Outdated five point harnesses

[J-BODY]

In my book this is one of the rules that is totally finacially motivated. Come on, two years for a set of belts? Anyway, now that I have moved to the southwest and have found a market for my old ones to the sand buggy crowd, what do you do with yours?

[Challenger]

I sell them to dirt track racers. The 2 year seat belt rule is a joke. Have you ever seen dirt track racers belts after they go thru dirt, water and abuse? I have belts that are outdated from 5 years back and they still look fairly new, but I cant use them.

[23T-Wedge]

I bet the first thing you'll think about when you're flipping end over end at 145 is how much money you saved by not having your belts re-certified.........!
Safety first guys!

[Tommy1]

Hey Challenger:
How much do you get for your belts?
I need two sets for a street car.
I would prefer them to be identical brands and color.
Also , they need to be roll bar mount.
Thanks.

Tommy

[dart10]

I agree it should be the tech guys discrection on the harness BUT then who becomes liabil, the track. I have 2 alternateing sets and send them back for recertfieing when there dates are up.
safty first absolutly.

[23T-Wedge]

If you don't think your butt is worth $49.95 every two years, why should I argue with you......by the way, your opinion is subject to the smell test, just like everyone else.

[Leigh]

I don't mind anything nylon or fabric needing updated. I always question how the aluminum trans shield can go bad. Only thing that makes sense is they want to be sure it hasn't taken a hit or been ground on. Oh well, its only $$$$$$.

[SDDuster]

Safty first. Why can I go to a track with thrity year old belts and run a 13.00 sec. car. Then the next week go to the same track with four year old belts, that have less than five passes on them, and they have been in a heated garage all that time, and I can not run because they are OUT DATED.
The tech guy told me later to take the tags off and tech again. So i did. Guess what They Passed.

[Christopher]

I agree about safety first.No doubt that should be the first thought in any racers mind.BUT.... even the military doesn't require changing harnesses every two years.I think a 3 year rule should suffice.I see both sides of this isssue,but changing belts every two years is a bit ridiculous in my opinion.

[Leigh]

Christopher,
If I'm racing as much as I'd like, I can log 125 - 150 passes a season. I've seen the area around where the belt adjusters fuzzy as hell after the end of the 2nd season. I have no problem with replacing. Your point of replacing belts that are in good shape is well taken, but who makes that call? More important, who wants to make that call? Any failure would be litigation city.

[23T-Wedge]

Leigh,
Your response is about as dead on as any I've seen. What a lot of guys don't realize is the webbing can look fine but the stitching can dry-rot on the inside of the folds around the mounting hardware and let go on a major impact. If you've ever seen a driver being bounced around inside of a flipping car, believe me, it will make a lasting impression on you....it ain't pretty.

[pro398]

Here's some food for thought, Being an ex-paramedic I saw plenty of people walk away from wrecks(NO airbags)with seatbelts that are twenty years old. Now a street car gets a lot more use and UV exposure and the belts last forever. ALSO,I have a friend who was a pilot and they never had to replace theirs....BUT,I replace my 5 point harness without hesitation every 2 years.
http://www.fortunecity.com/silversto...68/index.html/

[Leigh]

Anybody know what IHRA's rule on belt dates is? Or do they comply to the same SEMA rules as NHRA? If their rules are different than NHRA, then we might be getting somewhere.