Seat belts wont retract...

[1974vette]

I just installed my seatbelts that i had Ssnake Oyl refurbish and the top passenger retracter wont retract...is there any fix for this or am i going to have to take it out and ship it back to them?:confused :cry
-matt

 

[GerryLP]

Matt,

I recommend that you call them and ask for sugestions. They refurbished my car's driver side seat belt and did a magnificent job; however, as they say, "anything is posible". You'll find them attentive.

I suggest removing them and see if the weight got hang-up -if I am not mistaken, your car-model year had them as well.

 

[1974vette]

Thanks for the help Gerry. I'll call them tomorrow and see what they suggest...if it is just the weight, i'll be EXTREMELY happy...
-matt

 

[1974vette]

can somebody tell me how to see if the weight got hung up...ssnake oyl is closed until next monday and this is really bugging me....any help would be GREATLY appreciated....
-matt

 

[Vettehead Mikey]

can somebody tell me how to see if the weight got hung up...ssnake oyl is closed until next monday and this is really bugging me....any help would be GREATLY appreciated....
-matt

My rebuilts from Snake oyl occasionally do the same thing. Easiest way is to remove the mechanism from the car so that you can see the ratchet plate at the rear. Just slip a screw driver underneath and lift gently to unhook it from the tooth on the spool that it's caught on.

Next time you'll be able to do it without removal.

I think I remember hearing that that Snake oyl sets the belts up to be more 'sensitive' than factory setting. My shoulder belts can be a real pain sometimes if you lean forward too quickly, but it's the lesser of two evils I guess.

 

[1974vette]

i havent taken them out yet, but before i do, will you explain to me what the ratchet plate looks like...

thanks again for the help,

-matt

 

[Vettehead Mikey]

Going from memory, it's a metal plate maybe 3/8" wide and 1/16" thick that runs parallel with the axis of the seat belt spool. It's mounted on the outer housing and is allowed to move radially. You'll see that the ends of the spool are round plates with notches cut in them. The rachet plate, when activated, slips into one of the notches and stops the seat belt from extending any further.

Hope this helps

 

[1974vette]

thanks mikey, i'll see what i can do tomorrow.
-matt

 

[ArkShark]

I have a similar problem with the driver side seatbelt in my 77.
It will not extract. You have to manually reach under the seat to fiddle with that ratchet plate to pull the seat belt out.

Also, the belt is in sorry condition.

Can you give me some info about 'snake oyl' seatbelts set?

Mike

 

[1974vette]

Vettehead Mikey,

im going to attatch some photos...can you describe where the retractor plate is by using these photos....thanks


Corvette Kyle,
Ssnake Oyl products rebuilds seatbelts, retractors...basically anything to do with restraints...they completely rebuilt ALL of my seatbelt stuff, including new retractors for shoulder and lap belts for both sides....put new webbing (the belt itself) in the retractors and rechromed the tongues on mine for $598...my left belt works perfectly...but as they said, ssnake oyl sets them more sensitive...the only problem i have had is the retracting problem...and hopefully i can fix it....

-matt

 

[1974vette]

2nd view

 

[1974vette]

3rd view

 

[1974vette]

hmm...does anyone else know where this retractor plate would be in the pictures?:confused

 

[1974vette]

this helps me some...i think i'll go try to see if i can fix them!!!!!
-matt

 

[1974vette]

i still cannot get to the retractor plate...and truthfully, i've yet to see it...i've saw the weight and the spools...and i've got this whole thing figured out how it works...looks like i'll have to take the retractor out inorder to get to it though....thanks for the help...
-matt

 

[Vettehead Mikey]

Hmmmmm, your retractor assembly looks VERY different than mine, much more enclosed. My shoulder belt assembly looks similar to the lap belt, both are known to be original to the car.

In any case, the ratchet plate might be the thing circled in red in your last picture. It's identified as a lock bar in the sketch.

Hope this helps.

 

[1974vette]

thanks mikey...i had new retractors put on by Ssnake Oyl..maybe this is why mine are so different...thanks for the help!
-matt

 

[GerryLP]

Matt,

I am not very familiar with Liability Law, but it seems that if you mess with it, then you could be absolving Ssnake Oyl of their liability if the belt assemblies fail due to mechanical reasons.

Best piece of advice I would offer you would be to let them fix it for you. You have already paid them the price for the repair, so "bite the bullet" (in reduced driving time) and make them repair it at no cost to you. The last thing one would want to happen is to tinker with the mechanism and have it fail when you most need it.

My wife drives our Vette on occasions, and I didn't want to risk the seat belt failing while she drove it. :eek..so I waited for the repair, and luckily, I have not had any problems.

 

[1974vette]

alright gerry, thats what i'll do. all i've done to the retractor is stick a screwdriver in the open slot in it to move the weight to see if that would make it retract, but it didnt...yes, i was also thinking if i did much to it, that it would not hold ssnake oyl liable if something were to happen...i'll call ssnake oyl monday when they open back up
-matt