87 R10 Seat belt won't retract

[shannon.posey.56]

Hey guys.

I'm having an issue with the shoulder harness not retracting (belt pulled out and not going back).  Is this an easy repair, or am I better off installing another unit from the junkyard?

Thanks in advance!

[Tjerica1201]

Mine does the same thing from time to time. I just keep playing with it and get to to go back in. Does it lock at all?

[LTZ C20]

There is a coil spring inside the mechanism that is under tention when pulled out and forces itself to relax when trying to retract.

Unbolt the seat belt assembly from the floorboard and B-pillar, (have to unplug seat belt warning sensor also I think) put the entire thing on a work bench. Pull the plastic over up off the mechanism and out of the way enough to see everything. Everything under the cover should be clean, not broken and the spring should be wound up and holding it's position. If it's dirty or has debris in it, if the spring is broken or another mechanism is broken or not attached, reattach it and/or replace it as needed. Be careful with the spring as it can be a bear to wind back up and if it slips as you are trying to install it, it will go bouncing around like a kangaroo. 

If you really want too, you can buy a brand new seat belt assembly,  but it's not hard to fix the old ones usually. Took me about 30 min to fix the one in my 73.

[shannon.posey.56]

Mine does the same thing from time to time. I just keep playing with it and get to to go back in. Does it lock at all?

It's pulled out and doesn't retract at all.

[shannon.posey.56]

There is a coil spring inside the mechanism that is under tention when pulled out and forces itself to relax when trying to retract.

Unbolt the seat belt assembly from the floorboard and B-pillar, (have to unplug seat belt warning sensor also I think) put the entire thing on a work bench. Pull the plastic over up off the mechanism and out of the way enough to see everything. Everything under the cover should be clean, not broken and the spring should be wound up and holding it's position. If it's dirty or has debris in it, if the spring is broken or another mechanism is broken or not attached, reattach it and/or replace it as needed. Be careful with the spring as it can be a bear to wind back up and if it slips as you are trying to install it, it will go bouncing around like a kangaroo. 

If you really want too, you can buy a brand new seat belt assembly,  but it's not hard to fix the old ones usually. Took me about 30 min to fix the one in my 73.

Yeah, I'd rather fix the current one if possible.  If I find a charcoal or black unit at the junkyard, I might snag it anyway since I have a grocery list of parts to pick up.

Thanks for the tips.

[LTZ C20]

Good idea also, for extra parts. I sometimes go to the yard and look for those "hard to get parts" so they aren't lost forever by the crusher. Hopefully another square body fan can use them and give them a second life.

Your welcome.

[Captkaos]

Check the mechanisms under the retractor for operation.  There is something preventing it from coming out further and retracting.