Well, i finally got my wag areo front and rear harness kits. Installation of the rear one went great until i tried bucking the lap belt up and it was too short. I am a small guy weighing in at a whopping 165 lbs, and they did not fit. I adjusted the 3 bar locking device to the max, eliminating one of the locking loops on either side and can now buckle it up. Any one weighing more than me will not be able to. I compared lenghts of the old and the new lap belts(after the fact unfortunatly)and the new ones are 3" shorter each, for a total of 6"
To top it all off i had to cut my old lap belts to use my existing end fitting and now i have no working seatbelts. Anyone have the same problem of too short of lap belt? Is there a seatbelt extension available like you would find on an airliner?Sounds kind of cheesy if you ask me. I will call wag and see what they have to say.
Thanks Jason Crozier
wag aero shoulder harness
Jason,
I found the Wag belts somewhat on the short side too. I'm about 5-9 and weigh 160. I suppose some of the problem is how much 'padding' there is in the seat cushions. I'm pretty much out to the end, but I do have a little to go on for seat belt adjustment. Anyway, Wag does have a seat belt extension which I carry in the plane for my 'over sized' friends. Just hooks into the other seat belt and works fine. Just checked the catalog and see the price is $26.75 each.
Mike
I found the Wag belts somewhat on the short side too. I'm about 5-9 and weigh 160. I suppose some of the problem is how much 'padding' there is in the seat cushions. I'm pretty much out to the end, but I do have a little to go on for seat belt adjustment. Anyway, Wag does have a seat belt extension which I carry in the plane for my 'over sized' friends. Just hooks into the other seat belt and works fine. Just checked the catalog and see the price is $26.75 each.
Mike
"If God had intended man to fly He would have given us more money"
Hello, yeah i know hwat you mean about the lap belts being short. i to am 5'9" and about the same weight. I called wag and they said to send in my lap belts and they would make them longer. That does not do me much good as the old belts are now garbage and if i sent the new ones out that means no passengers. I am still waiting to hear from someone at wag who is going to "call me back".
I was wondering if i could use a belt extender for temporary use. I guess as long as it clips in it would be fine. The only problem for me to buy from wag is the 5 week delivery time, not much good being in canada.
jason
I was wondering if i could use a belt extender for temporary use. I guess as long as it clips in it would be fine. The only problem for me to buy from wag is the 5 week delivery time, not much good being in canada.
jason
Most of the WAG people are at Oshkosh this next week, although if you need a belt extension, they should be able to get it to you in short order (not sure about Canada). They do have a website: wwwwagaero.com and you should be able to order online. I get delivery in about 2 days, but then I live in Wisconsin which most likely makes a difference.
I have the wide rear seat which undoubtable makes a difference and if I fly from the rear seat, I usually sit on a boat cushion so I can see better.
I didn't go with the regular Aeronca set that Wag lists, I used the TSO combination instead and installed them with a log book entry. They possibly might be a little shorter than the regular "Aeronca" belt set up.
Anyway, for the short term, the seat belt extension is the answer, I guess.
Mike
I have the wide rear seat which undoubtable makes a difference and if I fly from the rear seat, I usually sit on a boat cushion so I can see better.
I didn't go with the regular Aeronca set that Wag lists, I used the TSO combination instead and installed them with a log book entry. They possibly might be a little shorter than the regular "Aeronca" belt set up.
Anyway, for the short term, the seat belt extension is the answer, I guess.
Mike
"If God had intended man to fly He would have given us more money"
Mike, does your rear seat belt mount to the fuselage about 8" behind the rear seat or where the rear seat attaches to the floor. When installing the front set, i noticed they are attached at the point where they attach to the floor. maybe i could do the same thing with the rear set also. any thoughts on that idea? thanks jason
Hi Jason,
My rear and front seat belts are connected to the seat attach bolts (where the seat assembly is bolted to the fuselage assembly). Guess I've never seen them anywhere else. On the rear seat, I put the chrome hardware piece on the outside of the seat. On the front I moved them inside to give me a little extra room for my feet on the heel brakes if I fly from the rear seat.
Mike
My rear and front seat belts are connected to the seat attach bolts (where the seat assembly is bolted to the fuselage assembly). Guess I've never seen them anywhere else. On the rear seat, I put the chrome hardware piece on the outside of the seat. On the front I moved them inside to give me a little extra room for my feet on the heel brakes if I fly from the rear seat.
Mike
"If God had intended man to fly He would have given us more money"
Just an idea.
I have seen a 6-12 inch section of aircraft control cable attached to a bolt point or attach fitting then run up to the starting point of a seat belt on other airplanes. Both ends were swaged with a nicopress sleeve and terminated very nicely.
Wonder if a "extender" like this would give you guys more working room with the seat belts? I have not been 180 pounds since junior high and at 230 right now would never get the belts strapped on from the way you guys are having problems.
Joe A
I have seen a 6-12 inch section of aircraft control cable attached to a bolt point or attach fitting then run up to the starting point of a seat belt on other airplanes. Both ends were swaged with a nicopress sleeve and terminated very nicely.
Wonder if a "extender" like this would give you guys more working room with the seat belts? I have not been 180 pounds since junior high and at 230 right now would never get the belts strapped on from the way you guys are having problems.
Joe A
Joea, i have thought about doing that as i have heard of that before, but now that i have just completed the front set and see that they use the attach points for the seat,i'll relocate mine to that spot on the rear set. Mike you just comfirmed what i was wondering. It will give me much need adjustment. thanks for the info, happy flying Jason
My Wag belts are the same - short. Small people can buckle the rear one but anyone over about 165 can't. I have an extension belt (24"), although Wag states in their catalog that it isn't approved.
My EC has the wide rear seat, with the lap belt attached at the bottom of the fuselage. Moving the attachments to the seat bolts wouldn't help very much at all. AT some point, I'll have a longer lap belt made but for now, I'm OK, as I usually fly alone. Mrs. B. can easily fasten the short belt.
The front belt isn't all that long, either.
When the belts are replaced, I want both ends to be adjustable, so that the shoulder harnesses can meet in the middle of my belly. They're off to the side now, by just a bit. The Wag belts are pretty inexpensive, though...
Jon B.
My EC has the wide rear seat, with the lap belt attached at the bottom of the fuselage. Moving the attachments to the seat bolts wouldn't help very much at all. AT some point, I'll have a longer lap belt made but for now, I'm OK, as I usually fly alone. Mrs. B. can easily fasten the short belt.
The front belt isn't all that long, either.
When the belts are replaced, I want both ends to be adjustable, so that the shoulder harnesses can meet in the middle of my belly. They're off to the side now, by just a bit. The Wag belts are pretty inexpensive, though...
Jon B.
Jon B.
By fiddling with the front seat belt adjustment (whatever you call the gizmos that attach to the seat attachment bolts, I've been able to get the belts to meet in my middle (although I don't have much of a middle) with the shoulder harness attachments. But after thinking about it, I guess it would be an issue for some people of different size middles 
(does that make sense?).
(does that make sense?)."If God had intended man to fly He would have given us more money"