Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Three Wheeler & Super 3 Seat belts locking

This might not be the most exciting topic for a thread but does anyone else find it sometimes takes an age to pull out the seat belts because of the inertia lock?

Strangely it seems to be directly proportional to the amount of time the car is parked outside.

At first I thought it was related to temperatures (i.e. parked outside all day in the cold = seat belts will lock). But yesterday it was outside all day at around 20 degrees (C not F Charlie) and by the time I wanted to go home it kept locking as I tried to pull it out. It felt like ages - although was probably only seconds/ minutes - to get it sorted.

No problem at all when parked in the garage (which is probably around 16-17 degrees), even when not driven for a week.

Anyone else find this? Can the sensitivity be adjusted?

Like I said, this might not be a very exciting or long thread

P.S. I experienced a new level of public "enthusiasm" for the M3W on Monday evening - a guy on a classic motorbike (Norton I think) followed me home and into my garage to congratulate me and talk about the car

It's very funny you should mention that just now, I collect my new car from the factory yesteerday, and this morning bright and early took it out for a quick 20 mile drive, as you do, and found exactl the same thing happening. I had to pull it out very slowly, a bit at a time, until I had enough spare to slot home. I stopped for some petrol after a few miles, and when I got back in, there was no problem whatsoever. Odd. My old Three Wheeler was absolutely fine in this respect.

I notice that my new car now has seat belts that fully retract, and don't leave a short length to flop around, looking untidy. I wonder if the rewind mechanisim is different, and is now more sensitive?

Congrats! Have I missed the pictures?

Usally seatbelts are locking when the car is not on a flat floor. The angle of the floor for which the belts lock depends of the sensitivity of the system. Same during cornering as the force tend sometimes to block the mechanism.
I don't think the temperature has a great influence.

... And I was at the Factory yesterday for a tour and to see my car in production. Looked lovely, I must say. Was my first visit to the factory and I completely get why folk embrace the whole Family affair thing - I think I have already. Collection on Fri 14th for me. Seatbelts were in, but didn't put them on for the short drive to the PDI bay.....

Putting it on vefore you drive off

Ditto on the seatbelt issue. Super akward when you have a crowd of admirers and you've just entered the car and trying to drive off.

Haven't had the problem noticeably on my car with the floppy belts. Quite like the flop anyway, but still hate the dirt that gets on the passenger belt so will try to resolve this at some point with one of the workarounds suggested.

Actually, I bet I NEVER get round to doing this! It's easier to wipe the belt clean!

As above, check the alignment. They will lock more on a facing down slope, or if the cassettes are not horizontal when viewed from the front. You may be able to de-sensitise them slightly if you can angle them back very slightly. One of my MGBGT belts was always tricky, despite trying this, and when you get it fully retracted and it still won't come out it's a good job a hammer isn't within reach.