Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Seat Belt reconditioning

Does anyone have experience of having seat belts reconditioned and specifically new springs fitted in the reels? The recoil springs on my 93 plus 4 are now very weak and usually lead to 2ft of belt dangling between the seat and door after exiting the car. Rewind they don't!!

Not sure you can touch them.Is it worth messing with something that may save you live!
Buy some new ones .

I am pretty sure they are not serviceable.

Mine were replaced by a main dealer who got them from a company in north London. For not a lot more they colour matched them. Google should find them.

One last point, have looked at the location of them not easy to reach I decided.

Thanks for the above. It is my understanding that this particular belt reel, mounted vertically on the lower part of the wheel arch, has been discontinued, hence my question regarding new springs.

There may be an alternative. Metro belt reels were mounted vertically. Its a matter of how the internals are set up. I was warned never to disassemble a reel mechanism because one side holds the retraction spring and apparently this will fly out and be difficult to replace.

A belt specialist advertises in the classic magazines and I expect they could make some new ones up.

I replaced mine a couple of years ago, I bought them from Car Builder Solutions, and they work fine, no problem with the vertical mounting.

Contact FDTS , Susan Taylor 01932 342343 i'll be suprised if she can't sort you out. Great to do business with, she does work for Morgan dealers (if not MMC themselves) Colour co-cordinated or contrasted if you want, new mechanisms, the whole bit. My biggest problem was getting her to give me the bill so i could pay her!

[quote=DaveW]There may be an alternative. Metro belt reels were mounted vertically. Its a matter of how the internals are set up. I was warned never to disassemble a reel mechanism because one side holds the retraction spring and apparently this will fly out and be difficult to replace. [/quote]

I can vouch for this but don't ask me how I know...........

As above Metro belts work fine, I have MG Metro belts in red. I bought them as new, but old stock at a classic car show.

This is how I have just fixed both of my weak retracting seat belts. Remove just the reel from the chassis and sit with it on your lap in the car. Because reels differ, you need to identify which end cap work on. Press each of the plastic end caps to your ear in turn, and listen for the one that 'ratchets' when your pull the belt out and back. You DON'T touch this one.
The other cap should have 3 plastic pins which retain quartered plastic fixings which hold the cap onto the metal frame. Carefully push the pin partially back to release the quartered fixing and allow the cap to be prised from the frame. BE VERY CAREFUL TO ONLY JUST RELEASE THE CAP, if you let it go, the recoil spring could fly out ! Please watch youtube - 'Rewinding a Seat Belt Return Spring and What NOT To Do' !!
Now, VERY carefully and maintaining a constant pressure motion, turn the cap anti-clockwise (in my case 3 turns) and pop the cap back on. Push the pins back in to secure. It's quite simple with care and patience. That worked for me, but if the retract is still weak, I imagine a few more turn might work ?
Disclaimer :- YOU ARE WORKING ON SAFETY EQUIPMENT. I am happy with my work, but I CANNOT BE RESPONABLE FOR YOU ATTEMPTING THE ABOVE FIX.