How long should a pinlock last?

[Biker9090]

I've had my Schuberth C5 since roughly November time.

I've only done maybe 2/3,000 miles or so since then and the pinlock seems to have totally given up the ghost.

I've tried pressing the pins out and rotating them but any which way just ends up with either the top or bottom not sitting flat - which means fogging up.

I'm sure they used to last a reasonably long time on previous ones?

The helmet is from Motolegends so there's no way I'm taking a day off of work to go back there due to their ludicrous opening hours (monday to friday only).

Am I expecting too much from them now or do I need to store/clean etc it differently? I've only been using bike specific cleaner on the helmet.

[DirtyHarley]

Mine have always lasted roughly 3 years (about 50k miles) which is about how long I keep a helmet for in general.
If its acting up so early the silicon bead around the edges may be dirty or have a warp in it, so worth washing in hot water to make it felxible again, with ones where the bead is starting to give up I've had success for using a bit of silicon grease to get it reseated, just don't use pertroleum based ones as it will make it perish quickly!

[GSA_fattie]

from what i understand from ML staff - when i went for a helmet fitting
keeping the helmet in cold damp conditions such as a garage is no good due to the properties of the pinlock, they ought to be inside in the warm to allow the pinlock to dry out.

it appears to be the case as there is a difference between use when stored in the garage and in the kitchen - don’t shoot the messenger it is just what i was told
odd that in this day and age with the technology we have, we are relying a flimsy bit of plastic to stop fogging that is obviously temperamental and not that robust

[Time4another]

GSA_fattie said:

from what i understand from ML staff - when i went for a helmet fitting
keeping the helmet in cold damp conditions such as a garage is no good due to the properties of the pinlock, they ought to be inside in the warm to allow the pinlock to dry out.

it appears to be the case as there is a difference between use when stored in the garage and in the kitchen - don t shoot the messenger it is just what i was told
odd that in this day and age with the technology we have, we are relying a flimsy bit of plastic to stop fogging that is obviously temperamental and not that robust

Certainly found this the case with mine, more so at the start end of the year.

[cliffords]

My Shark one seems to have failed after 1 year , stored inside my house I have yet to try removing and washing, however it says on the instructions do not wash in detergent.
I am going to do it today as it happens, will report back .

[moanthebairns]

I don't know if this will help, but my pinlocks were failing, I bought new pins as one was broken, what a difference it made to the rest of my lids by inserting new pins. I can only assume they became elongated/stressed overtime as I had a similar problem to the OP.

[Krikkit]

Mine last for years - my last lid at 3 years was fine, now my car trackday helmet and working fine. Always kept indoors mind.

If it's been somewhere damp you should be able to remove it and dry it out

[Far Cough]

Remove it and wash it in light soapy hot water. Leave it to dry after wiping off the excess water with a very very soft cloth unless you want scratches. Refit. This gives mine a new lease of life every time but in the end they succumb to constant cleaning.

[GriffoDP]

Far Cough said:

Remove it and wash it in light soapy hot water. Leave it to dry after wiping off the excess water with a very very soft cloth unless you want scratches. Refit. This gives mine a new lease of life every time but in the end they succumb to constant cleaning.

Yep I'm sure it's in their docs to rinse it and let dry to 'rejuvenate' or whatnot. I slightly forgot this and used my visor cleaner spray whilst sat at a cafe in Vianden last summer. It caused all sorts of weird rippling on the surface and I thought I'd ruined it so put it in my tank bag. The next day though it was fine. Well, as fine as I would expect, as in the thing still gets creeping misting in the bad times.

[Biker9090]

Thanks.

Yeah, oddly it's never been kept anywhere damp, always been on a sideboard inside.

Might have another look otherwise it looks to be looking like ordering a replacement

[moanthebairns]

Biker9090 said:

Thanks.

Yeah, oddly it's never been kept anywhere damp, always been on a sideboard inside.

Might have another look otherwise it looks to be looking like ordering a replacement

Might be worth a try, but check the hole size. If its a generic size you can get a bag of £20 for a few quid.

https://www.google.com/search?q=pinlock+pins+Schub...

it wont allow me to post the ebay link, but you get the idea.

Edited by moanthebairns on Tuesday 17th March 12:13