Securon reel in an S3 DHC

[gjz30075]

With much fettling, I fitted the Spyder brackets for a DHC to take the Securon retractable belts. However
the takeup reel won't allow the backboard to sit vertically and nowhere near mating up to the hood tray.
The Securon number is 500/30.

Surely, someone here has fitted this arrangement to an S3 DHC. If so, did you run into this problem?
What am I missing here?

[h20hamelan]

Would it be just as simple to make a cutout in the backboard and cover the cutout with carpet?
What would Chunky do at a time like this?

[lotusfan]

Greg

I have fitted the Securon 500/30 belts to my DHC Sprint but I didn't use the Spyder bracket because it seemed overly complicated. The belt reels in my car are fitted on brackets to the sill connections behind the bottom of the seats. The guide that you show in your second photo is mounted on the original top seat belt connection at the top of the rear suspension tower. From memory, because I can't easily get into the car at the moment, all the seat belt mechanism is outside the rear trim carpet.

One problem that I do have with my set up is that the stalks are really too long and I have not found a solution as yet.

If you can wait till the weekend I may be able to get you some photos.

[gjz30075]

H2O... that's the very solution I was thinking of, but certainly others must have fitted this arrangement to
an S3. My Sprint has the reel (OEM) fitted near the floor, before it slopes, so it is still vertical. Plenty
of room there. That was my other solution is to see if I can move the reel further downward. Shouldn't
have to do any of these

Mike, I appreciate getting some pictures for, maybe, another work around.

[alan.barker]

I didn"t know Reel Belts were original to Sprints. Mine has fixed with Magnetic flap/clip "Lotus Logo".
Alan

[pharriso]

I didn"t know Reel Belts were original to Sprints. Alan

Here in the States anyway...

[gjz30075]

Alan, here's a pic of the plate that the reel attaches to on my '72 Federal Sprint. Originally Kangol manufacturer but I couldn't get mine to work well so I have a set of aftermarket reels with the Kangol 'insert' on the belt, to click in
the oem stalk.

[lotusfan]

Hi Greg

As promised a few photos of my installation. I had forgotten that the reel is attached to the rollbar behind the seat, there is a convinient hard point for a harness. As I said before the free end of the belt is attached to the seat belt anchor point at the rear of the sill lattice.

Sprint seatbelt install

Detail

Maybe these will give you an idea to move the reel.

Alan - I would have retained the original Kangol latch belts but operating the handbrake was difficult!!

Photos are sideways on - don't know why?

[gjz30075]

Thank you Mike. I ended up making a bracket that lowers the reel by about 4 inches. The top
of the bracket attaches to the original reel mounting hole. It now just clears the backboard Perfect

[lotusfan]

Greg - Glad you found a simple fix to the problem. When you eventually finish the installation I would be interested in your take on the length of the stalks. I would like them to be shorter but that then might make tipping the seat forward more difficult.

[gjz30075]

That's another issue/solution in the making. I'll keep you posted.

[skelteanema]

Hi Greg,

I fitted the Spyder brackets with the Securon 500/30 belts to my S3 DHC several years ago. I didn't have any problems fitting the units or the backboard after installation. As far as I recall, the backboard went back in the same position and used the same fixing points as it was prior to fitting. I do recall as issue with the stalks, but as far as I can remember they were too short, so I fitted an extension that moved them to an ideal location.

[lotusfan]

Hi Greg

I have been talking rubbish about the stalk length. The second digit of the reference number 500/30 refers to the stalk length in cm, 30 cm = 12 in. This is probably the correct length.

I have 3 cars that I have fitted the Securon belts to and now that I have looked at this again one of the sets of belts I bought were 500/45. These 45 cm stalks are fitted in the Elan and are too long, the solution is a shorter set of stalks.

Sorry for the unnecessary confusion.

[gjz30075]

Ah, Ok, I'm short and my seat is fully forward and I find the 12" stalk too short. I have some
ideas on lengthening it. If we were closer, I'd be up for a trade .

I also find that the stalk can be fitted either way, ie, the side push button to the inside or
outside. Initially, I think the the button(s) should be fitted against the console for easy
access to the top button. Is your's the same?

[skelteanema]

Mine is the same, the buttons are against the console.

As for extending the stalk length, I can't remember whether it was the Spyder kit or the Securon seatbelt kit, but one of these came with a lot of extra bolts and bits and pieces including suitable extensions and bolts that I could bolt to the stalks giving the correct length.