Kindy Seat and Retractable Seat Belts

[Garry]

Has anyone fitted retractable seat belts with the Kindy Seat in place and if so how did they get around the seat problem?

Garry


Kinder Seat

[zoegrlh]

R U talking about a retractable seat belt for kinder seat?  Or are you talking about retractable belts for left and right passenger seats fitted with a kinder seat in back.  Not sure what you seats you are belting. Please explain
Bob

[Garry]

I am talking about the seat belts for the front seats. 

Garry

[mdsalemi]

Garry, I have the "factory" spec seatbelts, and I do not see how they could interfere with a kinder seat. But, we should compare some detailed photos to be sure...

[JamesL]

I have the Kinder seat and retractable belts, and I am RHD. I will try dig out a couple of pics or take some at the weekend but there's effectively a "cut out" in the top of the Kinder seat back (behind the driver's right shoulder (if he's short)) for the belt to pass through. Reel is mounted inside the seat and the bracket throuigh which the belt passes/changes direction at the shoulder is outside the seat itself. But for the cut out, it's the same position as the passenger side - see pic

[Garry]

Tosh,

That would be great if I could get some pictures of how the belt goes behind/through the kindy seat. Am still trying to work out how to remove the back rest of the seat.

Garry

[bogeyman]

Garry:

There is a stud on the back of the kinder seat that protrudes into the soft top compartment.
There is a large plastic finger nut (mine's white) in the compartment that retains the seat back.
You may have to raise your soft top to see it.

Rick

[Garry]

Just shows how much I have had the top up. Took the hard top off the 230SL for the first time ever last week, didnt think to look in there, thought there was something behind the spare wheel but was trying to get the seat out when the hard top was on.
Thanks Rick

Garry

[JamesL]

Rick's right - inner wall of the softtop well is a bolt that comes through from the seat back. Get the seat base out first and then pull the seat back and the area in the picture above (albeit on t'other side) will be exposed...

[zoegrlh]

My Euro Spec 280SL 1970, LHD was fitted with retractable belts.  Looking at the way the retractor if fitted/fixed to the frame is totally different to mine.  My retractors are fitted to the frame in the floor behind the seats, with the belt coming around the seat bottom cushion up to a fixed end at the pillars frames..  Of course, the belt is buckled to the center tunnel buckles.  This method is done so that there is not a pass thru at the shoulders.
Bob 

[zoegrlh]

Yes, I my Euro Spec 280SL 1970, LHD, with kinder seat, was fitted with retractable belts when imported in late 80s.  Looking at the way the retractor is fitted/fixed to the frame of Tosh's SL, is totally different to mine.  My retractors are fitted to the frame in the floor behind the seats, (not to the side wall of the back shelf area).  From the retractor, the belts travel around the seat bottom cushions up to a fixed end at the pillars frames, behind the shoulders.  Of course, the belt is buckled to the center tunnel female buckles/latches.  This method is done so that there is not a pass thru at the shoulders, and the use of the kinder seat is not interfered with.  Only issue is that the seats do not travel all the way back to the frame wall when pushing seats back.  But you are only loosing 1 1/2 inches.
Bob 

[Garry]

Bob,

I fitted my 280SL that way but don't want the restriction that that brings with it behind the seat. I also always found that it wanted to twist the webbing and was generally a PIA.

Whilst the Kinda Seat foot well is easy enough and pretty straight forward thru the side wall with reinforcement behind, if Tosh could photo how he did the Kinda seat side of the car behind the Kinda seat it would be good and I can do that with my 230SL.

Garry

[JamesL]

I shall be with car on Saturday...

[JamesL]

Garry

I've left the seat back in place as I assume you have an issue at the top of the seat. The reel secures under the seat pad on the inner part of the sill rail (as per passenger side on my car)

HTH

[JamesL]

Well there's interesting picture sizing in one thread!

[Garry]

Thanks James,

And got your other photos

Garry