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zoti
Samba Member
Joined: December 26, 2007
Posts: 2172
Location: Plano, TX USA
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 Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2025 12:44 pm Post subject: How to clean seatbelt latch? |
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These Hickok seatbelts from 1963 came with my 62 bug. I assume this was some upgrade the original owner did.
I am washing the belt part and I need to clean the latches. Any tips on how to get the rust out?
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1962 Beetle
1979 Super Beetle Convertible
1988 Vanagon Westfalia |
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viiking
Samba Member
Joined: May 10, 2013
Posts: 3436
Location: Sydney Australia
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| Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2025 3:17 pm Post subject: Re: How to clean seatbelt latch? |
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The classic way to do it is to use diet coke/pepsi and a ball of aluminium foil and then scrub, scrub, scrub. It is slow but does work. Don't use sugar based cola as it becomes a sticky mess.
I can't see what else is in the mechanism, but alternatively you could try covering the surface with a cloth and pouring vinegar onto the cloth and leave it overnight and keep it constantly wet and in contact with the metal. Then have a look at how much rust is left. Use fine steel wool (0000) grade to polish and then repeat. Once it is rust free, you need to cover it with a polish to prevent re-rusting.
You might lose the black paint but you can always redo that easily.
Do not get any on the webbing.
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1968 1500 RHD Lotus White Beetle since birth. In the hospital for major surgery
1966 Lancia Flavia Pininfarina Coupe - in the waiting room
Discharged: 1983 Vanagon, 1974 1800 Microbus,1968 Low Light,1968 Type 3 |
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zoti
Samba Member
Joined: December 26, 2007
Posts: 2172
Location: Plano, TX USA
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| Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2025 3:45 pm Post subject: Re: How to clean seatbelt latch? |
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I ended up cleaning the belt itself with soap and water then some on the buckles as well then dunk in 99.9 IPA and blow air.
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1962 Beetle
1979 Super Beetle Convertible
1988 Vanagon Westfalia |
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zoti
Samba Member
Joined: December 26, 2007
Posts: 2172
Location: Plano, TX USA
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| Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2025 6:20 pm Post subject: Re: How to clean seatbelt latch? |
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End result
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1962 Beetle
1979 Super Beetle Convertible
1988 Vanagon Westfalia |
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stale air
Samba Member
Joined: August 23, 2007
Posts: 5732
Location: Senoia Ga, formerly NorCal
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| Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2025 6:29 am Post subject: Re: How to clean seatbelt latch? |
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Look good, nice work. 
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WANTED: Henry Veale Santa Rosa plate frames
WANTED: Brittsan Motors Fresno plate frames
WANTED: Any Georgia plate frames
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glutamodo 
The Android
Joined: July 13, 2004
Posts: 26632
Location: Douglas, WY
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Stockholm VW
Samba Member
Joined: July 02, 2020
Posts: 363
Location: California
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| Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2025 2:25 pm Post subject: Re: How to clean seatbelt latch? |
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Nice clean up. Now some black paint and a fine brush and those logos will be super.
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1966 Volkswagen 1300 Sedan, 1641 cm³, 12 volt conversion, L456 Ruby Red, Platinum leatherette. |
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Glenn
Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001
Posts: 80416
Location: Sneaking up behind you
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| Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2025 2:31 pm Post subject: Re: How to clean seatbelt latch? |
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From a safety point of view, don't assume they won't fail in an accident, but then you're driving a 60+ year old car 
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Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"
Member #1009
#BlueSquare
עַם יִשְׂרָאֵל חַי |
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viiking
Samba Member
Joined: May 10, 2013
Posts: 3436
Location: Sydney Australia
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| Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2025 3:13 pm Post subject: Re: How to clean seatbelt latch? |
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| Glenn wrote: |
| From a safety point of view, don't assume they won't fail in an accident, but then you're driving a 60+ year old car |
That's why I said don't get anything on the webbing. Solvents like iPA are probably not the best thing to get onto those parts. Many websites will say that solvents can weaken the webbing.
However as Glenn has said, it's a 60 year old car, so lots of items will not be as good as they were new.
