Newbie harness questions

[Car Mad Dave]

I have spent the weekend searching the forums - there is some really helpful info out there. Two points I am struggling with though re my ideal seating arrangement of Tillett B6 seats with 6 point harness with HANs device worn, but also road legal for occasional road use.

There seems to be much debate on the ease of adjusting lap belts in a 7. My limited experience of the standard fit Caterham 4 point harness is the lap pull up adjustment is very difficult to use as the buckle is outside and below the seat so a real faff to adjust. So the solution is a pull down adjuster on the lap belts. But then feedback seems to be that due to the (lack of) width it is difficult to use pull down adjusters. So which is best?

4 or 6 point harnesses (whether FIA approved or not) do not seem to be sold as road compliant (IVA and MOT) when fitted with the rotary style QR buckle. Exceptions are Titon belts that have got explicit UK VOSA approval and Schroth that make a limited number of harnesses with a rotary release that has a (EU Reg. compliant) red push button rather than lever release. Do people with harnesses that have the QR lever style harness not bother using them on the road or do they usually have no problems getting them passed at IVA and MOT?

Thanks, CMD

[DCL]

I think most MOT stations don't have the same level of knowledge that you seem to have gained and will pass most seat belt that are not damaged.

Race belts tend to be designed to be tightened with access to the sides, but Schroth do a 6 point that has adjustment (of the side straps) at the centre buckle. It's still bit tricky to get leverage to tighten it but is a better bet in the Caterham. A kind of rotating it around your fist type of technique.

Edited by DCL on Monday 23 October 10:34

[Car Mad Dave]

Thanks for the feedback DCL, I like the idea of wrap around the fist to pull down. BTW, you have a fantastic 7 and thanks for sharing your engine build - amazing.

[framerateuk]

My car came with the standard Caterham 4 point, with pull up straps, I now have some Titon 6 point harnesses with pull down straps.

Honestly, they're both as awkward as each other. The pull down are maybe *slightly* easier,. but my 4 points were very worn and weren't easy to get through the buckle.

The Titons are great harnesses though! If I was ordering again I'd still get some from them, but I don't know if I'd choose pull-up or pull-down.

[caterham_lad]

I found that it comes down to practice. First-time i used a full harness it was a faff. Now it is second nature

[Car Mad Dave]

I too liked the look of the Titons. I just need to see if they will make a set of harnesses with 2" width lap belts rather than their standard 3".

BTW, anyone got a 6 point Tilton? The bar on the crutch strap looks a bit narrow so was wondering how comfortable it was.

Thanks, CMD

[framerateuk]

Car Mad Dave said:

BTW, anyone got a 6 point Tilton? The bar on the crutch strap looks a bit narrow so was wondering how comfortable it was.

I have the 6 point. They're as comfortable as a crutch strap can be. I don't have much to compare it to, but I don't find them uncomfortable.

[Car Mad Dave]

Thanks for the feedback framerateuk.

[Aeroscreens]

Always had 6-point harnesses on my 7 since 2002 and both me and the missus always wear them. 3" pull-down lap and 3" shoulder straps. Driver's seat is a Tillett and leather S-type for passenger. 6-point works well with both. Not only do they prevent 'submarining' (which we have unfortunately put to the test) but IMHO they ensure that the lapbelts are correctly positioned when the shoulder straps are pulled tight. I got my Titons from Simon at Meteor Motorsport.

[SimonRogers]

I originally asked the Titon guys to begin making the Caterham belt sets. I have been selling them ever since. I also asked them to make up the 6 point HANS version as I wanted to try the 2" over the shoulder on the Hybrid.

I can offer some info on what you will need.

With Tillet seats you will have to have pull-down lap belts. Not the traditional pull up type.

Titon do not have certification for 2" lap belts so the option is not available.

They are currently out of stock of Left or Right Hand QR buckles and will not be restocking until the NEW FIA accreditation is sorted out. This may never be resolved to a small business financially viable option. The certification cost is £10k. If the current buckle is allowed to be tested alone to check it meets the new criteria then all should be fine.

I can order 6 Point versions with the buckle on the crotch straps.

[HustleRussell]

Have you fitted and tested the Tillet + HANS +helmet combo for comfort? I found it horribly uncomfortable until I spent several hours adjusting the recline of the seat using spacers, by the end of which it was 'acceptable'. No matter what I tried it wasn't 'ideal'. What you might find is that the Tillet headrest is quite close to the back of your head which means that there isn't room for the HANS and the thickness of your helmet in there- so the HANS presses up against the seat which forces your head forward.

If I was going racing again next year I'd have a moulded seat made.

An alternative option to you might be the Simpson Hybrid system? people I've me who use it seem pretty happy with it.

[SimonRogers]

Its the Hybrid I use and I switched to a short back Tillet.

I always had a significant spacer under the front (2").

By the way the Titon Harness is the only harness that was/is VOSA approved.

[Car Mad Dave]

HustleRussell, good point and no not had a chance to test the sets positioning out. Out of interest, are you referring to the standard Caterham GRP race seat made by Tillett? I was thinking of going with the Tillett B6 instead, which I understand has a slightly more reclined headrest angle to try and address the HANs/helmet issue.

Simon, thanks for the further info in the Titons. Sounds like I need to have a chat with you. Noted re lap belt width and buckle attachment. I’m after a track day not race solution so it doesn’t have to be FIA approved and I may be able to live with crotch strap attachment for the buckle.

Any one else have any views to share on seat comfort when wearing HANS device?

CMD

[Aeroscreens]

Like Simon I have a similar amount of spacers under the front of a standard Caterham GRP Tillett and wear a Simpson Hybrid as you can see from the photo below there's plenty of room between Tillet and helmet. I find this arrangement very comfortable.

[CharlesElliott]

James (HustleRussell) makes a good point but you should be fine with a B6 as it is designed with a helmet/HANS in mind. The Caterham version is upright as it designed for road use.