Shoulder Harness Bracket 3-point harness mount

[hologenicman]

Starting thread on solution for mounting shoulder harness seat belt to roll cage using inexpensive chainlink fence supplies.

I will post images later tonight if possible.

I used "tensioners" for chainlink fence that are intended for 2-3/8 inch fence posts. They cost $1.10 at a nationwide hardware chain. This allowed me to attach the shoulder pivot to the roll cage without drilling holes which may have weakened my rollcage.

Using a combination of fence and supplied seatbelt fasteners i was able to fashion a sturdy and inexpensive mounting point.

 

[hologenicman]

Pictures:

Tensioner, bolt, and nut from fencing supplies and washers and bushing from included seat belt supplies.

 

[hologenicman]

Installed:

1-1/4" bolt is a little too long. I may use bolt cutters to trim it down a little.

 

[hologenicman]

With cover in place:

 

[hologenicman]

It's quite sturdy. Even if it bent in an accident, it would never come loose or detatch.

 

[jdulmer]

That's pretty cool. I wouldn't have thought of that.



"Libertatem Aut Mortem"

 

[billyballer]

I like the idea, but I would be very worried that you would sheer right through that bracket in a good wreck. Remember fencing supplies weren't designed to deal with any significant forces. I believe the factor setup went through the roll cage with a tube mounted inside the rollcage tubing so that it didn't lose strength. At the very least I would make sure that hardware is grade 8. Don't mean to rain on this clever idea, but I've seen some bad wrecks on the race track, many at very moderate speeds, and you would be surprised what gives out.
I guess on the other hand it's better than no seat belt at all.

 

[IOPort51]

I like the idea but may have problems with the material. The bolt is first thing to go, that zink plated ungraded bolt and nut are junk, especially if you are leaving this loose to allow it to swivel.

I would have to find the shear and tensile of the strap to see if it would hold a respectable live load. It would be a snap to bend an except able strap if this one is not up to it.

Do the math.


IO

 

[IOPort51]

I just noticed that you used a spacer to allow it to swivel. good move.

It looks like you have the belt on one side of the strap rather than in the center. I would put in the center and point it as close to the most likely line of force as possible.


IO

 

[somedude922]

I don't even know what to say. That's just plain unsafe. Sorry dude.

 

[hologenicman]

I like the idea, but I would be very worried that you would sheer right through that bracket in a good wreck. Remember fencing supplies weren't designed to deal with any significant forces. I believe the factor setup went through the roll cage with a tube mounted inside the rollcage tubing so that it didn't lose strength. At the very least I would make sure that hardware is grade 8. Don't mean to rain on this clever idea, but I've seen some bad wrecks on the race track, many at very moderate speeds, and you would be surprised what gives out.
I guess on the other hand it's better than no seat belt at all.

I've had the same concernes, and it is a very good idea to post the hazzard of failure with such parts.

I am rationalizing that the setup is far better than the lap belt only setup that it replaced and perhaps equivalent to the lap belt only if the shoulder harness bracket were to fail. I was concerned about it actually could be worse than the lap belt only if the belt were to slip, but it sinches up solidly at the waist separate from the shoulder slack.

I may very well upgrade this later on. Instead of the tensioners, I was origionally interested in using pipe mounted hinges which are extremely heavy guage. Combine that with hardened bolts and it may just do the trick.

The first improvement will probably just be to swap out those fence bolts for some hardened ones.

 

[hologenicman]

Final look:

 

[hologenicman]

All being said and done, can anyone point me at purchasabele and approved mounting hardware kit for retrofitting the shoilder harness bracket? I didn't see anything at 4wd.com which is why I went in the direction of rigging somethimg up. The roll bar does not have an integral mounting point that I can discerne.

 

[Suz]

I've had the same concernes, and it is a very good idea to post the hazzard of failure with such parts.

I am rationalizing that the setup is far better than the lap belt only setup that it replaced and perhaps equivalent to the lap belt only if the shoulder harness bracket were to fail. I was concerned about it actually could be worse than the lap belt only if the belt were to slip, but it sinches up solidly at the waist separate from the shoulder slack.

I may very well upgrade this later on. Instead of the tensioners, I was origionally interested in using pipe mounted hinges which are extremely heavy guage. Combine that with hardened bolts and it may just do the trick.

