Abstract: An automatic locking vehicle safety belt retractor includes a shaft on which is affixed a belt take up reel having similar first ratchet wheels at its opposite ends. A spring retracted transverse pawl member includes pawl teeth which are rockable with the pawl member into and out of braking engagement with the ratchet wheels and the pawl member is drive coupled to an internally toothed second ratchet wheel rockably mounted on the shaft. A fly wheel is freely rotatable on the shaft within the second ratchet reel and carries a spring retracted second pawl swingable into engagement with the second ratchet wheel and a cam wheel is rotatable with the shaft and engages a cam follower on the second pawl to advance the second pawl upon rotation of the cam wheel relative to the fly wheel.