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jjones752 (Offline)
  #1 3/11/13 10:02 PM
So, I'm stripping my just-purchased older Bailey Mini Sprint to freshen up for Montpelier and I've discovered the genius who "modified it to fit a larger driver" (the larger driver being the guy I bought it from) cut the left-side seat belt mount out of the chassis. The lap belt is looped around the left frame rail in such a way that it could ride up the curve where it transitions to the rear upright. First picture is mine, second is how it should be mounted. Can anybody recommend a good fab guy in Indy who could help me make it right?
Likes: PatrickMead#13
TQ29m (Offline)
  #2 3/12/13 10:00 AM
I think if it were mine, I'd buy a 2pc set collar, like used on a go-kart rear axle, and put it on there, to keep the belt from slipping up that radius in the tube, you can buy those in inch or metric sizes, should be a quick easy fix, but actually, it looks like that belt needs to be brought down to the lower frame rail, it's gonna be a hassle getting it hooked and tight, as short as it is. I realize it's close to your chain, but it needs to be lower in the car, IMHO! Bob

"Being old, isn't half as much fun, as getting there"! Ole Robert I!
jjones752 (Offline)
  #3 3/12/13 11:10 AM
Originally Posted by TQ29m:
I think if it were mine, I'd buy a 2pc set collar, like used on a go-kart rear axle, and put it on there, to keep the belt from slipping up that radius in the tube, you can buy those in inch or metric sizes, should be a quick easy fix, but actually, it looks like that belt needs to be brought down to the lower frame rail, it's gonna be a hassle getting it hooked and tight, as short as it is. I realize it's close to your chain, but it needs to be lower in the car, IMHO! Bob
Thanks for your response, Bob.
Belt length isn't an issue, those are expired and being replaced anyway; I don't like where the belt comes over the top of the seat as it is now, it looks like the wrong angle in relation to the pelvis. I thought about wrapping the new belt around the diagonal of the main frame, but that would put the webbing between the upper & lower chain runs, which if not outright dangerous would expose the belt to a lot of chain lube muck.
The other pic is looking under the seat of an unmolested Bailey; the tube the left side lap belt is mounted to is inboard of the chain guard and comes off the seat crossmember, then up to the crossmember at the bottom of the a-frame. Hard to tell but I think there's some kind of loop to keep the belt from crawling up the curve. Mine used to have that setup but all that's left is about a 1/4" stub on the front x-member, thanks to somebody who got carried away with the Sawzall.
I need somebody with better TIG skills than me to recreate that...
PatrickMead#13 (Offline)
  #4 3/12/13 12:17 PM
I would agree with bob on this. You and I have the same chassis and my belt is luckily on the rail as it should be. The collars would be the best bang for the buck because there is probably no room for the bar to be put back in unless you went under the left edge of the seat. If you move the belt lower on the frame, I would put a shield on the other side of the chain and contain the chain and all the wonderful oils that go with it in a "tunnel" along the frame length.

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jjones752 (Offline)
  #5 3/12/13 12:34 PM
Originally Posted by PatrickMead#13:
I would agree with bob on this. You and I have the same chassis and my belt is luckily on the rail as it should be. The collars would be the best bang for the buck because there is probably no room for the bar to be put back in unless you went under the left edge of the seat. If you move the belt lower on the frame, I would put a shield on the other side of the chain and contain the chain and all the wonderful oils that go with it in a "tunnel" along the frame length.

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Thanks for the input, Pat. I don't like where the belt is now at all, and I think the shielding idea may be as much work as welding a mount back in, but I'll give it a look when I get home from work (don't tell the Boss I'm on IOW, hee hee).
I think with the seat I bought from you, there's enough room to weld a mount in where I can thread the belt up next to the chainguard, if I mount the seat as far to the right as I can get it.
Nick Speidel referred me to Leader's Edge, near 10th & Girls' School Rd here in town. I need some other welding done anyway (Dzus plates and such) so I think I may be giving them a call.
(Nick, if you're reading this, your mailbox is full. Thanks, and I got their number off the website).

Jim Jones
Future Montpelier Midget Rookie of the Year (ha)

PS Pat: You wouldn't happen to have the seat out so you could snap a pic of your belt mount to take to Leader's Edge, wouldja?
PatrickMead#13 (Offline)
  #6 3/12/13 12:41 PM
It's still in the car but its up on the lift so I can get you a picture from underneath and how my belt is installed. I'll try to get out to my shop in a day or two and get it for you.

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jjones752 (Offline)
  #7 3/12/13 12:52 PM
That'd be great.
Thanks Pat.
TQ29m (Offline)
  #8 3/12/13 2:20 PM
Yes, if the belt goes OVER the seat, you might just as well tie it to your uniform, it'd do about as much good, it needs to come thru the slot in the seat to be of any value, which from what I can see, looks like you'll have to move the seat a bit to the right, and make some additions to guards or whatever, to get down to the lower frame rail to attach it, maybe a loop, bent in a u shape, and welded to the lower rail, then figure out some shielding to keep the chain from eating it up, don't look so easy now! How close is the chain to that vertical tube there from the lower rail up, that might be able to be of use as an attaching point for a loop, or a tube in there at an angle up to the one with the bend in it. Still need to protect the belt from the chain, but anything would be better than what you have. Bob

"Being old, isn't half as much fun, as getting there"! Ole Robert I!
jjones752 (Offline)
  #9 3/12/13 3:24 PM
Originally Posted by TQ29m:
Yes, if the belt goes OVER the seat, you might just as well tie it to your uniform, it'd do about as much good, it needs to come thru the slot in the seat to be of any value, which from what I can see, looks like you'll have to move the seat a bit to the right, and make some additions to guards or whatever, to get down to the lower frame rail to attach it, maybe a loop, bent in a u shape, and welded to the lower rail, then figure out some shielding to keep the chain from eating it up, don't look so easy now! How close is the chain to that vertical tube there from the lower rail up, that might be able to be of use as an attaching point for a loop, or a tube in there at an angle up to the one with the bend in it. Still need to protect the belt from the chain, but anything would be better than what you have. Bob
Kinda like this? You can see the chainguard just to the left of the belt in the red square...
The seat that's in it is for a "husky" fella, I'm putting in a 17" seat that I bought from Patrick that should give me some space between the chainguard and the belt opening in the seat; if I get a tube welded in parallel to the outer frame rail just inboard of the guard (which is what looks like was there originally), we should be "gooda go" (in my best Aussie accent)...
TQ29m (Offline)
  #10 3/12/13 4:04 PM
No. I think that is not much better than what you have, that belt needs to attach lower down from the seat, if you were to take a piece of 1 1/4 tube, and bend it in a 90, and weld it into the lower rail. about 3" up that vertical, and the other end to the piece that you are attached to now, you would have a place to either weld in a tab to bolt to, or a place to wrap your anchor point. You might still be close to your chain, but if you go thru the opening in the seat, that will help get some space for the belt and chain to live in harmony! Bob

"Being old, isn't half as much fun, as getting there"! Ole Robert I!
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