Re: Cleaning/Refurb'ing Seatbelts (UL testing)

[John Hammond <426_maxwedge@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

This is probably NOT kosher from a safety standpoint.  I don't know why it 
wouldn't work -
but I'm sure the NHTSA or some other Govt. agency appointed to protect us 
from our moronic
selves would most likely take issue with my method.  That said, as my 
attempt to CMA and mention
to attempt at your own peril....here's what I did on my '65 Pontiac Star 
Chief whose belts were a very
light beige that showed every hint of a dirty spot.
1. Remove all belts from car and extend adjustable straps to maximum length.
2. Using some thick white cotton socks, place over buckle areas and secure 
just past buckle with heavy rubber
band wrap any additional sock around covered buckle and secure with 
additional rubber bands. Idea is to pad
and protect the buckle.
3. Throughly soak entire length of straps with Shout or Spray and Wash to 
remove stains and 40 years of yeechh!
4. Using two appropriate diameter dowels hang equal amounts of straps on 
dowels through the bolt-in tabs.
5. Schedule this when wife isn't home and cross the dowels in an "X" 
arrangement over the top of your home
washer with the lid open.  Find suitable instrument to jam into the door 
open shutdown switch so the washer
will operate with the lid in the up position.
6. Set the washer for Gentle Cycle with the highest available water level 
and add your usual detergent. This
next item is Super Important!!  Turn off the spin cycle if you can, and if 
not stay with the machine and remove
belts before a spin cycle starts. Staying with the machine during this is 
probably a good idea anyway in case
wife shoud come back earlier than expected. If wife returns: ABORT MISSION!
7. After final rinse - inspect and repete proceedure if required.
8. Remove belts from machine, remove socks from buckles, and leave hanging 
on dowels for next step.
9. Take to outside location and suspend dowels so that belts can be further 
rinsed and hand agitated to
remove any remaining dirt or detergents. Allow to air dry.  Any further 
stubborn stains can be addressed
spot by spot with naptha applied with clean terry cloth
.
This worked well for me: the nasty belts came out like NOS.  They did soften 
up a bunch, this may or may not
be a good thing I don't know.  They lay better and are more comfortable but 
did it harm their safety margins?
I can't say for sure but I really doubt it. As to the label thing, mine have 
a similar label and it did lose some of
its legibility, (faded and ragged-it up a tad), but still very much in 
useful condition as an original, labeled, OEM
part. Finally by allowing them to air dry hanging like this: they're as good 
as ironed when you are ready to
reinstall them into your vehicle.  Once again, I did this on my car, if you 
have issues with any aspect of this:
please do not attempt it until you've gotten confirmation from someone you 
trust in issues of safety equipment.
Most places will suggest rewebbing, which is by far the best way to go, 
budget allowing.  It's fairly expensive,
and the turn around times seem to be sorta long from those I consulted. 
I'll say this, personally, I woudn't have
any problem following this proceedure on anything else I owned or will own.

John Hammond
From: "c. davis" <pngkid@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <1962to1965mopars@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, June 09, 2009 5:49 PM
Subject: Re: Cleaning/Refurb'ing Seatbelts (UL testing)


> Underwriters Labs will put a sticker on just about anything that will meet 
> their standards. UL determines a minumum guideline that must be met. 
> Everything from electronics to roofing.
>
> c.davis (onetime UL quality control inspector)
>
> Jerry Ehle wrote:
> > I don't understand why a UL sticker would be on your seat belts, since 
> > Underwriters Laboratories is a company which tests and approves 
> > electrical items, such as lamps, chandeliers, etc. for the insurance 
> > industry.  I'm not aware that they have anything to do with seat belts 
> > unless there is something electrical related to them. I could be wrong, 
> > and they may have a division which tests the strength of the belt & latch 
> > for insurance purposes. Check their web site.  As far as the stickers are 
> > concerned, they are available to any manufacturer of electrical items (eg 
> > lamps) if they are a member of UL inspection program. (I used to 
> > manufacture lamps.)
> >
> > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bill" <Y1TopBanana73@xxxxxxxxx>
> > To: "62-65 Mopar List" <1962to1965mopars@xxxxxxxxxx>
> > Sent: Tuesday, June 09, 2009 1:18 PM
> > Subject: Cleaning/Refurb'ing Seatbelts
> >
> >
> > > I did some much needed interior cleaning this weekend, and noticed my
> > > seatbelts are disgusting. Any thoughts on cleaning / washing them? If
> > > I sweat in the summer time they will actually make my t-shirt dirty.
> > >
> > > Also, there are some really cool "Underwriters Laboratories" stickers
> > > under the latches that I'd like to save/replace/or reproduce. Any
> > > thoughts on anyone that might have them? Any thought on how difficult
> > > it would be to have these reproduced or do them my self?
> > >
> > > --
> > > Bill M
> > > 65 Coronet 500 'vert
> > > http://1962to1965mopar.ornocar.com/mmo62008.html
>
> '62 to '65 Mopar Clubhouse Discussion Guidelines:
> http://www.1962to1965mopar.ornocar.org/mletiq.html. 
> This email was sent to: 426_maxwedge@xxxxxxxxxxx


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