Date:         Fri, 11 May 2007 02:04:22 -0500
Reply-To:     Matt Roberds <mattroberds@COX.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Matt Roberds <mattroberds@COX.NET>
Subject:      Re: Seatbelt Help Please
Comments: cc: Robert Keezer <warmerwagen@YAHOO.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <20070511040731.XKHI22717.fed1rmmtai102.cox.net@fed1rmimpi05.cox.net>
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed

> From:    Robert Keezer <warmerwagen@YAHOO.COM>
> Date:    Thu, 10 May 2007 19:22:42 -0700
>
> Well after all these years I have come to a first. I have three seat
> belts drivers and rear three-point that are retracted all the way.
> Is there any hope to ever get the belts to pull back out ?

You might try holding the housing in the same position that it's mounted
in when installed in the van.  Some inertia-reel seatbelts have a
pendulum in them to lock the belt when the car stops quickly, and this
needs to be in the right position so you can pull the belt out.

> The housing is held together with special screws, like Phillips but
> with 3 -points instead of 4.

Probably a "tri-wing" bit.  If you decide you have to open up the
housing, go down to Harbor Fright and buy their $5 security bit set.
They aren't what you would use on a production line to drive 10,000
screws a day, but for the occasional weird screw they are perfect.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=93388

If you are going into production, get a set from Wiha, like
http://www.wihatools.com/719collect.htm - but don't order it directly
from Wiha's site as their prices are more or less "list".  You can get
a decent discount from many tool stores.

http://www.lara.com/reviews/screwtypes.htm is a good general reference
on weird screw heads.

Alternatively, with a Dremel tool and a cut-off wheel, _everything_
takes a flat-blade screwdriver.

Standard disclaimers apply; I don't get money or other considerations
from any of the companies mentioned.

Matt Roberds