[TR] New TR6 top

[David Friedlander]

At least the vinyl top has a plasticizer in it. Sunfast tops are NOT going
to stretch no matter what or when. When they're tight, they're tight. Not
sure I understand why the various manufacturers don't try out their
patterns on actual vehicles and adjust them, especially for when they use
fabrics that don't stretch. I have a hoodstick cover from Prestige in the
UK and have had a real challenge to get it to stretch to fit the
lift-the-dot fasteners properly. The manufacturer has never actually fitted
one to a real TR3 so I don't know how they derive their patterns....

Dave Friedlander

Dave

On Tue, Dec 29, 2020 at 11:51 AM DAVID MASSEY <dave1massey at cs.com> wrote:

> The vinyl material used in tops is produced with a plasticizer which is an
> additive that makes the vinyl soft, pliable and stretchable.  The problem
> is this product is volatile and will dissipate over time making the top
> less and less stretchable.  If the top stretched whens installed (and
> installers don't like wrinkles and the easiest way to remove wrinkles is
> the stretch the top to remove them) it will become more difficult to erect,
> especially when cold.  When I rebuilt my TR6 in 1996 a friend gave me a top
> that was sitting in his basement for 20-odd years (he bought it but his car
> was totaled before he could get it installed).  I had that top installed
> and it was a dream to erect and fold the whole time I had it.  I attribute
> that to the fact that it wasn't stretchable when installed.
>
> My advice is to get your top installed when the weather is cold and the
> material is more resistant to stretching.  The installer will pre-stretch
> the top less and it will work better in the long run.
>
> Here's another anecdote: I bought a tonneau for the TR3 which was, in my
> opinion, cut about 1 inch too short.  I installed the Lift-A-Dot snaps as
> close to the edges as I could but still could only install it on a hot day
> in the sun.  Since this car lives mostly in the garage the tonneau is
> virtually permanently installed and over the years as the cover gets less
> stretchy it has become easier to install.  I think the plasticizer has
> dissipated and the top took a set in the stretched position.  So, this
> raises a question: What would happen if one slit some garden hose and
> placed it over the bows and left the top up with a little extra stretch.
> After a while the top will take a set with extra slack, perhaps making it
> easier to put up.
>
> Or buy your top years before you install it.
>
> Dave
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Dave MacKay <dave at mdmackay.ca>
> To: triumphs at autox.team.net
> Sent: Mon, Dec 28, 2020 4:41 pm
> Subject: Re: [TR] New TR6 top
>
> I, too, have had problems with the Robbins tops although my car is a TR3A,
> not a TR6.
>
> Like Bob with his TR6, my tonneau (and also a convertible top) is so tight
> that I can only fit it with great effort even in warm sunny weather. The
> tonneau was installed by professional installers who complained about the
> fit. Robbins was responsive when I complained. I even sent my previous
> tonneau to them so they could see what fit, but the replacement they sent
> me after that was no better.
>
> The top hasn’t stretched or loosened over time. If anything, it may have
> shrunk because it seems as hard or harder than ever to put on.
>
> I would suggest having the top (tonneau or convertible) made by your
> installer so that you get a good fit. That would have been cheaper for me
> than buying the Robbins tonneau and having to pay for two installations.
>
> As always, particularly since you’re dealing with a TR6 not a TR3A, YMMV
>
> Good luck,
>
>
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