MorganB1

A question for the 964 trackies. I understand that the rated lifespan for a competition safety harness is 2 - 5 years, depending on the particular racing club rules.

For an occasional DE participant like myself, what would be an acceptable (read:safe) lifespan for a Schroth 5-point harness? What if it is in like new condition (little used and stored out of the sun) but manufacture date was year 2000?

garrett376

If your club lets you, just use your existing harnesses. I have no fear of harness failure driving in my 1994 964 with its 13 year old seat belts!!!

My race car actually needs new belts in Feb 08 - if the rules didn't mandate it every 5 years, I would not replace them since they're not frayed or damaged.

tgage

I think it depends on the club, but from a practical viewpoint... I agree w/ Garrett. I don't think club rules or SCCA rules apply to DE's so you are probably ok from a rule point, and probably safe from a "safety" viewpoint too.

I believe I saw in our last Peachstate PCA newsletter 3 years between replacements, however, I could not find the rule on our site or in the SCCA rule book: http://www.scca.com/documents/Solo%2...7SoloRules.pdf. I think NASA is not as restrictive. I believe there were also some club rule changes about the angle (having to be 90 degrees to the shoulde; distance to the hookup; and must have an anti-submarine strap see: http://www.pca.org/clubrace/docs/200...ifications.pdf .) If you don't have the anti-submarine strap... that is a better safety investment than replacing the harness.

tom

Tom W

No DE organization I know of requires dating on the belts (the 15ish year old stock would pass). I would use them without hesitation.

Steven C.

Our vintage club is 5 years but based on the heavy contact I saw at a Pcar DE last weekend I would use 5 years for that too. Your choice though.

MorganB1

Thanks for the honest input guys. I expected that there was some extra life past the racing "freshness" date, but I am no judge of just how much more to safely allow for.

And now for a detail that potentially changes things: I don't own the harness myself and am considering purchasing it from a fellow club member. It’s a single driver’s harness that is in very good condition and has been only lightly used. But with the year 2000 date of manufacture, I wouldn’t do it unless confidant of least 3 - 5 years out if it.

J richard

Most groups including pca (even for DE in my neck of the woods) goes by the testing agencies, FIA 5years and SFI 3 years. So paying the little extra for FIA certified equipment makes sense to get a longer lifespan.