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crumpleface
Samba Member
Joined: February 14, 2008
Posts: 10
Location: Livermore
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 Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 6:51 pm Post subject: Restoring seat belts |
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Hi all! I was wondering if anybody has any tips for washing and loosening up stock '71 seat belts? My 3-point seat belts in the front are a BEAR to adjust - it takes about 15 minutes to size them for passengers. They're really stiff, but I'd like to keep the stock ones!
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Air_Cooled_Nut
Samba Member
Joined: March 27, 2004
Posts: 3040
Location: Portland, Oregon
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| Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 7:48 pm Post subject: |
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Wash in hot, soapy water. Don't overdo the soap! Rinse very well in hot water. Hang dry, don't put in the dryer. You may need to repeat one more time.
The first few pictures here are my TIII seatbelts getting cleaned 
http://www.icbm.org/cmgallery/thumbnails.php?album=31
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Toby http://www.aircoolednut.com/
Did I mention that I'm an original Darksider?
'72 VW Squareback, 2007cc, GB 5-speed, rag top; '76 VW Riviera Penthouse Sundowner 2.0L; 2015 Audi S5 Cabby w/Stage II APR; '06 Ducati Sport Classic 1000; '14 Ducati Diavel Strada
The First Invasion |
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Anchovy
Samba Member
Joined: August 05, 2000
Posts: 2922
Location: San Diego, CA
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| Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 8:22 pm Post subject: |
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Soap and water are the best bet as mentioned above.
It is also helpful to take off the plastic caps on both the male and female ends of the belts. This way you can inspect and clean inside there as well.
I washed the white rubber thumb releases while I was cleaning my belts with some whitewall tire cleaner. I sprayed the metal parts with WD-40 and then wiped them clean so none would get on the belt straps. I also put a small amount of white lithium grease on the receiver pin mechanism.
Even with all this care and attention the belts can be difficult to adjust. |
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russwiththebus
Samba Member
Joined: September 25, 2007
Posts: 930
Location: Chattanooga, TN
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| Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 8:57 pm Post subject: |
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I know you said you'd like to keep your original belts, but I'd consider replacing them. The webbing is almost 40 years old, I wouldn't want to find out how well they hold up in a collision. I think it's recommended that belts be changed every 10 years or so anyways, even sooner for race cars. They don't last forever.
And plus it's a great opportunity to upgrade to retractables. The original belts suck, no question about it. GoWesty sells some that are supposed to be really nice, and bolt right in. They're pricey ($140 each!) but I'm seriously considering picking up a pair for my bus when they're back in stock. |
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baumer99
Samba Member
Joined: September 16, 2008
Posts: 60
Location: Victoria, BC
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| Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 9:55 pm Post subject: |
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I would just like to second the motion for retractable belts. Jetta belts work the best if you want to stay vw and can be picked up fairly cheap. They may be older that 10 years, but I just feel safer with my retractable belts.
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Bart Dunn
Samba Consiglieri
Joined: May 09, 2004
Posts: 2354
Location: Sea level (Mid Atlantic)
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| Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 11:56 am Post subject: |
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| lostorbit wrote: |
I know you said you'd like to keep your original belts, but I'd consider replacing them. The webbing is almost 40 years old, I wouldn't want to find out how well they hold up in a collision. I think it's recommended that belts be changed every 10 years or so anyways, even sooner for race cars. They don't last forever.
And plus it's a great opportunity to upgrade to retractables. The original belts suck, no question about it. GoWesty sells some that are supposed to be really nice, and bolt right in. They're pricey ($140 each!) but I'm seriously considering picking up a pair for my bus when they're back in stock. |
Try Chris at Busted Bus. He can get them a bit cheaper--same belts.
Second/Third/Fourth not using 40 year old belts. The material and stitching decays over time. Don't go cheap. I think there are "restoration" companies out there that will replace and re-stitch the webbing using your old hardware if you're really going for that concourse restoration look, although I would imagine it'd be a while before a bay bus takes first at Pebble Beach.
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Not enough car seats fit into my:
'58 Beetle convertible
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Last edited by Bart Dunn on Wed Feb 04, 2009 4:51 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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aeromech
Samba Member
Joined: January 24, 2006
Posts: 16961
Location: San Diego, California
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thewalrus
Big Jack
Joined: March 27, 2006
Posts: 3014
Location: Belchertown, MA
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| Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 12:37 pm Post subject: |
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| baumer99 wrote: |
| Jetta belts work the best if you want to stay vw and can be picked up fairly cheap. |
Heres some info on the Jetta upgrade:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=329626&highlight=seatbelts
I'd really like to do what 1975 Kombi did to his (Open link, scroll down, then scroll down in his link)
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'73 Transporter 1.7L Dual Carb
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elstrom
Samba Member
Joined: February 02, 2006
Posts: 395
Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 11:44 pm Post subject: |
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| lostorbit wrote: |
I know you said you'd like to keep your original belts, but I'd consider replacing them. The webbing is almost 40 years old, I wouldn't want to find out how well they hold up in a collision. I think it's recommended that belts be changed every 10 years or so anyways, even sooner for race cars. They don't last forever.
