My passenger seatbelt is stuck out about 1 foot. It will not pull out anymore, as it shouldn't because it is locked. I can not get it to go back in at all so that it will unlock. Any suggestions?
Thanks
Tim

Typical problem -- you will have to monkey with it to get the ratchet to release -- pull VERY gently up to the lock and then slightly release tension. Should eventually roll back in. You may have to stuff it back in some to get it to release. Don't yank, that's why it's stuck in the first place.

Peter

__________________
1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

Thanks Peter!

I tried what you said, and after about two minutes of work, I finally got it.
Thanks a bunch
Tim

I'm going to assume you're NOT talking about the magnetic Kangol belts?

__________________
Current:
2021 Charger Scat Pack Widebody "Sinabee"
2018 Durango R/T

Previous:
1972 280SE 4.5
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited "Hefe", 1992 Jeep Cherokee Laredo "Jeepy", 2006 Charger R/T "Hemi"
1999 Chrysler 300M - RIP @ 221k

What?
Tim

Reference:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2461369558&category=34206

__________________
Current:
2021 Charger Scat Pack Widebody "Sinabee"
2018 Durango R/T

Previous:
1972 280SE 4.5
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited "Hefe", 1992 Jeep Cherokee Laredo "Jeepy", 2006 Charger R/T "Hemi"
1999 Chrysler 300M - RIP @ 221k

Tim:

You're WAY to young to remember Kangol belts -- simple hook latch, not a tang with a hole in it. Impossible to get trapped, as they hold by overlap, but you cannot use that type of latch with an interial reel belt, it would come undone every time you leaned forward and back.

Benz used them, so did BMW, I think, and the were very common on Boeing 727/737 aircraft 40 years ago.

Peter

__________________
1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

Our '68 220D had the Kangol belts. They were sure simple to operate and seemed like way less fishing for the parts when you wanted to put them on. Like a previous poster pointed out, they held by overlap. Kinda like hooking the fingers of one hand over and under those of the other. They were so easy to release, as he said, that you can't get trapped in the belts in an emergency. Major disadvantage is you were pretty well strapped in when they were adequately cinched up.

__________________
1961 190Db retired
1968 220D/8 325,000
1983 300D 164,150

Ahhh, How did a 280 SEL get retractable seat belts?

__________________
Litton
'90 420 SEL (sold)
'72 280 SEL 4.5
'98 ML320 (for sale)
'86 560SL
'05 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ltd (offroad in style)
'87 Chevy Blazer (AZ Pin Strips)

Required by US law sometime after 1970. Our '68 Ford wagon had separate lap and shoulder belts, but the lap belts were retractable, I think (long time ago, eh?) In 69 or 70, maybe 71, the requirement was retractable belts, and after 72 they had to be three-point.

Peter

__________________
1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

Ok, well my '72 has the Kongol non-retractable lap belt.....am I unusual? Ahhhh, let me rephrase that....is my car unusual?

I remember seeing a thread of two on the topic of changing the kongols to retractable type but I must have missed the part about the lap belts.

__________________
Litton
'90 420 SEL (sold)
'72 280 SEL 4.5
'98 ML320 (for sale)
'86 560SL
'05 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ltd (offroad in style)
'87 Chevy Blazer (AZ Pin Strips)

Lap belts in the 280 are retrating type, in the 220D Kangol.

Go figure.

Peter

__________________
1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

Odd. I recall reading a reprint of a road test on a then-new 1972 Ameri-spec 280SEL 4.5 which referred to non-retractable belts. I assumed that they were the Kangols.

Mine is a '72 model year, built in 10/71, and it has the Kangols. That's why I asked in the first place.

__________________
Current:
2021 Charger Scat Pack Widebody "Sinabee"
2018 Durango R/T

Previous:
1972 280SE 4.5
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited "Hefe", 1992 Jeep Cherokee Laredo "Jeepy", 2006 Charger R/T "Hemi"
1999 Chrysler 300M - RIP @ 221k

I have a very early '72, #7 of the SEL's. Mine has the retractable lapbelts. Were these an option on the 108's?
Thanks
Tim