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MG MGB Technical - Seatbelt Location

I have fitted Inertia seatbelts to my roadster and have all sorts of problems with them not retracting, getting jammed etc.
Tha problem seems to be the different angles at which the belt retracts as there is no static location point before the retraction unit.
I have looked at previous threads but cannot find and mention of a top location.
Is it possible to fit a higher anchor point so the belt would allways retract at the retract at same angle, and also the belt would not be pulling down on your shoulder all the time?
Regards
Dave
D M Tetlow

Where are they mounted? I fitted mine to the boss on the inner wing using a purpose-built right-angle bracket from MGOC and have had no problems with jamming or pressure. Mount it any higher and it's going to interfere with the hood. GTs were on the top of the rear wheel arch, and for a while statics were attached to the threaded hole in the rear tonneau panel, using a quick-release fastener to allow raising and lowering of the hood.

Are both belts the same? If not it's obviously the one belt, if so then probably the belt design.
Paul Hunt 2

Hi Paul
I have mounted them on the wheel arch as per yours but I find as if either of the belts is released it depends on the angle they retract at, and they tend to jam up by jumping slots.
I was wondering if I could fit a pivot point so when the belt is released, the angle back to the take up point is always the same, so no jams. It would mean re-inforcing the side panel under the hood hinge points though.
Dave
D M Tetlow

I have a roll bar on my rstr. I attached, via brackets, a couple of guides that normally fit at the top of the "B" pillar in a sedan. This arrangement positions the belts over one's shoulder & gives a straight pull from the retractor. I was fed up with belts falling down the side of the seats & getting tangled with the seat adjusters. Barrie E
Barrie Egerton

My 70 MGB was purchased with retractable seat belts so I do not know how old they were or their history. I experienced the problem of catching when trying to withdraw and release them. I overcame the problem by putting some graphite powder into the ratchet mechanism.
David Levy

My belts are brand new. They run fine but the entry to the reels has various finger options and the belt often catches between one or the other.
What I am looking to do is exactly what Barrie has done, but I do not have a roll bar to attach a guide to.
I will have to look at fitting a plate with the guide on the end, probably located under the 3 hood hinge points.
If I get the guide in line so the belt does not change course then there should not be a saftey issue in an accident!!
Dave
D M Tetlow

The American cars attached the belts just behind the combing on the back of the car, each corner. My car has two captive nuts and two holes in these locations. You could mount your reals under the combing(inside the car) and have a smooth rounded stainless bolthead on the upperside. This would not look out of place because all the American cars have a threaded hole there If you look at the photos of the American cars (see the british
http://www.britishv8.org/MG/EddWeninger.htm

you will see what I mean

Peter

Dave I have exactly the same problem! There are two slots with "fingers" between them. The belt manages to be half width in one slot half width in the other. Or best of all between the metal and the plastic part that creats the slots and fingers. I split a small piece of plastic washer tube and forced it between the metal and the plasic but the belt still jumps into the two slots!
I now know exactly the angle to pull the belt to put it on and leave it pushed between the seat back and base when I get out of the car -which rather defeats the object of inertia reel belts!! I await your solution with interest -good luck! Michael
Michael Beswick

Previous threads have complained about the Securion inertia reel jamming. I had a lot of problems with Securion on a previous B, so I fitted Kangols and have had no trouble. This was about 12 years ago so they may not be available now.
Kangol did do a rear seat belt retro fit in the 80s 90s which looked like it could be adapted for a B.
c cummins

Peter - pretty-well all cars have the threaded holes there, or at least from 67, and UK cars used them for static belts from 71 to 77. But if mounting inertia reels there they would have to be detacheable or you cannot get the hood up and down. Maybe not a problem in sunny Oz but it is in the UK (especially now!). Mine came with the reels attached there, but the 'quick release' mechanism consisted of finger-tight bolts! Which is why I moved them to the inner arches with the purpose made bracket.
Paul Hunt 2

Dave

If you follow Peter's (Melbourne) suggestion and use a stow-away hood it should all work out.

Larry
Larry Hallanger

This thread was discussed between 22/06/2007 and 26/06/2007

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