Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 11-09-2019, 01:57 PM   #1
Bus Geek
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Eastern WA
Posts: 6,401
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American RE (A3RE)
Engine: Cummins ISC (8.3)
Rated Cap: 72
Seat belt malfunction?

Hey Everyone,

As I am prepping to drive the bus 70+ miles to the foam insulation installer.

One of the things that are needed is making my drivers seat-belt functional again.

While demoing I unbolted the top seat belt mounting plate. Now I need to reinstall it. AS I am trying to do the the "lockup" mechanism is misbehaving.

The spool that allows you to gently pull out the seat belt and stop any rapid movement of the belt.

Well, the seat belt in here worked perfectly until I unbolted the bracket so that I could complete demo.

Now I am trying to put it back together and having trouble.

The spool locks up even if I attempt to gently and slowly pull belt from the spool. I have backfed belt to try and get it to release. all I have accomplished is to wind the spool to its max capacity.

Any suggestions?

Thanks.

S.

PNW_Steve is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-09-2019, 04:34 PM   #2
Bus Geek
 
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 2,831
Year: 2007
Coachwork: Thomas Built
Chassis: Minotour
Engine: Chevy Express 3500 6.6l
Have you tried this?

Danjo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-10-2019, 02:11 PM   #3
Bus Geek
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Eastern WA
Posts: 6,401
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American RE (A3RE)
Engine: Cummins ISC (8.3)
Rated Cap: 72
Quote:
Originally Posted by Danjo View Post
Thank you for the video.

Unfortunately, I tried it and was not successful.
PNW_Steve is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-10-2019, 02:32 PM   #4
Bus Geek
 
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 2,831
Year: 2007
Coachwork: Thomas Built
Chassis: Minotour
Engine: Chevy Express 3500 6.6l
Is there a way you can access the pawl? Move it out of the gear with a screwdriver?
Danjo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-10-2019, 02:40 PM   #5
Bus Geek
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Eastern WA
Posts: 6,401
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American RE (A3RE)
Engine: Cummins ISC (8.3)
Rated Cap: 72
Quote:
Originally Posted by Danjo View Post
Is there a way you can access the pawl? Move it out of the gear with a screwdriver?
I tried removing the covers long enough that I was about ready to try using a hammer. It was time to step away

I will give it another shot and see how it plays.

Thank you for your suggestions. Much appreciated.
PNW_Steve is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-10-2019, 06:50 PM   #6
Bus Geek
 
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 2,831
Year: 2007
Coachwork: Thomas Built
Chassis: Minotour
Engine: Chevy Express 3500 6.6l
Quote:
Originally Posted by PNW_Steve View Post
I tried removing the covers long enough that I was about ready to try using a hammer. It was time to step away

I will give it another shot and see how it plays.

Thank you for your suggestions. Much appreciated.
Send a pic. Any identification on it?
Danjo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-10-2019, 07:34 PM   #7
Bus Crazy
 
banman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Moved to Zealand!
Posts: 1,517
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freightliner FS-65
Engine: 7.2L Cat 3126 turbo diesel
Rated Cap: 71 passenger 30,000 gvwr
The re-tractor lock-up feature responds to more than g-force. If you held it off angle from how it was installed on the bus it will not unlock -- the retractor will "think" it was in a rollover accident.

Keep searching youtube to you find a video that matches the type belt you're working on. You may have to destroy some plastic rivets for access but you can replace them with a sheet metal screw upon reassembly
banman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-10-2019, 09:58 PM   #8
Bus Nut
 
peakbus's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Sandpoint, ID
Posts: 533
Year: 2003
Coachwork: Girardin Microbird MB-IV
Chassis: Ford E450
Engine: 7.3 Diesel
Rated Cap: 25
I guess I got lucky. I had similar issues when I pulled mine and started to panic but i was able to gently rock/wiggle it around until it released. Good luck!
peakbus is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-11-2019, 12:46 AM   #9
Bus Nut
 
Bon Voyage's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Posts: 442
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Thomas
Engine: Cummins ISC 260HP/660Q/MD3060 6spd
Rated Cap: 81
I had the same problem and ended up taking apart the belt and couldn’t get it back together again. I’m pretty sure that I just didn’t have the angle right so like mentioned above the belt was locked thinking it was in a roll over accident. Spend some time playing with the angle it is at before you do anything drastic kind I did.
Bon Voyage is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-08-2020, 08:37 AM   #10
Bus Nut
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Savannah GA
Posts: 756
Year: 2003
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: TC2000
Engine: Cummins 5.9 24v
Rated Cap: 54 passenger
Did you ever figure this out? I knew not to because of the specific post, but I went and did it anyway.
JDSquared is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-12-2020, 05:09 AM   #11
Bus Geek
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Eastern WA
Posts: 6,401
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American RE (A3RE)
Engine: Cummins ISC (8.3)
Rated Cap: 72
Quote:
Originally Posted by JDSquared View Post
Did you ever figure this out? I knew not to because of the specific post, but I went and did it anyway.
My attempt to disassemble if proved fatal. I wound up ordered a new one from Amazon.

Good luck.
PNW_Steve is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-12-2020, 08:42 AM   #12
Bus Nut
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Savannah GA
Posts: 756
Year: 2003
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: TC2000
Engine: Cummins 5.9 24v
Rated Cap: 54 passenger
Quote:
Originally Posted by PNW_Steve View Post
My attempt to disassemble if proved fatal. I wound up ordered a new one from Amazon.



Good luck.
Sorry. I got mine fixed. I didn't think I had any room to pull left but I pulled it a tiny bit, and nothing. I pulled harder and got more, like a quarter inch, and it loosened.
JDSquared is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-12-2020, 10:07 AM   #13
Bus Geek
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Eastern WA
Posts: 6,401
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American RE (A3RE)
Engine: Cummins ISC (8.3)
Rated Cap: 72
Quote:
Originally Posted by JDSquared View Post
Sorry. I got mine fixed. I didn't think I had any room to pull left but I pulled it a tiny bit, and nothing. I pulled harder and got more, like a quarter inch, and it loosened.
Glad you had better luck than I did.

I fed a little belt back into the housing then pulled gently over and over until there was no room on the feel. Then I tried to open the housing to access the pawls and see what I could do. In the process of disassembley it kerdploded.
PNW_Steve is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-12-2020, 10:38 AM   #14
Bus Nut
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: GA
Posts: 611
Year: 1998
Coachwork: Amtran RE
Chassis: International 3000
Engine: T444e 7.3L
I need a replacement driver's seat belt - I accidentally set the old one on fire.

I'm thinking about heading to the junkyard, but I'm curious what other folks did for replacements. There are a few in Amazon, but they don't have good descriptions or many reviews.
Biscuitsjam is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:55 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.