seat belts , having trouble pulling them out?

[brads70]

I'm noticing the seat bets giving me trouble pulling them out to fasten them? Any advice/tips? One of the rear belts won't pull out at all? The others you have to very slowly pull out or they lock up?
My car when I bought it came with 74 belts ( front shoulder belts) in a 70 Challenger.
Is there something to adjust or lube in the mechanisim?

[72rtchallenger]

if your talking about the self retracting type , yes there is an need to lubricate, dont know how easy or hard it will be to take apart but mine wouldn't pull out an I  managed to get some lubricant in the right spot to get it to work better,,I need to pull mine an take apart to fix properly but haven't gotten that far yet

[Bullitt-]

If the 74 retractor is like my 73's I cleaned then lubed with silicon which fixed all but one. That one I had to "adjust" the spring metal tension thing that locks the ratchet.

[brads70]

Yep the self retracting type... Thanks I'll tear one apart and have a look then! 

[RB2929]

Brad-
Take pics and post in the new How-To section

[SBDave]

I have the same problem with my 73's seat belts... the self retractors don't wanna let you pull the belt out no matter how slow you pull.  I have to release them manually through the hole on the back every time. 

Dave

[dutch]

I had a similar problem with the seatbelts in my 78 bmw 7-series.  A local carpolish salesdude sprayed the belts with special silicon-ish stuff that also was supposed to re-activate the material`s weakeners    ( not sure if that`s the correct term)  But Hey...! after a week or maybe 2 they softened up and worked like new.  I`ll contact him and ask what it was. 

[TreeFrog]

 

[brads70]

Ok took them apart today and here's what I came up with. I don't belive it's a lubrication issue?
 In the first picture notice the spring clip that the screw driver tip is on. push/bend that slightly towards the center of the  tumbler. I figure how it works is when retracted the belt material along with the sewn on felt like material ( second picture) push on that clip and flip it back so it retracts. Over time the belt material shrinks/wears and when all wound up it is smaller than whats needed to trip that spring clip. Seemed to work great for me! The back seat belts are working Ok so I didn't mess with it? I imagine they are a similiar design? Hope that helps someone?

[72rtchallenger]

Ok took them apart today and here's what I came up with. I don't belive it's a lubrication issue?
 In the first picture notice the spring clip that the screw driver tip is on. push/bend that slightly towards the center of the  tumbler. I figure how it works is when retracted the belt material along with the sewn on felt like material ( second picture) push on that clip and flip it back so it retracts. Over time the belt material shrinks/wears and when all wound up it is smaller than whats needed to trip that spring clip. Seemed to work great for me! The back seat belts are working Ok so I didn't mess with it? I imagine they are a similiar design? Hope that helps someone?

good job,,that will help when i do mine 

[Road_Runner]

Thanks Brad, I have this same issue with my 73's.  I really appreciate the pictures, it helps since I've never had mine apart before.

Later, Jim

[MirageCuda]

Definitely helpful!