Seat Belt Cleaning

[Tom R.]

I used the weekend to start the cleaning of seat belts. Did the research on the forum first. Soaked overnight and than changed water out to clear. After about eight hours, the water soap/solution became a brown color almost like what oak leaves do to some of our rivers around here...leeching out the tannins.

The seat belt I soaked does not have the labels so did not have to worry about protecting them but find it hard to believe others have been able to soak without subjecting labels to liquid.

Oh, the seat belts are silver (78) and appear cleaner but still show some stains...probably rust. Thought I would go slow and see how this soaking came out before applying brush and simple green solution.

[Bill L.]

Re: Seat Belt Cleaning

I had really good luck with woolite when I cleaned the belts in my 70. The tags were fine. I soaked them for a couple days and lightly scrubbed them with a brush. They look really nice and their flexibility is great too.

Bill

[Stuart F.]

Re: Seat Belt Cleaning

I understand what you are doing to clean your belts, but what can you do to improve on the fraying? My original 63 belts have good color, but look frayed/worn in areas, and of course the mounting hardware is corroded (Buckles are great). Given the cost of refurbishing, any ideas put forth for your 78 belts may be helpful to us all.

Thanks

Stu Fox

[Rick S.]

Re: Seat Belt Cleaning

Stu,
If the webbing is starting to fray on 45 year old belts, what is more important, your or your passengers (possibly your grandchildren) safety? I vote for the safety factor and dump the originality factor. When I bought my 67 in 2001 and found the webbing frayed, I sent them out to be restored and have the peace of mind that the belts won't fail because of old, frayed material. Just my .02 of a top flight driver.

Regards,
Rick

[Stuart F.]

Re: Seat Belt Cleaning

Rick;

Of course you are exactly correct; safety is the greatest concern, although lap belts by themselves leave a lot to be desired. I have a good set of repros in the car. They look ok and do the job, but I was thinking in terms of appearance for judging, etc. I guess there is nothing can be done except to reweb and refurbish the hardware. On the repros, I had to grind the mounting brackets into the triangle shape in order to mount them. I imagine everyone else has had to do the same.

Thanks again for your reply.

Tom, I hope you get more responses today to your original thread info request. I don't want to interfere, except to move you back to page 1 in the "Q".

Stu Fox

[Tom R.]

Re: Seat Belt Cleaning

Tom, I hope you get more responses today to your original thread info request. I don't want to interfere, except to move you back to page 1 in the "Q".Stu Fox

Thanks Stu...yeah, I don't have any of those hardware problems they're actually pretty nice. But the "ping" will keep the topic current...thanks.