Section : Seat Belts

Lack of inertia

Posted By : James Holladay, 21-Jun-2005, 10:43pm

The drivers seatbelt in my 1979 spitfire no longer appears to be fully functioning properly. Essentially the inertia mechanism seems to be faulty and rather than stopping dead, merely clicks and comes out more slowly (i.e. if I had a shunt, it would no longer stop me hurtling forwards).

Does anybody out there with a modicum of technical knowledge (for mine is sadly limited) have any idea what the problem may be? Does it sound like some adjustment of the internal mechanism is needed, or will I need a new seatbelt?

A spitfire beginner

Followups :

Lack of inertia

Posted By : Jim Sinclair, 29-Aug-2005, 06:21pm

Hi James

Having just fitted inertia belts to my mk4 I woulod suggest that you buy a new unit or units. Don,t play around with something that could save your life

Yours

Jim
- Lack of inertia
  
  Posted By : James Carruthers, 29-Aug-2005, 06:26pm
  
  Highly agree! And so does my face - after my inertia belts failed in my Spit 1500 when someone went in to the back of me - split lip and gums and lots of stitches! Including a nice stitching going from the front of my gum to the back - yes having a needle pushed through your gum feels yuck!
  
  There... should be enough to convice people to buy new - however I havent found any decent ones recently - the Securon ones have stalks that are too long making the seat belt connecty thingy (brain fade here) end up in your stomach...
  - Lack of inertia
    
    Posted By : Lindsay Dearing, 29-Aug-2005, 07:21pm
    
    Following on from James's comment on seat belt buckles being too long (I have the same problem on my recently acquired GT6) why is this? The original fitment had the 'buckle' as a fixed unit alongside the seat. Why are all the aftermarket seatbelts now on stalks! As the Club sell these seatbelts perhaps they could ask the manufacturers why we cannot get 'original fitment' fixings. Failing that, can we have shorter stalks please!!
    - Lack of inertia
      
      Posted By : Kevin Rochfort, 29-Aug-2005, 08:28pm
      
      I suspect that these after market belts are a one size fits all solution, rather than being customised on an application by application basis.
      How many cars that might need these belts have seats that are so close (i.e. low) to the mounting point - not many is my guess.
      I agree, the Club needs to speak to the supplier to see if they can be supplied with shorter stalks to suit the Spit and GT6 - Technically it is easy to do, but is there any incentive.
      Looking at the Securon website, several different stalks are available, and in their database they indicate that the Spit&GT6 should have a 30cm stalk, which is obviously too long. What we need to do is to take a Spitfire and or GT6 to their technical department (in Amersham) and show them that a shorter stalk should be provided as standard for the Spit/GT6. Maybe we can persuade JY to drop in on them and give a demo - he is based about five miles from Securon.
      - Lack of inertia
        
        Posted By : James Carruthers, 29-Aug-2005, 08:36pm
        
        They are indeed 30cm - at least that was the one supplied to me - useless really!
        
        The "original" belts on my car didnt have a stalk at all (which is rather ugly) - they have a much nicer short fabric section.
        
        Lack of inertia
        
        Posted By : Kevin Rochfort, 29-Aug-2005, 09:05pm
        
        James.
        
        If you look on the securon website http://www.securon.com you will find various specs for belts.
        
        A fabric strap (adjustable) is available, as is a 15cm metal strap version.
        
        What is not available is the plastic binicle type fitted to the early MKIV with static belts.
        The MKIV with inertia reel belts had a stalk that is about 15cm long - certainly not 30CM.
        
        Kevin
        
        Lack of inertia
        
        Posted By : James Carruthers, 29-Aug-2005, 09:14pm
        
        Kevin,
        
        So why on earth have they supplied the wrong sort to the Triumph companies?
        
        15cm webbing on the buckle is all that is needed...
        
        James
        
        Lack of inertia
        
        Posted By : Kevin Rochfort, 29-Aug-2005, 09:23pm
        
        James,
        
        Probably because whoever spec'd up the belts in the first place got it wrong.
        
        As I said in an earlier message, we need to get a couple of cars to their technical boys (and girls) and show them what is really needed. Don't forget, the MKIV/1500 Spit is "designed" to have short stalks, but will work with straps, so some people will insist on short stalks, and some will be happy to have straps, which are probably much more comfortable - but will need to be kept short.
        
        Kevin
        
        Lack of inertia
        
        Posted By : James Carruthers, 29-Aug-2005, 09:33pm
        
        Kevin,
        
        I have emailed them and will phone them tomorrow if I don't get a response.
        
        I havent installed my belts because they don't fit properly - will see if they will swap my stalks for webbing...
        
        James
        
        Lack of inertia
        
        Posted By : James Carruthers, 30-Aug-2005, 10:43am
        
        I was awoken this morning by a man from Securon.
        
        He assured me that 30cm was fine - and that I should look to mounting it on a seat frame bolt. Or else make another hole...
        
        The fact that my current setup worked fine - and the Spitfire has a mounting hole (at least mine does) in a perfect postion for a seat belt didnt seem to bother him.
        
        He told me that on front seats you have to be able to put the belt on one handed - and this is why it is on a stork - I don't think he quite realised that the buckle sits right next to you anyway - seeing as you are basically sitting on the floor of a Spitfire to begin with!
        
        I have to admit I was half asleep at the time so didnt really take much in or "argue" the case with him.
        
        James
        
        Lack of inertia
        
        Posted By : Mark Stradling, 17-Oct-2005, 03:55pm
        
        Digging up a old thread but was wondering about kit cars...
        
        Has anyone tried contacting Securon to buy a set of belts for their Spitfire based 'kit car' that needs standard Spitfire reals, but only 15cm buckles?
        
        As a 'kit car' they won't have a standard belt for it, so shouldn't try for force 30cm buckles on you as you have a Spitfire and "Computer says no."