Seatbelt doing weird things!

I've searched through previous threads and can't find an answer so thought I'd see if anyone can help...

I need to replace my front passenger seatbelt as it failed the MOT because its got a small amount of fraying.

My father in-law has given me 2 spares and I've tried fitting both but have encountered the same problem with each:

If I sit patiently and hold the reel end I can slowly jiggle the belt all the way out but as soon as I let go the reel pulls it back in all the way to the bottom and unless I get it in exactly the right position when holding it, the inertia mechanism kicks in and the belt locks, stopping me from pulling it out!

I'm wondering if I've been unlucky enough to get 2 dodgy spares or is there some kind of 'nack' that I don't know about when fitting them?

I've no problem buying a brand new one but I'm wondering if I'm doing something wrong or is that the 2 spares I've been given are both broken?

Any help would be much appreciated as I've pretty much used up all of my patience on it! It's a J reg 110 CSW, J.

I take it you are trying the belts off the vehicle,if you let them go all the way in they can be very stubborn to get started,however on the landy with some of the belt out[it has to go up the pillar and back down]they should be ok.CHEERS I put some tape around the belt to protect it where it can catch in the door latch.

tried them both on and off the vehicle. The b*****ds just keep wanting to retract and not let any out!

Are they from a landy? and have they not been used for along time?

Hi Jaykingfunk

I bought two brand new ones for my 90 as the ones that were in it were covered in think oil from the previous owners overalls, when I fitted the driver side no issues at all, when I fitted the passengers side.....OMG it would not play ball but after a few weeks the wife has managed to get it to work with some use, don't ask my why or how but it now works well... strange but true lol...

They are from a land rover and they are old!

if it is happening while the belt is unmounted then it will be due to them no being held level, there is a metal ball in the mechanism that needs to be in a certain position to allow the belt to free.

Thing is both of the seat belts I've got keep doing the same thing wether they're mounted or not!

I spent near on half an hour un winding one, fitted it with all three bolts in place, as soon as I took the tape off it it retracted as far as it could and I couldn't pull it out agian! Seriously loosing my paitence with it now!

I swapped my steering box the other day and it took far less time to do that then this bloody seat belt!!

As they are old and not seen much use of late the lock mechanism is likely gummed up.