BX25 SEAT BELT FAILURE

[Wagtail]

Putting some 'over-night' thought to the situation... I put it to the discussion that, whilst the installed seat belt mechanism worked as designed, perhaps the latching/buckle system is the wrong type for tractor applications.

Generally a tractor seat belt does two things: both keeping the operator in the seat. One deals with the up/down/'jouncing' of going over rough terrain and the other is keeping the operator in place during a roll onto its side (due to ROPS).

In the former situation (bouncing around) a standard vehicle seat belt configuration works fine.

In the latter situation and due to an operators weight putting full force onto the latching mechanism, it is very difficult to release unless the tension of the weight is eased. In other words, the operator cannot apply sufficient pressure on the 'button' to overcome the tension holding the buckle together.

The only type of 'practical' ($) buckle (that I can think of) would be a lever type of locking mechanism; such as what is employed on passenger aircraft seats or what was used when safety belts were first introduced in cars. A lever would be able to apply more force to unlock in a roll onto your side situation.

 

[houser52]

The seatbelt on my L3600 was in pretty rough shape. I ordered an orange one with a paddle type latch so I could unlatch it with gloves on. Easy to install, works great.

Lap Seat Belt, Chrome Lift Latch, 6 Inch Length

 

[Wagtail]

The seatbelt on my L3600 was in pretty rough shape. I ordered an orange one with a paddle type latch so I could unlatch it with gloves on. Easy to install, works great.

Lap Seat Belt, Chrome Lift Latch, 6 Inch Length

That's a nice looking site! They're using the name/terminology of "Lift Latch", which describes what I was calling a 'lever' type.

They even have a 2-point retractable lift latch buckle set. :cool2:

 

[ultrarunner]

That is a good price and much less than I paid for my racing belt.

 

[dodge man]

The Seat belt on my BX broke. It's been a few years but I posted pics at the time. No accident, I assume fatigue. The metal on the latch side just broke. I replaced it and e mailed Kubota pics if it thinking they should give me a new one. Never heard a thing.

 

[dodge man]

Here is a pic of mine that broke, glad it didn't happen during a roll over.

 

[JRobyn]

That is a good price and much less than I paid for my racing belt.

I think that's the same vendor that I got my replacement belt for mine from. I got a push-button style because that's what Kubota originally supplied (retractable). I got the non-retractable. Much simpler, less expensive, wife prefers it.

 

[David_Kb7uns]

Cannot believe some of the thinking going on here...........seat belt worked

If you need to get out that fast may I suggest the ACES II ejection system or a Martin Baker system

David

 

[crazyal]

Think of it this way, instead of a slow roll onto your side what if it happened on the side of a hill and you rolled several times. Would you want that seat belt to unlatch if, say a stick or something else hit the release button in the middle of rolling? I would say not. A seat belt is a compromise, like most everything in life. It can either hold you securely in the seat no matter what or risk releasing too soon. Sure there are times when it can be a real issue, say rolling into a pond or if your tractor catches fire and you need to release the belt but that's the price to be paid for a system that wont fail during a roll. Also seat belts were designed for cars to prevent injury in accidents involving more than just rolling over then were adapted to equipment like tractors.

 

[Jeepnford]

I rolled my jeep once, I couldn't get the belt released without trying a one-armed hand stand. I wasn't too worried though, I had lots of company. I replaced the belt.