Rollbar and seatbelt retraction.

Yes I know this is an old problem, I have not managed to find a good solution for my car at least.

I got the Bossfrog Clearview Maxx and the seatbelt are retracting very slowly and had to be feed from top to go back.
This is about as unsexy as it can get.

I see other roll bars does not interact so much with the seatbelt as the BF Clearview maxx. This I did not know when I bought it 5 years ago.

As you can see its crowded and the belt are almost folding on its way down.

Driver side
http://i.imgur.com/fQST349.jpg

Passenger side
http://i.imgur.com/P09HFbl.jpg

Seems like this is a kind of the price to pay for that the Clearview Maxx are so long to the rear at is.....

Anyone got a silver bullet for getting me seat belts to retract good with my Bossfrog Clearview maxx?


I see other roll bars have better solution for this.
Blackbird Fabworx seems like doing a much better job. Revlimiters installation =>http://mazdaroadster.net/showthread....l=1#post155520


Anyone got good solution to make my seat belt retract like it is supposed to?

(sorry for the messy post.)


\\Stian.

I don't think there is a good solution to getting the seat belts to retract like stock with any roll bar, or all that much better really.

It's just something ya gotta learn to accept and adjust to.

Not what ya wanna hear, and not helpful, but after getting in and out of many Miatas with roll bars, I've yet to see seat belts that retract that well regardless of whatever additional solution.

Seems like the Bossfrog Clearview maxx interfere more with the seatbelt mechanism than example HardDog ace that goes on the inside of the seat belt tower.

My main concern is that the belt are not tightened enough so I feel safe while driving the car. Secondary is it that it will most certain not pass MOT with the seat belts like they are now. :p

Another picture, from above.

http://i.imgur.com/nFFSsmZ.jpg

Picture with some measurement. :p
http://i.imgur.com/ElUt2nt.jpg

Hmm, maybe in your case, as it's a MOT issue, try the Carbon Miata seat belt extenders? Maybe if they had an extended guide they'd retract better.

https://www.carbonmiata.com/shop/maz...lts-extenders/

It looks like the belt gets wrenched and twisted on the way out, honestly not a whole lot you can do. Just seems like poor design on Boss Frog's part. A LOT of rollbars tend to compromise the seat belt retracting somewhat, I think that just happens when an aftermarket rollbar goes in. That being said, some miata's have issues retracting the belt on their own anyway, some don't.

The only rollbar I'll buy is a GT3 from Moti at BlackbirdFabworx. I never read issues of the seatbelt being a pain, the bars from Moti have seatbelt locators built into the bar. You do have to trim/slit the interior plastic for the seatbelt to work though.

Ultimately, sometimes things don't always fit perfectly. The miata wasn't designed to fit a rollbar, the bars were designed to fit underneath a hood.

Food for thought :D

*Edit: +1 to the seatbelt extenders idea. They're relatively cheap in terms of a fix.*

I've seen these work well, but then BF is out of business. But seems like something easy enough to fabricate...

http://www.mossmiata.com/Shop/ViewPr...IndexID=111719

Sent from my VS986 using Tapatalk

Quote:

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Originally Posted by NotableGuest

I've seen these work well, but then BF is out of business. But seems like something easy enough to fabricate...

http://www.mossmiata.com/Shop/ViewPr...IndexID=111719

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I have these adapters and find them not doing it job good enough. If they had and the belt just where slow retracting I would have tried a set of new belts.

I experience that the belts folds in the adapter under use.
http://i.imgur.com/ANBIdMX.jpg

as you can see it folds between the "roll" and the adapter as well, but that I think is because of the angel of the adapter.
Attachment 17237

If the adaptar has been angeled like the end of the rule on this picture I think most of the problem would have been solved.
http://i.imgur.com/3AbAQZ6.jpg


Right now I see these alternative solutions

1. Try the seatbelt extenders from CarbonMiata
2. Get fabricate a better version of the Bossfrog adapter that leads the seatbelt in a better angle
3. Replace the Bossfrog Clearview maxx with a nother roll bar.

Another suggestions?

Try CM's seatbelt extenders, they physically move where the seatbelt bundles - the boss frog Rollbar is physically in the way of the belt, even their own belt guides are angled wrong for the belt to retract properly.

Simply a poor roll bar design by Boss Frog, honestly, a GT3 from moti - check out Adam's writeup of one.

Wow, that's horrible.

The solution would be either to re-engineer the seat belt mounting points or to install a different rollbar. Or remove the bar altogether I guess.