And plus it's a great opportunity to upgrade to retractables. The original belts suck, no question about it. GoWesty sells some that are supposed to be really nice, and bolt right in. They're pricey ($140 each!) but I'm seriously considering picking up a pair for my bus when they're back in stock. |
I completely agree! I got the GoWesty belts a few years ago. They are a little expensive, but believe me after working a few years as a volunteer EMT, I know first hand that you never want to skimp on seat belts.
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'78 Landmark Conversion/Westy "Buster" |
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mygreenbus
Samba Member
Joined: February 14, 2007
Posts: 1154
Location: Palm Coast, FL
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| Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 11:37 am Post subject: |
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I love our 3 point belts we got from GoWesty. But if you want ot restore try these folks. Excellent at what they do. http://www.ssnake-oyl.com/
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79 Surf Bus
Samba Member
Joined: October 06, 2008
Posts: 51
Location: Costa Mesa Ca
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| Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 12:24 pm Post subject: |
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Those seem to look like they work anyone bought these? Wonder if they will work for a 79? |
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aeromech
Samba Member
Joined: January 24, 2006
Posts: 16961
Location: San Diego, California
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| Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2009 7:33 pm Post subject: |
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Well, we bought the belts on eBay for $29 each and I installed them this evening. You can tell that the quality isn't there but there is a great improvement over the original belts. I'm not going to say that everyone should run out and buy these but if you could get something a bit better quality they sure are nice.
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spydermann
Samba Member
Joined: November 15, 2008
Posts: 82
Location: Ogden, Utah
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| Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 3:14 pm Post subject: |
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i found these in a golf at a junkyard, think they'll work?
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aeromech
Samba Member
Joined: January 24, 2006
Posts: 16961
Location: San Diego, California
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| Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 3:20 pm Post subject: |
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| spydermann wrote: |
i found these in a golf at a junkyard, think they'll work?
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I think the important thing is that the female end be on a rigid piece that bolts between the two front seats and that the actual belt length be long enough to reach. The belts I installed were barely long enough. |
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mygreenbus
Samba Member
Joined: February 14, 2007
Posts: 1154
Location: Palm Coast, FL
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| Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 3:21 pm Post subject: |
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It looks like they will be a great fit.
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spydermann
Samba Member
Joined: November 15, 2008
Posts: 82
Location: Ogden, Utah
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| Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 3:26 pm Post subject: |
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| Good to hear! would it be wise to just swap the female ends too? |
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GeorgeO.
Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2010
Posts: 881
Location: Menifee, CA
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| Posted: Thu May 29, 2014 1:36 pm Post subject: |
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| I took my old seat belts, 3 point, and soak them in dish washing detergent just like my upholstery and let them soak for about a day. I rinsed them off out side with a water hose and after the soap was gone, I soaked them in Downey Fabric Softener for about 2 days as this belt has a weave that is tight. After that I took them outside and rinse them off with the water hose and let them lay on the concrete that helped with the drying. They work really well. |
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larryducas
Samba Member
Joined: October 25, 2011
Posts: 233
Location: Fallbrook, CA
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| Posted: Thu May 29, 2014 2:27 pm Post subject: |
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| baumer99 wrote: |
| I would just like to second the motion for retractable belts. Jetta belts work the best if you want to stay vw and can be picked up fairly cheap. They may be older that 10 years, but I just feel safer with my retractable belts. |
I got mine from Jbugs and love em. I would not go back to non retractable!!
plus they work smoooooth
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71 deluxe, 1968 type 1 engine rebuilt, 009 distributor, pertronix module, Empi 38 EPC / DGES carb |
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notchboy
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Joined: April 27, 2002
Posts: 22449
Location: Escondido CA
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larryducas
Samba Member
Joined: October 25, 2011
Posts: 233
Location: Fallbrook, CA
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| Posted: Thu May 29, 2014 10:05 pm Post subject: |
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| notchboy wrote: |
When buying retractables, How long does it need to be? Especially for a late bay that mounts the retractor down low on the seat pedestal?
Like this one says 300cm. Im taking up some space when driving so is there a length that the og ones are set at max?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Universal-3-point-seat-bel...5d4076a7db |
Mine is mounted low on the floor. Dont know how long, but I think they are standard, jbugs would know this. They are plenty long.
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71 deluxe, 1968 type 1 engine rebuilt, 009 distributor, pertronix module, Empi 38 EPC / DGES carb |
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