Helmet Pivot Kits, Screws and Shield Hardware: A Buying Guide

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Helmet buying note: fit, certification and known history matter. Prefer new helmets from reputable sellers, verify the certification label, and replace any helmet that has been involved in an impact.

Buy the pivot kit or shield hardware that the helmet maker or seller lists for your exact helmet model, not one that merely looks similar. These small parts differ from model to model, and sometimes from one shield system to the next on the same helmet. Do not swap in hardware-store screws to make something fit.

This guide covers the small parts that loosen, strip or crack around a visor, how to identify the right ones, and how to buy them with fewer returns. It is about the hardware, not the shield itself. For shield part numbers and coatings, see our guide to buying a replacement helmet visor.

What the small parts are

Names vary by maker, so use these as a rough map and check your manual's parts diagram for the real terms.

Some makers sell these as a complete pivot kit, others as separate base plate sets and screw sets for a specific shield or face cover. Shoei's parts page, for example, lists base plate and screw sets by model and system, so one helmet can have more than one correct answer.

Signs the hardware needs replacing

• The shield will not stay open or at a set position.
• The shield wobbles, rattles or sits crooked when closed.
• It no longer closes fully, so wind or rain gets in at the edge.
• A screw is stripped, bent or keeps loosening.
• There is a visible crack in a plate or around the mounting area.

A cracked plate is not always a hardware-only fix. If a helmet has been dropped or crashed and the shell around the mount looks damaged, contact the maker about inspection rather than replacing parts and carrying on. The federal standard has makers tell owners to return a helmet that has taken a severe blow for inspection, or destroy and replace it. Our used helmet guide covers what to check when parts are missing on a helmet you did not buy new.

How to match a kit to your helmet

Start from the helmet, not the part. Shoei's parts page works this way: you pick your helmet first and it shows the parts that fit, and product titles name the models they cover. That is a good pattern to follow on any site.

1. Note the exact model name. Brand and series are not enough. Use the label inside the helmet and your manual.
2. Note the version or year. A maker may reuse a name across generations with different shield systems.
3. Check the maker's parts page or manual. Look for a parts diagram or a list of parts by model.
4. Read the listing title and description. It should name your model. "Universal" or "fits most" is not a match.
5. Compare photos with your old part. Count screw holes and compare the plate shape and notches.
6. Ask before you buy if unsure. Message the seller or the maker with your model and the problem.
7. Keep the old parts until the new ones are fitted and working.

Do not assume that a part for a similar helmet from the same brand will fit. Check the spec for your model, because the listing is the seller's claim and not a guarantee.

Why not just use any screw

Screw choice can be a design decision. Shoei says that on two of its models, the Hornet X2 and the VFX-EVO, it uses plastic shield screws so the shield breaks away more easily in an impact, which may reduce twisting forces. If that is the intent for those models, a stronger replacement screw defeats it. Other helmets may have their own reasons for the hardware they use.

The federal helmet standard also has makers include the instruction "Make no modifications." Replacing shield hardware with something the maker did not specify is a change, so the safe default is to use parts listed for your model and to ask the maker when in doubt. Beyond fit, there is also material, finish and thread, which you cannot judge from a photo.

Maker parts, third-party parts and used parts

Maker or authorized parts are the simplest route because they are listed against your model. Ask whether the part comes as a set.

Third-party kits can fit, but the listing has to name your exact model. Look at the return policy, because an incorrect plate is a wasted purchase. A kit that claims to cover many models is a prompt to look closer, not a reassurance.

Used parts can make sense for discontinued helmets when the maker no longer sells a part, but a used plate or spring has unknown wear, so ask for clear photos and a return option. For parts that hold the shield on, many riders prefer new. If a part is no longer available anywhere, ask the maker about alternatives rather than improvising.

Fitting the parts

Follow your manual. These habits help with most designs:

• Work over a soft towel with a small tray, so screws and washers do not roll away.
• Photograph the old assembly before taking it apart, noting the order of washers and plates.
• Use a screwdriver that fits the screw head properly, to avoid rounding the slot.
• Tighten as the manual describes. Over-tightening may stress plastic parts, so go by the manual and not by feel alone.
• Do not add thread-locker, glue, lubricant or solvent unless the maker says to. The standard has makers specify the cleaners, paints and adhesives suitable for a helmet, because some common substances can damage it without visible signs.
• Test the shield through its whole range, closed and open, before riding.

If you use an anti-fog insert, the Pinlock manual says to place the lens between the two pins on the shield and check in natural light that the silicone seal fully contacts the shield. Our anti-fog and Pinlock guide and shield care guide cover the rest, and the rain repellent guide explains what to keep off an insert.

Frequently Asked Questions