_________________
1968 1500 RHD Lotus White Beetle since birth. In the hospital for major surgery
1966 Lancia Flavia Pininfarina Coupe - in the waiting room
Discharged: 1983 Vanagon, 1974 1800 Microbus,1968 Low Light,1968 Type 3 |
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Glenn
Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001
Posts: 80416
Location: Sneaking up behind you
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| Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2025 3:25 pm Post subject: Re: How to clean seatbelt latch? |
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| viiking wrote: |
| However as Glenn has said, it's a 60 year old car, so lots of items will not be as good as they were new. |
And a 60 year old car was never as safe as a 5 year old car
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Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"
Member #1009
#BlueSquare
עַם יִשְׂרָאֵל חַי |
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viiking
Samba Member
Joined: May 10, 2013
Posts: 3436
Location: Sydney Australia
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| Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2025 4:52 pm Post subject: Re: How to clean seatbelt latch? |
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Yes.
The VW was designed with a crumple zone that extended to the B pillar.
_________________
1968 1500 RHD Lotus White Beetle since birth. In the hospital for major surgery
1966 Lancia Flavia Pininfarina Coupe - in the waiting room
Discharged: 1983 Vanagon, 1974 1800 Microbus,1968 Low Light,1968 Type 3 |
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zoti
Samba Member
Joined: December 26, 2007
Posts: 2172
Location: Plano, TX USA
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| Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2025 8:52 pm Post subject: Re: How to clean seatbelt latch? |
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The tag on them says made in USA in 1963 so I assume they were some sort of an upgrade of he era.
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1962 Beetle
1979 Super Beetle Convertible
1988 Vanagon Westfalia |
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zoti
Samba Member
Joined: December 26, 2007
Posts: 2172
Location: Plano, TX USA
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| Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2025 8:53 pm Post subject: Re: How to clean seatbelt latch? |
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| Glenn wrote: |
| From a safety point of view, don't assume they won't fail in an accident, but then you're driving a 60+ year old car |
The air bag will save me. ;-p
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1962 Beetle
1979 Super Beetle Convertible
1988 Vanagon Westfalia |
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glutamodo
The Android
Joined: July 13, 2004
Posts: 26632
Location: Douglas, WY
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| Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2025 10:51 pm Post subject: Re: How to clean seatbelt latch? |
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[quote="zoti"]
| glutamodo wrote: |
The tag on them says made in USA in 1963 so I assume they were some sort of an upgrade of he era. |
Not so much an upgrade but an optional accessory. Mine were made in Germany which is probably how they ended up in the 63 Owner's manual. Now yours, looks like the Hickok ones were commissioned by VWoA.
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Andy T.
"What is Glutamodo, Horror of Toyko, besides total, fiendish, quality-a-you brain!" |
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EVfun
Samba Member
Joined: April 01, 2012
Posts: 6357
Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2025 10:56 pm Post subject: Re: How to clean seatbelt latch? |
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| zoti wrote: |
| Glenn wrote: |
| From a safety point of view, don't assume they won't fail in an accident, but then you're driving a 60+ year old car |
The air bag will save me. ;-p |
The blonde in the passenger seat isn't going to jump in front of you in case of an accident.
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| Wildthings wrote: |
| As a general rule, cheap parts are the most expensive parts you can buy. |
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jeffrey8164
Samba Member
Joined: January 06, 2018
Posts: 4221
Location: Georgia
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| Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2025 2:35 pm Post subject: Re: How to clean seatbelt latch? |
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And here I thought IPA was just beer.
Silly me.
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Volkswagen!
Turning owners into mechanics since 1938.
“Let he that is without oil throw the first rod”
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zoti
Samba Member
Joined: December 26, 2007
Posts: 2172
Location: Plano, TX USA
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| Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2025 5:58 pm Post subject: Re: How to clean seatbelt latch? |
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[quote="glutamodo"]
| zoti wrote: |
| glutamodo wrote: |
The tag on them says made in USA in 1963 so I assume they were some sort of an upgrade of he era. |
Not so much an upgrade but an optional accessory. Mine were made in Germany which is probably how they ended up in the 63 Owner's manual. Now yours, looks like the Hickok ones were commissioned by VWoA.
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I will probably upgrade to a 3 point belt. The holes are there for it.
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1962 Beetle
1979 Super Beetle Convertible
1988 Vanagon Westfalia |
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