I'm going through an annual inspection on my 7ECA now. The IA is requiring replacement of all the seatbelts, and shoulder harnesses due to TSO tag not readable or no longer there. I decided to go with the STC Hooker Sport Harness and was looking for comment on the installation, and pics from someone who has made this conversion.
STC Hooker Sport Harness
- Thread starter RogerG
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Bob Turner
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I have similar harnesses - the bottoms just bolt to the original mount. Be careful where you mount your shoulder harness - you do not want a sudden deceleration aiming a bent tube at you or your passenger.
I think Hooker provides exact info - they better, for the price!
I think Hooker provides exact info - they better, for the price!
VaporGlobalAviation
Well-known member
I am having this exact problem as well, but I do not believe belts that are original to the plane must be replaced just because the ID tags are no longer there.
Currently looking for easiest option not requiring modification...
RogerG, what did you go with?
Currently looking for easiest option not requiring modification...
RogerG, what did you go with?
Rickw
Well-known member
during my Champ annual had to replace my seat belts because tags were gone
Bob Turner
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I wonder if that is an IA thing? Parts in general must be “approved” but not sure about “marked.” I do know that replacement structural parts are not permanently marked - even lift struts!
Hiperbiper
Well-known member
I replaced my old belts with Wag Aero STC'ed new belts. They come with bolt-in hardware for both the front and rear seats for about $200.00 per seat. Easy to install if the interior is out. Could be installed with interior in place with proper planning and a good knowledge of curse words. Pics in Restoration section under 7AC rebuilding and covering starting @ post #10. They are standard 4 point belts with a standard car-type latch and come with the belts, slides, mounting hardware and STC paperwork. I've used them in both my Viking and the Aeronca.
Chris
Chris
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Did anyone complete installation of a Hooker harness set and care to share the details of how they were mounted?
Thanks
Bart
Thanks
Bart
I installed a set of hooker harnesses on my 79 (sport set? They are the standard airline style buckle).
The front seat shoulder harness attaches to the tube that is behind the skylight. You cut slits in the headliner and cut two small holes in the wood former that is attached to that tube. A retention yoke is also attached to the front seatback and requires a slit be cut in the upholstery of the seatback. I think this yoke keeps the harnesses from fouling the rear stick.
The rear seat Y-style is super easy. It just wraps around the upper rear tube node.
Hooker provides some very good documentation in the STC paperwork, which also gives instructions if you have or want to weld in a tab for the harnesses. The hardest part in the front is cutting the pass-through holes in that wood former while working through the access hole in the headliner. I recommend covering the stabby ends of the aileron cable.
Probably took me 3 hours to get it done. Quick sign off from the A&P.
Highly recommend it - the type design shoulder harness are able to be improved on significantly.
The front seat shoulder harness attaches to the tube that is behind the skylight. You cut slits in the headliner and cut two small holes in the wood former that is attached to that tube. A retention yoke is also attached to the front seatback and requires a slit be cut in the upholstery of the seatback. I think this yoke keeps the harnesses from fouling the rear stick.
The rear seat Y-style is super easy. It just wraps around the upper rear tube node.
Hooker provides some very good documentation in the STC paperwork, which also gives instructions if you have or want to weld in a tab for the harnesses. The hardest part in the front is cutting the pass-through holes in that wood former while working through the access hole in the headliner. I recommend covering the stabby ends of the aileron cable.
Probably took me 3 hours to get it done. Quick sign off from the A&P.
Highly recommend it - the type design shoulder harness are able to be improved on significantly.
Thanks for the reply, very helpful!
Bob Turner
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- Apr 4, 2018
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- 4,056
Just waking this up because most forumites are off doing something else this week. I have nothing particularly stunning or useful to add.
For me, the best seat belts are the ones the Air Force used in the T6. They were flexible green nylon, 3" lap belts, and shoulder harnesses with fabric loops. I use them (sadly, re-webbed with less flexible but approved webbing) in the Cubs.
Hooker makes reproductions - we have them in the Stearman. Only problem is metal on the ends of the shoulder harnesses.
