Four point harness buckle repositioning

[Graham D]

The buckle on a Caterham 4 point harness (circa 1998) can be moved from one lap strap to the other, but it must be part dismantled.
This was discussed in Techtalk a few years ago, but not being a member I can’t look at the archives to refresh my memory.
Can anyone tell me which part needs to be removed – the back plate (5 screws) or the release lever at the front (1 screw)?
I know I could just go for it, but I don’t want the workbench looking like an explosion in a watch factory because I removed an unnecessary part.

Graham

Edited by Graham D on Friday 14th April 22:05

[Gingerbread Man]

I've done it a long time ago. I did it in situ as I couldn't be bothered to take the harness off the car. Basically all pins move when you twist the release buckle bar one. The one locked in pin holds onto the preferred harness strap. I swapped both of mine so that the buckles rest on the transmission tunnel, rather than to the external of the car.
You just pull out this 'fixed' pin, swap the harness side, place the fixed pin in this new slot and away you go. I think I went through the back. Open up the harness slowly holding it level upon undoing all the screws and you'll be alright. I don't recall any issues.

[AndrewE]

Hi,

Are both belts buckles on the wrong end? Both mine were on the outer strap so I just changed the whole straps over so buckles are now inboard - no need to faff around with the buckle.

Just feed strap through adjusting buckle (you have to pull/push the serrated rod away to allow strap through)

hope that makes sense!

[Graham D]

Buckle swap completed. FWIW this is what I did.
Firstly, I removed the buckle from the car by pushing a piece of wire through the back plate to compress the fixed pin and allow the buckle to be released from the strap.
There are a number of holes in the back plate presumably for this purpose. It wasn’t strictly necessary, but it allowed the buckle to be dismantled in relative comfort on the bench.
The release lever was removed by undoing the single retaining screw. A flat bladed screw driver was needed to gently prize the lever away.
This revealed a cover plate with two retaining screws.
The two cover plate screws were undone whilst holding the plate in position with my other hand (There are five light springs under the plate).
Once the plate was off the relevant pins were lifted out and swapped around then everything reassembled.

Andrew. Both of the buckles were originally next to the tunnel, but I decided to swap the harnesses over to even out the wear.