Fitting helicopter vents?
Discussion
Hi All,
With summer approaching, I'd like to fit helicopter vents to my otherwise fully closed side screens (I replaced my side screens a couple years ago and I was dumb enough to fit them as sourced from factory, without fitting vents first).
I have a few questions that I'm hopeful you will be able to help with.
1. Sourcing the vents. In your opinion, should I get these from Ultima Sports or are these standard enough that I'd find good quality ones at Marlin Motorsport / Demon Tweeks / etc.? Experiences?
2. Making the holes. I am told that this is done using a standard drill fitted with one of these "crown drillbits" (sorry, not sure what the proper name for such drillbit is?). I'd like to know the exact size for this drillbit (in metric I suppose?) because obviously slightly small holes would result in not being able to push the vents in, and slightly large holes would result in the vents failing to remain steady in whatever fixed position, which would be pretty disastrous given the price for a pair of side screens and the time and effort spent fitting them.
3. I would think that these vents need to come as two pieces that I'll need to glue together once in place so that they won't come off? What type or glue would you advise for this material?
Thank you very much!
With summer approaching, I'd like to fit helicopter vents to my otherwise fully closed side screens (I replaced my side screens a couple years ago and I was dumb enough to fit them as sourced from factory, without fitting vents first).
I have a few questions that I'm hopeful you will be able to help with.
1. Sourcing the vents. In your opinion, should I get these from Ultima Sports or are these standard enough that I'd find good quality ones at Marlin Motorsport / Demon Tweeks / etc.? Experiences?
2. Making the holes. I am told that this is done using a standard drill fitted with one of these "crown drillbits" (sorry, not sure what the proper name for such drillbit is?). I'd like to know the exact size for this drillbit (in metric I suppose?) because obviously slightly small holes would result in not being able to push the vents in, and slightly large holes would result in the vents failing to remain steady in whatever fixed position, which would be pretty disastrous given the price for a pair of side screens and the time and effort spent fitting them.
3. I would think that these vents need to come as two pieces that I'll need to glue together once in place so that they won't come off? What type or glue would you advise for this material?
Thank you very much!
Alez said:
Hi All,
With summer approaching, I'd like to fit helicopter vents to my otherwise fully closed side screens (I replaced my side screens a couple years ago and I was dumb enough to fit them as sourced from factory, without fitting vents first).
I have a few questions that I'm hopeful you will be able to help with.
1. Sourcing the vents. In your opinion, should I get these from Ultima Sports or are these standard enough that I'd find good quality ones at Marlin Motorsport / Demon Tweeks / etc.? Experiences?
2. Making the holes. I am told that this is done using a standard drill fitted with one of these "crown drillbits" (sorry, not sure what the proper name for such drillbit is?). I'd like to know the exact size for this drillbit (in metric I suppose?) because obviously slightly small holes would result in not being able to push the vents in, and slightly large holes would result in the vents failing to remain steady in whatever fixed position, which would be pretty disastrous given the price for a pair of side screens and the time and effort spent fitting them.
3. I would think that these vents need to come as two pieces that I'll need to glue together once in place so that they won't come off? What type or glue would you advise for this material?
Thank you very much!
The vents are one piece and just clip in.With summer approaching, I'd like to fit helicopter vents to my otherwise fully closed side screens (I replaced my side screens a couple years ago and I was dumb enough to fit them as sourced from factory, without fitting vents first).
I have a few questions that I'm hopeful you will be able to help with.
1. Sourcing the vents. In your opinion, should I get these from Ultima Sports or are these standard enough that I'd find good quality ones at Marlin Motorsport / Demon Tweeks / etc.? Experiences?
2. Making the holes. I am told that this is done using a standard drill fitted with one of these "crown drillbits" (sorry, not sure what the proper name for such drillbit is?). I'd like to know the exact size for this drillbit (in metric I suppose?) because obviously slightly small holes would result in not being able to push the vents in, and slightly large holes would result in the vents failing to remain steady in whatever fixed position, which would be pretty disastrous given the price for a pair of side screens and the time and effort spent fitting them.
3. I would think that these vents need to come as two pieces that I'll need to glue together once in place so that they won't come off? What type or glue would you advise for this material?
Thank you very much!
You will most likely find any source you buy them will in fact be the same moulding.
You can use a hole cutter but it will not be the right size so the hole will need opening. You could also chain drill.
Finish the hole to size with a drum sander.
Steve
I concur...and it is burned in my mind, as I had to do this a week or so ago.
Planning is everything so here are some pointers.
First mask the whole area from the side you intend to cut from. (I did it from the inside!)
Then use a compass to draw the exact hole size and identify the centre.
