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914World.com _ 914World Garage _ Here is one for ya

Posted by: jwalters Feb 5 2005, 05:20 PM

OHHHHHHHH MY GOOOOOOOSH!!!

Dude--when I removed the plastic cover to my seatbelt spring----that damn thing nearly killed me!!!!!!

Man-o-man--did that thingy ever spring out and try to put me in a full nelson--

It was almost surreal--it was like slow motion and I saw my life flashing before my eyes as this 70+ foot spring lept out at me and then contorted into a ball of never-ending-story--------

I had to drink a beer after that and rethink my life--

To anybody else here that is contemplating taking apart your seat belt mechanism to make it retract better----pony up the dough for a new one---TRUST ME ON THIS!!!!!

I would take some pics but I am afraid---VERY AFRAID!

Posted by: mattillac Feb 5 2005, 06:49 PM

newer cars have a warning on those things. just be glad that it was a tired old spring and not a nice new car one. you might not be right now if it was.

Posted by: ppickerell Feb 5 2005, 07:00 PM

I used to lathe wind 4 ft garage door spring coils out of 1/4 inch spring wire. Had a few scary tangos with those guys.

Posted by: CptTripps Feb 5 2005, 09:47 PM

Wow....glad I clicked on this post! Mine were on the bench in the basement to tinker with this week!

Posted by: jim_hoyland Feb 5 2005, 10:07 PM

Does replacement of the belt itself require opening up the mechanism ?

Posted by: Joseph Mills Feb 6 2005, 02:00 AM

Took mine apart about a year ago - belt wasn't too loose, it was too tight. It still had too much pull after my initial adjustment. During the 2nd adjustment the spring got away from me. WHOAH!

Kinda estimated the next adjustment and finally got the mess back together.

Not really THAT difficult to do. But I'd suggest:

1. Thin leather gloves
2. Protective eyewear
3. Helmet
4. Flannel shirt

Posted by: riverman Feb 6 2005, 07:18 AM

The German version of the Jack-In-The Box. Oh, those wacky Germans.

Same thing happened to me a while back and I managed to get everything back together. The first thing you have to do is untangle the mess. Find the more tightly curled end and then start twisting, tucking under, and wrappng untill you get it re-rolled.

Now comes the hard part, the way the spring naturally winds is not the way the spring goes into the mechanism. You have to reverse the tension on the spring by winding it up from the outside end and against the natural curve of the metal. I found the best thing to to was work on a slippery floor (hardwood, tile, cement, etc.) and get on your hands and knees so you are directly over your work. Suggestions about safety clothing are well founded because expect the spring to 'explode' on you a few times while you attempt the reverse wind. It requires some patience, a steady grip, and a technique that I can only partially describe here (you sort of have to get a feel for it). You have to keep the parts of the spring that you have wound together and this requires some pinching between your fingers and keeping the whole spring flat underneath the palm of your hand. Keep the 'tight' spring in one place and move the 'loose' spring around your work. If it explodes again, start from the beginning - you'll eventually get it.

Once you get it wound, carefully place the spring back into it's track in the seatbelt mechanism. Make sure the seatbelt is in the fully retracted position. You can relax a bit because the the track should help hold everything in place, but don't take the pressure off the top or it will explode again. Hook up the outside connection first, and then using some needle nose pliers put a couple more loops of tension on the inner part of the spring and then hook up up the inner connection. Spray the spring with some lubricant (WD40 or something) because alot of the spring's original lubrication will have come off on your hands. Carefully put the cover back on the spring mechanism. Leave the thing alone in the future.

Hope this helps.

Posted by: jwalters Feb 6 2005, 07:33 AM

Count on the spring exploding on you at least three more times before you get it back together--PITA

Posted by: dralf Feb 6 2005, 07:47 AM

I am sorry but had to laugh when I read this.....
Aside from my 914 leaking transmision oil when I first rolled it into the garage, the seat belt retractor needed repair. Since I was gust getting started fixing my new baby, I decided that the seat belt project was a good place to start rather then the transmision. WRONG !

