What should we do about seat belts?, even "good ones are 30+ years old... Options

[wayne1234]

well I'm kinda at a stopping point (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif) some parts are on order.. I had posted a while ago about a racing harness seat belt and it seemed the popular opinion was they are a pain the the butt and restrict movement and are uncomfortable. So I kinda shrugged it off and planned on finding a better set than mine, mine are stiff need help getting back up... I posted a WTB ad, and the first replies seem to be in similar condition.... any body reconditioned theirs? any body used something else? I cant be the only one who needs something (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

[Pat Garvey]

These belts are non-bio. They are made from manmade materials.
The belts don't usually fail. The hardware does fail.

I have one on my 72 that is balky, but it eventually retracts. I strongly suspect the retractin mechanism needs sume refurb, or maybe just some lube.

Now, I have noted some 914s that have been "left unwanted" outdoors for some time do have a problem with the belts becoming sorta brittle. These should go away, and are not safe.

George may have a solution for these, but as a CW I haven't compared them. Believe me, if the belt isn't proper for a 914, I can spot it almost instantly. But, if it looks like & smells like a proper belt - go for it.

In most cases though, the mechanism is the problem. Not particularly easy to get to, but if you care to do it a little loving care will snap those belts right back up. Did it on my passenger side about 7 years ago. Now need to do it on the D side.

It's not on the xhort list, but I'll get to it.
Pat

[DBCooper]

These belts are non-bio. They are made from manmade materials.
The belts don't usually fail. The hardware does fail.

But, if it looks like & smells like a proper belt - go for it.

Be very carefully about that advice. The polyester webbing used in seat belts is degraded by UV (sunshine) and ozone, among other things, losing strength pretty rapidly after about ten years. That's why race belts are dated, and the rule for industrial safety products that use webbing is that they're simply discarded after ten years. It's like sitting through the polypropylene webbing of a deck chair that's been left out, it looks fine but then when tested won't stop your ass. Their appearance may be acceptable for concours events but still be totally inadequate for real world use.