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What is the issue around the seat belt bar. I notice in Jason's and Patrick's build threads that you have had to weld an additional bar across the roll bar but in Peter's thread the car has passed SVA/IVA without one.
Is the requirement for the additional bar dependent on the build (seat height perhaps or inertia reel versus harness)to meet an IVA requirement or does anyone know whether this is now a standard modification (to meet IVA) fitted by Marlin as part of the delivered chassis. (probably I should ask Marlin that!!)
Nigel - Marlin used to provide a turning bar that bolted inbetween the rear shock turrets. Peter has one on his car:
I never got one, and at the time there was discussion as to wether or not the bar was up to the job of taking the loads involved if the seatbelt was used in anger.
Due to this, I followed the lead of Robin and Patrick, and had the 38mm CDS tube welded in to the roll bar hoop.
You need to position it so that the turning point or “effective upper anchorage” in IVA speak is at least 450mm above the reference point:
Just be careful when positioning it, and give it some margin for error - all my lee-way on the bar position disapeared with the carpet and rubber matting on the floor changing the position of the seat... And the IVA man will check it very carefully with his spirit level and string contraption.
Thanks Jason. I wonder why Marlin ommitted a turning point in your vehicles when it appears to be a SVA/IVA requirement.
I need to talk to Terry so I'll ask about the current build standard.
Marlin, supply the additional bar when you buy the seat belts from them. It's quite a clever design. It's a hollow tube but because it's welded to a 'u' channel each end that makes it quite stiff and appears to be very strong when bolted to the suspension turrets. I mounted mine after first fit of the rear tub and mounted it as high as possible, just touching the rear tub. It's bolted on so you can mount it just where you want it.
I had no issues at the SVA with strength or position. I don't think the requirements have changed for the IVA. My seats don't have saet belt holes, so the belts go from my shoulders, over the bar and straight down to the belt mounting points. I suspect my collar bones will break before the bar bends (ouch!). The seat belts Marlin supplied were good quality TRS items and from memoy the price wasn't too bad.
Thanks Peter. That makes sense and I can see the bar on the Sporster component list. (And know what it is now!!)
I guess the trick as you say is to mount it as high as possile, and probably as far forward as possible to stop the belts rubbing on the tub. It looks like the choice of seat and height of any seat rails will impact positioning as well so its something to do well into the build.
I think the style of seats might have something to do with it as well Tim - didn't you have Cobra style seats with harness holes?
The SVA chap that looked at mine fail it first time as I didn't have a piece of paper that said the seats were up to the task. You need some kind of EU certification for the seat to get away with it without the extra bar.
I had Cobra 7 with slots, and only just got through as the slots were 1mm too low. I persuaded the tester that the cushion would compress by at least 1mm with me on it.
He didn't need any documentation about the seats though, which was just as well.
It seems like the testers are not 100% consistant!
