Broken seat-belt arms

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dcwalker
480 Is my middle name
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Broken seat-belt arms

Post by dcwalker » Tue Sep 14, 2021 8:49 am

Most of us have been there - the impatient mother-in-law/clumsy friend (here insert an appropriate person) insists they can get into the back without moving the seat-belt arm (here insert any other appropriate scenario) and there is the snapping sound of another piece of unobtanium biting the dust :( :cry:

Although not the only point they can break, the usual problem is that the small prong that holds the roller fitment snaps off:

Image

Having seen mention of repairing these in a number of places, and given that these arms are simply a convenience and not an integral part of the seatbelt (which in my view should never be repaired) I thought I'd give it a go and do a "How To" at the same time.

Usually when these prongs snap off it isn't a clean break, meaning you can easily see exactly what angle they need to go back on.

Take a blunt ended (ie not self-tapping screw) and cut it to about 1 cm length - I used a screw designed for fixing a household socket to its back-box, because it is a good width and has a fine thread, meaning it should get a good grip. You can see it on the bench in the above photo - discard the part with the head on it.

Then carefully put a blob of paint in the centre of the broken end of the prong and gently press it into position against the rest of the arm - that will give you a location mark for drilling:

Image

Image

I used some red acrylic modelling paint but anything that isn't instantly dry would do...
Last edited by dcwalker on Tue Sep 14, 2021 9:00 am, edited 1 time in total.
Current: 1994 480 GT, 1996 460 CD & 1997 440 LE with lots of optional extras & 2007 V50 SE Sport
Previous: Celebration 331 (re-homed with Richard S), Celebration 467 (returned to Martin Mc); Celebration 346 (re-homed with Alan480); Celebration 269 (scrapped abandoned project), Celebration 73 (sold on after 6 years), 1992 ES, 1988 ES - and numerous other non-480 Volvos!

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dcwalker
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 1522
Joined: Sun Sep 16, 2012 12:30 pm
Location: York

Re: Broken seat-belt arms

Post by dcwalker » Tue Sep 14, 2021 8:54 am

Next comes the drilling. Be gentle and start small, working up to the size you need (which in the case of the electrical screw I used was 3.2mm).

The drill in the photo for my starting hole is 1.5mm:

Image

I then worked up via 2mm, 3mm and finally 3.2mm. Obviously you need to drill both parts which is where the red dot comes into its own.

Then screw the threaded, headless shank that you prepared earlier into one of the parts to be joined. First time around I screwed it into the prong as per the photo, but second time I screwed it into the arm first - which seemed to be the easier way to to it, given you need to hold the threaded shank with pliers to turn it in, whereas it is then quite easy to screw the prong down onto the thread:

Image

Apply a little super-glue into the holes and around the area to be joined - the breakage "scars" will show you where...
Current: 1994 480 GT, 1996 460 CD & 1997 440 LE with lots of optional extras & 2007 V50 SE Sport
Previous: Celebration 331 (re-homed with Richard S), Celebration 467 (returned to Martin Mc); Celebration 346 (re-homed with Alan480); Celebration 269 (scrapped abandoned project), Celebration 73 (sold on after 6 years), 1992 ES, 1988 ES - and numerous other non-480 Volvos!

User avatar
dcwalker
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 1522
Joined: Sun Sep 16, 2012 12:30 pm
Location: York

Re: Broken seat-belt arms

Post by dcwalker » Tue Sep 14, 2021 8:58 am

Then treat yourself to a well-earned cup of tea while the glue dries:

Image

Et voila! They seem to be as robust as they ever were :D :

Image

And before anybody asks, that pair is off to join the Rescue Group stocks to find their way onto the cars we have in progress ;)

David
Current: 1994 480 GT, 1996 460 CD & 1997 440 LE with lots of optional extras & 2007 V50 SE Sport
Previous: Celebration 331 (re-homed with Richard S), Celebration 467 (returned to Martin Mc); Celebration 346 (re-homed with Alan480); Celebration 269 (scrapped abandoned project), Celebration 73 (sold on after 6 years), 1992 ES, 1988 ES - and numerous other non-480 Volvos!

Spainal
Started learning about 480
Posts: 90
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Location: Russia, Siberia, Krasnoyarsk
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Re: Broken seat-belt arms

Post by Spainal » Wed Sep 15, 2021 3:43 am

Hey dcwalker!
Good information, but I don't have such, well, I would buy!
Do you know where you can buy these?
Volvo 480 Turbo!
I was born and live in Siberia! :hopping:

Alan 480
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 1485
Joined: Sun Aug 28, 2011 9:03 am
Location: Aberdeen

Re: Broken seat-belt arms

Post by Alan 480 » Wed Sep 15, 2021 11:33 am

I don't think that new are available, in any shape or size :(

another 'unobtanium' item....

3D printed parts might work?
Alan

480 ES 2litre 'Celebration' ? , C30 1.8ES, SS1

malkontent
Can tell where the 480 was built
Posts: 371
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Location: Cracow , Poland

Re: Broken seat-belt arms

Post by malkontent » Wed Sep 15, 2021 4:54 pm

Hi
Have one used , complete , 3 parts / arm , tringle and rolle / , in very good condition , since there is no part number , do not konw which side it is .

Spainal
Started learning about 480
Posts: 90
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2015 7:38 pm
Location: Russia, Siberia, Krasnoyarsk
Contact:

Re: Broken seat-belt arms

Post by Spainal » Thu Sep 16, 2021 10:16 am

malkontent wrote:
Wed Sep 15, 2021 4:54 pm
Hi
Have one used , complete , 3 parts / arm , tringle and rolle / , in very good condition , since there is no part number , do not konw which side it is .
Can you send me a photo by mail or watsap?
Volvo 480 Turbo!
I was born and live in Siberia! :hopping:

malkontent
Can tell where the 480 was built
Posts: 371
Joined: Fri Jan 15, 2010 1:20 pm
Location: Cracow , Poland

Re: Broken seat-belt arms

Post by malkontent » Thu Sep 16, 2021 10:50 am

Image

Spainal
Started learning about 480
Posts: 90
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2015 7:38 pm
Location: Russia, Siberia, Krasnoyarsk
Contact:

Re: Broken seat-belt arms

Post by Spainal » Fri Sep 17, 2021 4:32 am

malkontent wrote:
Thu Sep 16, 2021 10:50 am
Image
How much will you pay? I need 2 pieces, left and right.
Volvo 480 Turbo!
I was born and live in Siberia! :hopping:

malkontent
Can tell where the 480 was built
Posts: 371
Joined: Fri Jan 15, 2010 1:20 pm
Location: Cracow , Poland

Re: Broken seat-belt arms

Post by malkontent » Fri Sep 17, 2021 7:14 am

Sorry only this one , 45 € + post charges .

Spainal
Started learning about 480
Posts: 90
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2015 7:38 pm
Location: Russia, Siberia, Krasnoyarsk
Contact:

Re: Broken seat-belt arms

Post by Spainal » Fri Sep 17, 2021 7:43 am

malkontent wrote:
Fri Sep 17, 2021 7:14 am
Sorry only this one , 45 € + post charges .
Sorry, dear to me for such a thing!
Volvo 480 Turbo!
I was born and live in Siberia! :hopping:

malkontent
Can tell where the 480 was built
Posts: 371
Joined: Fri Jan 15, 2010 1:20 pm
Location: Cracow , Poland

Re: Broken seat-belt arms

Post by malkontent » Fri Sep 17, 2021 7:51 am

no problem , is waiting :D

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