Will Orum Posted June 24, 2022 Report Share Posted June 24, 2022 As I've had to take the interior out of my spit to mend the gearbox, I've gained easy access to my seatbelts. For whatever reason, they are about half a metre too long and just kinda flop down behind the seat. Does anyone know of some properly sized belts or if it would be safe to get say a sailmaker to reduce the length? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted June 24, 2022 Report Share Posted June 24, 2022 I take it theyre retractable type (box on the floor) and the return isnt working? Sometimes its just the lock mechanism has got stuck but dont know if it can be freed off.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted June 24, 2022 Report Share Posted June 24, 2022 Are they 'proper' Spitfire belts? Aftermarket belts may be designed for roomier modern cars and therefore end up much too long, but the reel is full so no more room to wind any more belt back in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Orum Posted June 24, 2022 Author Report Share Posted June 24, 2022 To clarify, the belts were new when I got the car. The spools are as full as they can be, and with good tension (once you pull up the slack). It's just a case of taking up the slack or replacing them for "correct" ones Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josef Posted June 24, 2022 Report Share Posted June 24, 2022 If you’re going to get anyone to modify them then I’m pretty sure they have to be registered for that sort of thing (so a sailmaker or upholsterer is not OK!) Safety Belt Services and Quickfit Safety Belts are two well know seatbelt specialists who can do mods if you do happen to need them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted June 24, 2022 Report Share Posted June 24, 2022 Not worth it I dont think as you can get the correct item (usually Securon) from most Triumph specialists at reasonable prices.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrishawley Posted June 24, 2022 Report Share Posted June 24, 2022 Not 100% sure of this but.....Did Spitfire (inertia reel) seatbelts ever retract fully? I thought the free length was so that the buckle could be parked into the stowage clip at the top of the b-post. Could be quite wrong about this and I guess the stowage clips are missing from a great many Spitfires. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted June 24, 2022 Report Share Posted June 24, 2022 These are the securon items that are available and looks like youre right Chris they dont retract all the way although thats probably because theres always going to be a separation between the mech and the B post top fixing... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badwolf Posted June 25, 2022 Report Share Posted June 25, 2022 I will check on mine later and report back, but I'm sure that there is not much loose belt when not in use as when hung on the top of the B posts, the clips are still under tension? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Orum Posted June 25, 2022 Author Report Share Posted June 25, 2022 11 hours ago, johny said: These are the securon items that are available and looks like youre right Chris they dont retract all the way although thats probably because theres always going to be a separation between the mech and the B post top fixing... I think maybe the previous owner just bought the wrong belts. My belts have just under double the slack of those. I don't have the box with me but I'll have a gander and compare numbers when I can Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badwolf Posted June 26, 2022 Report Share Posted June 26, 2022 Will - Sorry for the delay. I have checked my Securion seat belts (15cm stalks) and they have no slack at all when released from the 'parking nut' that I fitted on the B post. All the belt is taken up by the spring tensioner fitted onto the back deck next to the wheel arch. Hope that this helps, but I suspect it won't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Orum Posted June 27, 2022 Author Report Share Posted June 27, 2022 Update - I got home and I was able to have a better look. It turns out my belts are correct, just incorrectly installed. Luckily, whoever installed them kept the box so I was able to use the two small standoffs under the reels and now they work perfectly. Only thing I can fault with it now is the rigid stalk. Shouldn’t be too hard to buy a flexible one though. thank you everyone for your help and advice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted June 27, 2022 Report Share Posted June 27, 2022 Result! The Flexible stalks will be longer (believe they come in 300 and 450mm lengths) so have to check the buckles end up in a comfortable position.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Orum Posted June 27, 2022 Author Report Share Posted June 27, 2022 I think with how the buckles are at the moment, any position is more comfortable than their rigid one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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