If you are close to any edge of the screen, make sure you have at least 5mm - 7mm clearance to allow for the inside tabs on the heli-vents to clear the edge otherwise you wont be able to rotate the vent when needed.
I found the best way was to drill a 4mm (approx) pilot hole for the centre with a blunt drill (or run it backwards)to stop the drill bit from snatching the plastic and causing a crack.
Then get a drill hole cutter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the hole - the B&Q multi-ones are relatively cheap with many sizes in the pack - beware not to try a hole the exact size as these drill saws can be slightly out of true and you don't want to end up with a hole too big.
Again I used the hole cutter in reverse (unless you are brave) - I would rather wear/ burn my way through the plastic rather than snag it! - but then I may be over-cautious!
Once the hole is cut, I used the compass-made circle as my guide and used a flapper wheel in my drill to gently open out the hole to the correct size - staring with very slightly undersize and check with the heli-vent until I was happy.
Remember that you will have to squeeze the heli-vent plastic edges to get the vent through the hole- you should end up with a nice snug fit.
Caution- when using the flapper wheel on your drill to widen the hole, be very careful you don't slip too far in or out - it can ruin your day with a nice burr on your plastic screen - it is too easy to do!
Hope that helps...
Planning is everything so here are some pointers.
First mask the whole area from the side you intend to cut from. (I did it from the inside!)
Then use a compass to draw the exact hole size and identify the centre.
If you are close to any edge of the screen, make sure you have at least 5mm - 7mm clearance to allow for the inside tabs on the heli-vents to clear the edge otherwise you wont be able to rotate the vent when needed.
I found the best way was to drill a 4mm (approx) pilot hole for the centre with a blunt drill (or run it backwards)to stop the drill bit from snatching the plastic and causing a crack.
Then get a drill hole cutter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the hole - the B&Q multi-ones are relatively cheap with many sizes in the pack - beware not to try a hole the exact size as these drill saws can be slightly out of true and you don't want to end up with a hole too big.
Again I used the hole cutter in reverse (unless you are brave) - I would rather wear/ burn my way through the plastic rather than snag it! - but then I may be over-cautious!
Once the hole is cut, I used the compass-made circle as my guide and used a flapper wheel in my drill to gently open out the hole to the correct size - staring with very slightly undersize and check with the heli-vent until I was happy.
Remember that you will have to squeeze the heli-vent plastic edges to get the vent through the hole- you should end up with a nice snug fit.
Caution- when using the flapper wheel on your drill to widen the hole, be very careful you don't slip too far in or out - it can ruin your day with a nice burr on your plastic screen - it is too easy to do!
Hope that helps...
Thanks very much, guys, very useful! Sounds like one I might be able to carry out.
I'm not sure how these vents are one piece, I must be remembering them wrong surely, from what I can remeber from the ones I once had, they would not come off the side windows (the edges are just too big to get through the hole), so I don't understand how they can be put in place. Anyway, I'd rather not waste any more of your time, because I'm pretty sure it'll all become clear once I have them in front of me!
Thanks!
I'm not sure how these vents are one piece, I must be remembering them wrong surely, from what I can remeber from the ones I once had, they would not come off the side windows (the edges are just too big to get through the hole), so I don't understand how they can be put in place. Anyway, I'd rather not waste any more of your time, because I'm pretty sure it'll all become clear once I have them in front of me!
Thanks!
Maybe any of these will do?
http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/motorsport/cockpit-v...
http://www.cbsonline.co.uk/product/3_1|2%22_Large_...
The one from Demon Tweeks looks identical to what I used to have on my car, if I remember correctly
http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/motorsport/cockpit-v...
http://www.cbsonline.co.uk/product/3_1|2%22_Large_...
The one from Demon Tweeks looks identical to what I used to have on my car, if I remember correctly
Next tip.
When you are up and running be very careful how you use the vents.
You can open it and face it backwards and it will draw out stale air.
You can open it and face it forwads and it will drive air in.
Do not face it forwards with it only open a few millimeters. When you get up to about 70mph it will flip fully open with such a crash you will think the world has come to an end.
Be warned
Steve
When you are up and running be very careful how you use the vents.
You can open it and face it backwards and it will draw out stale air.
You can open it and face it forwads and it will drive air in.
Do not face it forwards with it only open a few millimeters. When you get up to about 70mph it will flip fully open with such a crash you will think the world has come to an end.
Be warned
Steve
Steve_D said:
Next tip.
You can open it and face it forwads and it will drive air in.
Steve
This is my preferred option, I call it the fly deflection position. You will know what I mean when you get hit by a fly traveling at great speed, you hear a splat and you may take a direct hit in the face! But it is worth it You can open it and face it forwads and it will drive air in.
Steve
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