Seat Belt spring

[Tom R.]

Well, I made the mistake of removing the cover on the side of the belt retractor that says "DON'T REMOVE THIS COVER" and the spring sprung all over. It's a 78. Suggestions how to stuff it back in place and in such a way that it will work?

[Dick W.]

Re: Seat Belt spring

And I bet you remove the tags from matresses too. Tom, you have to re-attach the spring to the spindle and the cover. You then patiently rewind the spring to what you think is the proper tension and re-attach. Do not permanently attach until you check to see if it will re-wind

[Harmon C.]

Re: Seat Belt spring

Tom
With the cap in one hand insert the outer end of the spring in the notch in the inside of the cap. Turn the cap and keep turning the cap and inserting the spring till all the spring is in the cap. It will stay in place. Have all the webing wound up on the spool then insert the loop into the slot in the shaft. Then you lift the cap just enough to wind the spring about five turns. If the tension is not enough lift the cap up with a cardboard knife while keeping the cover real close to the housing and wind more as needed. If you have tender hands or make a mistake some thin leather gloves could save some blood.
Lyle

[Tom R.]

Re: Seat Belt spring

Thanks Lyle...but got some clarifying questions:

Tom
With the cap in one hand insert the outer end of the spring in the notch in the inside of the cap.

Once I got the spring unsprung and unwound, it lays out like an S. It looks like the tighter wound side inserts into the shaft. The other end seems like it more naturally would be the end that inserts into the cap except when it lies in its natural state, that end (outer end) is in the center of the spring...if that makes sense.

Turn the cap and keep turning the cap and inserting the spring till all the spring is in the cap. It will stay in place.

Sounds like it the entire spring wraps in the same direction whereas the S seems like it is multidirectional?

Have all the webing wound up on the spool then insert the loop into the slot in the shaft. Then you lift the cap just enough to wind the spring about five turns. If the tension is not enough lift the cap up with a cardboard knife while keeping the cover real close to the housing and wind more as needed. If you have tender hands or make a mistake some thin leather gloves could save some blood.

Is the spring being would clockwise or counterclockwise with the belt buckle in its natural downward position?

[Harmon C.]

Re: Seat Belt spring

Tom
#1 Look at the spring and the tight coils go in the cap last. You should be able to tell which way to windup the spring so the tight coils stay wound like they are when unsprung. They windup different for RH & LH belts on a 78.
#2 The key to which way to windup the spring are the coils just outside the center. If you would wind it the wrong way you will not be able to make the belt retract as the spring would be pulling the wrong way. This is no problem you just start over winding the other way.
#3 Looking at the belt windup the spring so that when installed you will be pulling the webbing into the retractor when you wind it.
Lyle
PS Bring it to the National and I will fix it for you and you can watch if you don't need it right away.