Seat belt issue.. or operator error!

[PhilsBumps]

Greetings, fellow Fordification peoples!!
The drivers side seat belt on my truck is stuck in the retracted position. It looks like it's reasonably new (most of the interior has been replaced or refurbished. Not at all beat up, faded, etc.) It will pull out about 6", then lock up. I've tried going gentle, really pulling hard, and everything between. It has the plastic covering on it, again in great condition, so I cannot see any of the mechanism.
If it helps it's a '71 F100 Custom, bench seat.
I don't want to replace something that looks to be already new, but I suppose if I have to then I shall.
I'm hoping there's an easy solution. Any tips from you fine folks before Officer Friendly has an excuse to give me a ticket?
My sincerest apologies if this has been covered, but 'search' didn't help me this time!!

[PhilsBumps]

Never mind.. I must have manure for brains... figured it out!!!
Still trying to get used to a cool pre-technology ride!!!!

[tac]

Oh please tell us what you did. I'm sure everyone here has done something similar but some just are too proud to admit it. Maybe we should start a DOH! thread.

[PhilsBumps]

Yeah, definitely worthy of a DOH!!
Actually I felt dumb enough about it that I wanted to delete my post, haven't figured that one out. I'll work on that later. Lol
When I bought the truck the PO told be the seatbelt was stuck, so I figured I'd tackle it later...
Being used to at least slightly more modern vehicles, I just went out and pulled on the part that comes up next to the seat, and indeed it would only move a few inches. Messed around with it for an embarrassing amount of time.
A few days later I got in and noticed the REST of the seatbelt system, which in all fairness to me was tucked into the cushion... the part in the middle was WAY longer than "normal", or at least what I was expecting. It was adjustable THERE, not at the part coming up from the floorboards... YOU guys are likely aware, but I was dumbfounded. Soooooo.... nothing wrong with my belt, totally operator error. I'm generally pretty smart (or at least my mom said I am ) but now I know... Never assume anything about a 44 year old ride!
Moral of the story... LOOK AROUND! Sometimes the answer is right there.
How do we start the "DOH!!" thread???

[PhilsBumps]

Oh yeah... Not an interior issue, but definitely another 'new guy being ignorant about fifth gen Fords' issue...
Took me a few minutes of f-ing around to realize that my tailgate latch handle wasn't broken, it's hinged on the side. Starting to wonder if I'm as bright as mom says.
Should put "no shame in my game" in my signature line. Not afraid to admit I'm not perfect. I'm enjoying learning in my mid-40s.
But, with a little common sense and a lot of help from Fordification, I'll get brighter about my truck, if nothing else!!
New thread should be called "DOH! Lessons learned."

[Russell J]

If it makes you feel any better, PhilsBumps,I did the same exact thing the first time I got into my truck. I just about ripped the seatbelt housing from the floorboard when I pulled on it the first time!!

[PhilsBumps]

Figured I may not be alone...
When my truck was built I was one year old... really had no clue how belts back then worked. And when I did figure it out...
If my floor wasn't solid I'll bet I would have yanked the belt and anchor point out and it would have shot though the windshield. Lol
Thanks for helping me feel slightly less ignorant, Russell!!!
I swear I'll get the hang of awesome truck ownership eventually. This site is my go-to for all things fifth gen!

[tac]

Lack of knowledge has nothing to do with being smart. Figuring it out is being smart. My 2015 has push button to open the tail gate. I'm a sadist and like to watch people trying to figure out how to open it. I had an advantage driving and working on the bumps when they were new and don't even think about the differences. But now you are experienced!

[PhilsBumps]

I am definitely GETTING experienced, and really enjoying the learning process. You're in the Dallas area, eh? my truck was sold new in that area, the original owner lived in Gainesville, TX. WISH I could get hold of him, I'm kind of a automotive history nerd. Although he'd likely be horrified that his old truck ended up in Michigan. Lol
Anyhow, I'm driving my wife nuts, reading Fordification posts for hours at a time. But bumps are really interesting to learn about, the people here are great, and the more I learn the easier living with my truck will be. Info and ideas galore here!

[tac]

What a coincidence, my 2015 came from Dearborn!

[Not A Midget]

I actually did the exact same thing you did, when I got my 68 Lincoln. It only has lap belts as well and I was trying figure out why in the hell the belt would only pull up 3 or 4 inches. Little did I know, it's supposed to be like that

[PhilsBumps]

What a coincidence, my 2015 came from Dearborn!

That is a coincidence... trucks swapping areas of the country. Lol
I'm about an hour west of Dearborn, but I have been there a few times.
Still wonder occasionally why my ancestors settled here, but it's hard to beat a Michigan summer.

[PhilsBumps]

I actually did the exact same thing you did, when I got my 68 Lincoln. It only has lap belts as well and I was trying figure out why in the hell the belt would only pull up 3 or 4 inches. Little did I know, it's supposed to be like that

Yeah, this is my oldest vehicle to date, and even though my next oldest was also a Ford ('73 Ranchero GT), it's lap belts functioned like a "normal, modern" seatbelt... the F-100 certainly caught me off guard.