The first improvement will probably just be to swap out those fence bolts for some hardened ones.

I like what you've done. I agee that it is probably "far better than the lapbelt alone" for the kind of driving you guys do! And while there may be some legitimate safety concerns, having grown up in an era before safety belts were mandatory, I really only wear mine to be legal. My Stingray has only lapbelts, and I'm far more likely to need them driving her like a bat outta Hell, than I would in my CJ, whom I drive w/ much TLC ...

Sent from my GT-I9152 using Tapatalk

 

[jdulmer]

Try Omix-ADA.,.



"Libertatem Aut Mortem"

 

[HackFabrication]

I'm going through this same engineering dilemma with my 76 CJ5 rest/mod. The roll bar is from a later model CJ (mounts to the floor instead of the wheel wells), but doesn't have the lugs for the shoulder belt. The roll bar has been fastened to the frame as part of my 6 point roll cage.

I believe the best way to mount the shoulder belt would be to either through drill and weld a sleeve into the tubing. Second best would be to weld a threaded lug unto the tubing. Third would be to design a tube clamp that would encircle the tubing and have a threaded lug as an integral part of one side of the clamp.

 

[somedude922]

All being said and done, can anyone point me at purchasabele and approved mounting hardware kit for retrofitting the shoilder harness bracket? I didn't see anything at 4wd.com which is why I went in the direction of rigging somethimg up. The roll bar does not have an integral mounting point that I can discerne.

This is the route I am going to go very soon. I ordered these already, just need to find someone to weld them in for me.

BTF Seatbelt Bung :: Blue Torch Fab

 

[hologenicman]

I like what you've done. I agee that it is probably "far better than the lapbelt alone" for the kind of driving you guys do! And while there may be some legitimate safety concerns, having grown up in an era before safety belts were mandatory, I really only wear mine to be legal. My Stingray has only lapbelts, and I'm far more likely to need them driving her like a bat outta Hell, than I would in my CJ, whom I drive w/ much TLC ...

Sent from my GT-I9152 using Tapatalk

This is the route I am going to go very soon. I ordered these already, just need to find someone to weld them in for me.

BTF Seatbelt Bung :: Blue Torch Fab

That has potential, but it seels that it would pit the mount a bit too far back and at a strange angle.

Either way, I'll have a look at it.

 

[hologenicman]

I like what you've done. I agee that it is probably "far better than the lapbelt alone" for the kind of driving you guys do! And while there may be some legitimate safety concerns, having grown up in an era before safety belts were mandatory, I really only wear mine to be legal. My Stingray has only lapbelts, and I'm far more likely to need them driving her like a bat outta Hell, than I would in my CJ, whom I drive w/ much TLC ...

Sent from my GT-I9152 using Tapatalk

I'm going through this same engineering dilemma with my 76 CJ5 rest/mod. The roll bar is from a later model CJ (mounts to the floor instead of the wheel wells), but doesn't have the lugs for the shoulder belt. The roll bar has been fastened to the frame as part of my 6 point roll cage.

I believe the best way to mount the shoulder belt would be to either through drill and weld a sleeve into the tubing. Second best would be to weld a threaded lug unto the tubing. Third would be to design a tube clamp that would encircle the tubing and have a threaded lug as an integral part of one side of the clamp.

So, I am upping the installation. I will be replacing the strap tensioners with clamp gate hinges of which I will be much more confident of their resistance to tearing during stress. I will then be switching out to hardened bolts and nuts which will resist the sheer forces.

I will continue to use the spacer bushing which allows for free movement of the bracket. But intend to instead put the bushing and bracket between the two clamped bracket ends rather than jutting from one side asnthay now do.

This won't get done till this weekend.

This current configuration will be based on the multitude of great feedback posts on this thread. Thank you very much!

 

[tarry99]

Installed:

1-1/4" bolt is a little too long. I may use bolt cutters to trim it down a little.

I would just weld a steel tab on your roll bar like one of these.......attache your upper harness point to it with Grade 8 or better hardware and Call it a Day!
This method is an approved way to attache belts for most Racing Organizations.
On typical Racing shoulder harness's a tube behind the cage is normally added and used by wrapping the harness strap around it and then using a strap locking devise.........

It's good that your interested in your safety.......your only a few steps away from making it correct!