My Decathlon has a version - 2" lap belts, but with full length pads. Silver Parachute. Beautiful. But they have to be backed up by TSO belts, so I have a flimsy TSO belt that goes over them.
I absolutely hate the American Standard stuff one finds in most light aircraft. It takes four tries to get the shoulder harness on correctly, snd then the whole thing comes undone when the front pilot does a control check. How they got a TSO and Silver Parachute didn't is beyond me.
Maybe MOSAIC will help?
For me, the best seat belts are the ones the Air Force used in the T6. They were flexible green nylon, 3" lap belts, and shoulder harnesses with fabric loops. I use them (sadly, re-webbed with less flexible but approved webbing) in the Cubs.
Hooker makes reproductions - we have them in the Stearman. Only problem is metal on the ends of the shoulder harnesses.
My Decathlon has a version - 2" lap belts, but with full length pads. Silver Parachute. Beautiful. But they have to be backed up by TSO belts, so I have a flimsy TSO belt that goes over them.
I absolutely hate the American Standard stuff one finds in most light aircraft. It takes four tries to get the shoulder harness on correctly, snd then the whole thing comes undone when the front pilot does a control check. How they got a TSO and Silver Parachute didn't is beyond me.
Maybe MOSAIC will help?
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STORMYVIEW
Member
What are the attach points for the forward shoulder harnesses?
STORMYVIEW
Member
They attached them to the Spar through structure above the pilots head.
They had to cut small slits in the wood former, then wrap the belt around the structure and through the wood former. As per the STC instructions.
I sat in the pilots seat and tested after I got it back from the repair station, a little bit of fumbling getting all the links to buckle in the clasp, I just need to get used to it and and once the belt stiffness works out a bit, it will be great.
They had to cut small slits in the wood former, then wrap the belt around the structure and through the wood former. As per the STC instructions.
I sat in the pilots seat and tested after I got it back from the repair station, a little bit of fumbling getting all the links to buckle in the clasp, I just need to get used to it and and once the belt stiffness works out a bit, it will be great.
Attachments
I didn't realize you have the option to either do a single point attachment or to space them out. Is the spacing determined by the STC or do you just eyeball it?
I'm going to have to order a set next week now that you guys have edumacated me on how they are installed.
I'm going to have to order a set next week now that you guys have edumacated me on how they are installed.
STORMYVIEW
Member
It depends on where your seat belts tabs are welded in your plane from the factory. Mine had the tab welded over the left shoulder of the front and rear seats. Mine is a 1980 model year.
I think in the later models they were attaching the tab directly above the pilots head. These are important notes when ordering your harness so they send you the correct configuration.
So with the stock attachment point over the pilots left shoulder, we abandoned that tab and wraped around the spar through structure. Same for the passenger.
See instructions from STC/Hooker on where to cut the former.
I would call hooker and send them pictures of your configuration. They will get you the correct ones.
I think in the later models they were attaching the tab directly above the pilots head. These are important notes when ordering your harness so they send you the correct configuration.
So with the stock attachment point over the pilots left shoulder, we abandoned that tab and wraped around the spar through structure. Same for the passenger.
See instructions from STC/Hooker on where to cut the former.
I would call hooker and send them pictures of your configuration. They will get you the correct ones.
Attachments
They are well worth the time to install! Cutting the slits in the beautiful headliner was hard. Had to work up to that - lol.
I used a small drill motor to drill the ends of the slots after marking the hole locations on that wood former, and a sharp utility knife to cut the middle slots. The spruce cuts like butter. Take care not to nick the spar carry through tube with your drill. You could slide some sheet steel in between if you wanted to.
I used a small drill motor to drill the ends of the slots after marking the hole locations on that wood former, and a sharp utility knife to cut the middle slots. The spruce cuts like butter. Take care not to nick the spar carry through tube with your drill. You could slide some sheet steel in between if you wanted to.
Mine is a '79 with one set of shoulder harnesses in the seat back and another single shoulder harness (auotmotive style) that is on the spar carry-through. I'm not using the seat mounted shoulder harnesses, they'll break my spine if there's an accident (being that they come up from below my sholders) and the other isn't great for acro.