Soft Tops

[greg.powell]

Hello all.
I have just had my soft top off and replaced all the edge seam which were
starting to split. I was worried that the splits would spread into the main
body of the soft top itself. Haven't had the bill yet but will let everyone
know in due course.

The car is always garaged and I hardly ever have the top up (only when it is
raining). Pehaps this is the problem and I should always leave the top up (and
stretched) when parked up. There may be some conditioners or such that can be
applied to keep the vinyl more supple.

Any ideas anyone?

Greg Powell

[MX5PWR]

Hi Greg, Depends on how old the car is, but the tops dont last for ever even
when down. What you have to cearful of is if you have had the top down for
sometime and then put it up when it is cold, the material will tend to get
brittle in the folds as it will have set in that position hence it pays to
put it up when nice and wram and pliable. I have mine garaged most of the time
and I still raise the roof , just to keep the roof stretched to, pull out the
folds. Be carefull of conditioners as they can actualy make it worse.
Good luck Nigel.


From: greg.powell
To: MX 5 Club Mail List
Sent: Sunday, May 18, 2003 8:43 AM
Subject: Soft Tops


Hello all.
I have just had my soft top off and replaced all the edge seam which were
starting to split. I was worried that the splits would spread into the main
body of the soft top itself. Haven't had the bill yet but will let everyone
know in due course.

The car is always garaged and I hardly ever have the top up (only when it is
raining). Pehaps this is the problem and I should always leave the top up (and
stretched) when parked up. There may be some conditioners or such that can be
applied to keep the vinyl more supple.

Any ideas anyone?

Greg Powell