Abstract: A helmet visor operating mechanism in which springs urge the rolling elements of respective pairs of rolling elements toward relatively smaller radial dimension spaces between a brake ring carried by the visor and an axle carried by the helmet shell to lock the visor against movement toward its raised position and against movement toward its lowered position. Respective actuators mounted for rotary movement on the axle have pairs of tangs extending into the space between the axle and the ring and between the rolling elements of the respective pairs. Outwardly extending tabs can be squeezed together to cause the tangs to move the rolling elements of the pairs away from each other against the action of the springs to unlock the visor and permit it to be raised or lowered by subsequent movement of the tabs in the same direction.