
Kind of like jyl's Idea, There is a double release sheet , tape , that just leaves the adhesive .

but you are not talking liner pad replacement ..


How 'almost New' Is It did you ask the Bike shop you bought it from ,
That Is If You did get one there. they may warrantee It.


what kind of plastic is that?

Wanderer

Contact cement, follow the directions.

jmaurer

E6000 adhesive will do the trick. Clean both surfaces with rubbing alcohol beforehand.

RubeRad

I would glue and screw -- appropriate-sized wood screw with an appropriate size drilled pilot hole

Darth Lefty 

I would suggest that for this application it would probably be overkill.

700

Test Goop on polystyrene first. (Coffee cup, beer cooler)

I use Gorilla Glue urathane adhesive on foam as it does not dissolve plastics. It is a little messy, and it expands - so use it sparingly. But it'll stick to nearly anything and dries tough.

Indyracer

Contact cement works wonders when used following the directions

rmfnla

Screws in a helmet?

The overkill could be you if one got driven into your head from an impact...

RubeRad

Well maybe I would try with just gorilla glue first, if it's situated so that it is well-clampable. But if/when that failed, I would make sure it would never happen again.

79pmooney

Some contact cements have some pretty powerful solvents. DAP Contact Cement contains petroleum naptha, methyl ethyl ketone and toluene.

Ben

Darth Lefty 

To glue a little rubber pad to a little plastic strap?

I join in the votes for Goop or Shoe Goo or RTV or whatever you have handy that is pretty sticky when applied and pretty flexible when dry.

I'm also sympathetic to the calls for replacement, because N+1 need not apply only to complete bicycles.