If you could somehow SAFELY move the pivot point for the belt guide out a bit to allow the guide to sit flat, the belts would work better and retract better. I would not call that belt mounting safe as it is.

The Blackbird GT3 rollbar belt mounting is really good. Moti moves the pivot point onto the bar itself. It's not perfect, but it DOES retract nicely.

Thanks folk.
I will see if it will help to make a new version of the adapters that gives an better angle of the belt.

Only negative I have heard abouts Moti's GT3 bar is that you have to remove the bar to access the fuel pump.
Edit => Seems like it was the placement of the harness bar that did that. Guess Moti can move the harness bar so that is not a problem.

Just remove the roll bar and live dangerously. It's not as if a roll bar is going to help much anyway if you get t-boned by a semi or drive off a cliff. In any case, for those not racing, the likelihood of rolling one's car is pretty slim; I mean, it happens, but it happens so infrequently as to hardly warrant a roll bar for street driving. If you're really safety-minded, you'd be safer driving around with a helmet than with a roll bar, but I wouldnt drive around wearing a helmet either, so why sport a roll bar? Better to remove the roll bar and have properly working seatbelts.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by flooglemop

Better to remove the roll bar and have properly working seatbelts.

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Agree!

I will try to get a roll bar with working seat belt. If I do not manage that I will go without a rollbar.

I find that the roll bar also stiffen up the car. Because racecar, wannabe :p

The Hard Dog Ace and Deuce bars allow pretty much perfect seat belt use since they're not as wide as the other bars and the legs don't extend past/over the seat belts.

I have a Deuce and no complaints.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Slampen

Agree!

I will try to get a roll bar with working seat belt. If I do not manage that I will go without a rollbar.

I find that the roll bar also stiffen up the car. Because racecar, wannabe :p

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Hey fellow nut. Are you running a custom wheel? Sans airbag? I think I remember you are.

Then why go with retractable seat belts designed to work with those?

Safety is the key. Get you a set of (over here they are rated on a different scale) MOT worthy non-retracting seat belts. Especially if you run harnesses for track-days!

My 2 cents, pesos, rubles...

Picked up two DOT approved (US spec.) for less than $40 dollars each. Full warrenty and documents thru a nationwide seller. US built.

Hope this helps you crazy guy!

I went through this exact issue with my Boss Frog double hoop bar years ago as well a relative's with the same roll bar. I did this writeup but it is now screwed by Photobucket but I'll see about recreating it with a new photo host. http://gearheadsmiataclub.net/vB/sho...-for-roll-bars

Basically, I unbolted the seatbelt guides, rotated them forward and had them welded in place. That way, the belt strap did not bind in the opening anymore. Also, it looks like your foam padding could use a little trimming as it looks like your belt might be rubbing on it. I had the foam pads too and trimmed them high enough so that they tucked inside the vinyl covers.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by NCGreasemonkey

Hey fellow nut. Are you running a custom wheel? Sans airbag? I think I remember you are.

Then why go with retractable seat belts designed to work with those?

Safety is the key. Get you a set of (over here they are rated on a different scale) MOT worthy non-retracting seat belts. Especially if you run harnesses for track-days!

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I still have the oem steering wheel with airbag, planing to get a smaller steering wheel with airbag.

Will most likely run into problems with MOT removing the oem-retracting seat belts, so they have to work.
In addition to the seatbelt issue the missing harness bar are #2 problem with the bar. :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Agent☣Orange

I went through this exact issue with my Boss Frog double hoop bar years ago as well a relative's with the same roll bar. I did this writeup but it is now screwed by Photobucket but I'll see about recreating it with a new photo host. http://gearheadsmiataclub.net/vB/sho...-for-roll-bars

Basically, I unbolted the seatbelt guides, rotated them forward and had them welded in place. That way, the belt strap did not bind in the opening anymore. Also, it looks like your foam padding could use a little trimming as it looks like your belt might be rubbing on it. I had the foam pads too and trimmed them high enough so that they tucked inside the vinyl covers.

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Found your thread searching da-internet. :)

Something like this?
http://i.imgur.com/a3WJLIl.jpg



Have not experienced that the belt interfere with the padding.

Yes, heh heh. Exactly like that.

Since I don't have Photobucket anymore, I'm trying to locate all my old photos on backup drives.

Before I forget:

Attachment 17317

Nice.
Do you have picture from the other side, where you can see the belt going into the "roll"?

The only other picture I have is from a "roller" mod I made further smooth retraction. Sorry. Safe to say, however that once the seatbelt mount is welded farther toward the front, the belt strap aligned much better with the opening rather than pinched to one side.

Attachment 17318