/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Date: Mon, 18 Nov 1996 18:38:40 -0600 To: type-3@umich.edu From: jadney@vwtype3.org (Melissa & Jim) Subject: Seat belt retractors >Does anyone know where I can get a new(?) seat belt retractor for my front >seatbelts? I've already done the take-it-apart-and-fix/inspect-it-routine >and, well, after 24 years I think I just need new ones. >Part of my fix was to add a couple of turns to the spring but it only >helped for a short time (warning: if you're not dexterous don't try this >because the spring would like nothing better than to unwind itself and to >rewind the spring is a pain!). Now I must feed the slack to the retractor >for it to roll (it no longer pulls the belt on its own). I have this same problem, too. I find that the best thing for it is to completely remove the belt from the mechanism and wash it thoroughly in a bucket of laundry soap. It's amasing how stiff the belts have become with the dirt of 2+ decades. This helps a bit. I think the spring also needs a good lubricant to allow the layers to slide easily over one another. I have been meaning to stop at a clock shop and ask what they use for mainsprings but haven't done it yet. Jim --------------------------------------------------------------------- Jim Adney jadney@vwtype3.org Madison, Wisconsin --------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 19 Nov 96 08:04:03 PST From: A bear in his natural habitat To: type3@aimtec.ENET.dec.com Subject: Seatbelts We have replaced the 3 point harnesses for the front seats of our '71 SQB with just generic replacment units. They bolt into the existing holes (each side of the central tunnel hump, 3/4 way up the pillar behind the door and on the side near the base of the rear seat.) The new retractor housing sits in latter location and has to sit tilted towards the front a bit, but otherwise they work great. We also replaced the regular lap belts in the rear with the same type of 3 point harness. I had to weld a nut just above the rear fender well, beneath the window to mount the retractor units. The upper nut on the 'C' pillar was already there so it was a fairly easy modification. Dave -- Dave Burden | 1924 Studebaker Special Six Touring Car Digital Equipment Corporation | 1926 Studebaker Estate Wagon (hearse w/seats) Alpharetta, GA | 1957 BMW Isetta 300 convertible burden_d@warlrd.enet.dec.com | 1971 VW Squareback Date: Wed, 20 Nov 1996 10:08:24 +1000 To: type-3@umich.edu From: hts@hts.com.au (Heads Together Systems - Steve Farmer) Subject: Seat Belts Volks, I once saw a reference to retractable seat belts from a Golf being fitted to T3's. It is alos possible to purchase aftermarket retractable set belts in OZ. Down under ALL vehicle must have front seat belts at least, even if they weren't fitted new! Regards, Steve Farmer Heads Together Systems Pty Ltd PO Box 461 Rozelle, NSW, 2039 Sydney, Australia Net: hts@hts.com.au Tel: 612 9810 3866 Fax: 612 9555 1866 Visit our Web Site at http://www.hts.com.au/~hts Minds are like parachutes, they work best when open. Date: Wed, 20 Nov 1996 20:58:21 -0600 To: type-3@umich.edu From: jadney@vwtype3.org (Melissa & Jim) Subject: Type 3 Inertia Reel Seat Belts and flasher lights >I'm just reading a copy of an article which was in one of the newsletters from >our National Type 3 Register (1994) relating to the '73 Type Fastback which >now has a brother, The Basic Compact. (According to the article a cut down >version of the deluxe fastback) So the Basic Compact was just a stripped down version of the fastback. I was not sure exactly what it was, even though I was watching at the time, I don't think I ever saw one then, but I had a customer ten years ago that had one that probably fits that description. >Extract as follows: >"VW's Type 3 cars come equipped with four-on-the-floor transmissions as >standard equipment, with optional three-speed automatic shift for the sedan >and Square-back. Self-adjusting front disc brakes, flow-through ventilation, >bucket seats and inertia-reel three-point seat belts." The three speed fully automatic transmission was introduced in mid 68, but it was not introduced with the fuel injected engine until 69. All disk brakes are self adjusting. Flow through ventilation refers to the three louvers on each side of the rear window that show up on 71-on cars (even Beetles.) All type IIIs have bucket front seats. Safety requirements differ widely for different markets. In the US, three point belts were introduced with the 68s (2 point rears) and 3 point inertial reels were installed in the 72-3s (2 point inertial rears.) >Has anyone ever seen any of these so called "inertia-reel three-point seat >belts?" I can't say I have. I even asked about them at one of the local >shops months ago and was led to believe nothing like this existed. Of course >if anyone can shed some light, let's hear it. >Article also says: >"....The emergency 4-way flasher is permanently illuminated so it can be found >quickly, even at night." This was for 73 only. It is done by a tiny resistor actually soldered to the push-on lugs of the emergency flasher (or is it the headlight?) switch. I believe there was no change of part number so this part would probably retrofit some earlier cars. It glows dimly and can be easily seen at night. Jim --------------------------------------------------------------------- Jim Adney jadney@vwtype3.org Madison, Wisconsin ---------------------------------------------------------------------