I too had the "Mouse Trap" experiance....after two or three nights of fighting the tangles I remembered a trick I came up with when I fixed a cheap Grendel 380 pistol that had a rebound hammer/firing pin driven by a long spring from hell.

I then put a long pipe in my vice (oups vise) and taped one end of the seat belt spring to one end. I was then able to spirally wrap the spring around the length of pipe (like a May pole). I was then able to to control the spring as I properly coiled it up back into the holder. The whole process took 5 minutes !

Hope this helps someone in the future.

Posted by: BarberDave Feb 6 2005, 08:14 AM

Geez I'm glad I 'm not the only one. I Fu-- up two belts
then threw them away . I went to a friend who has 4or5 parts cars and got a good one . Much easer!
DOUG this is your Ans. or three

Dave

Posted by: Gint Feb 6 2005, 10:27 AM

QUOTE (dralf Posted on Feb 6 2005 @ 06:47 AM)
I am sorry but had to laugh when I read this.....
Aside from my 914 leaking transmision oil when I first rolled it into the garage, the seat belt retractor needed repair. Since I was gust getting started fixing my new baby, I decided that the seat belt project was a good place to start rather then the transmision. WRONG !

I too had the "Mouse Trap" experiance....after two or three nights of fighting the tangles I remembered a trick I came up with when I fixed a cheap Grendel 380 pistol that had a rebound hammer/firing pin driven by a long spring from hell.

I then put a long pipe in my vice (oups vise) and taped one end of the seat belt spring to one end. I was then able to spirally wrap the spring around the length of pipe (like a May pole). I was then able to to control the spring as I properly coiled it up back into the holder. The whole process took 5 minutes ! wink.gif

Hope this helps someone in the future.

Speaking for myself and having never tried this myself, I have to say that it would be more helpful with some additional details. I realize that it's too late for pics, but how about telling us what size (diameter) pipe? What's an "oups vice"? Or a "May Pole" for that matter.

Posted by: ClayPerrine Feb 6 2005, 02:15 PM

Honestly... I would rather regear a transmission (Like I am doing now) than take apart the spring side of a seatbelt. They scare the hell out of me......

Someone could make a few bucks fixing seat belts... they are NLA now.

Posted by: Aaron Cox Feb 6 2005, 02:24 PM

got my rebuilt ones from PEP parts. work flawlessly

mike zois hates PEP though

Posted by: Brando Feb 6 2005, 03:48 PM

QUOTE (ClayPerrine @ Feb 6 2005, 12:15 PM)
Honestly... I would rather regear a transmission (Like I am doing now) than take apart the spring side of a seatbelt. They scare the hell out of me......

Someone could make a few bucks fixing seat belts... they are NLA now.

I believe you can use the retracting mechanism from 924s and 944s as well. Maybe even the whole unit with minor mods.

Posted by: garychuckaby Mar 12 2006, 09:34 PM

I just had this jack-in-the-box from hell explode in my face. And after a few hours of f...ing with it I'm about to give up. Where can I get a new mechanism or seatbelt? Or am I better off getting a harness?

Posted by: ChrisNPDrider Mar 13 2006, 12:58 AM

There is a Porsche dismantler in Oakland CA named EASY. You should pay them a visit sometime, they would have a seatbelt for sure. They have all sorts of old 914, 911, and other used Porsche parts.

Posted by: sk8kat1 Mar 13 2006, 02:42 AM

944 SEAT BELTS WORK YOU JUST NEED TO ENLRGE TH MOUNTING HOLE A SMIDGE -- WILL NEED TO GET BELT/RETRACTOR AND THE RECEIVER...

Posted by: kenpolives Mar 13 2006, 05:14 AM

Any pics of how the spring should be installed?

Posted by: watsonrx13 Mar 13 2006, 05:27 AM

Here's a http://www.tampabay914.com/7491405152005.html to my website that discusses the seat belts, with warnings about dismantling.

-- Rob

Posted by: kenpolives Mar 17 2006, 02:31 PM

I think I did it. The spring really isn't that bad to put back in. If the springs looks wrong, let me know.

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