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Re: [TR] New TR6 top

To: "dave@mdmackay.ca" <dave@mdmackay.ca>, "triumphs@autox.team.net" <triumphs@autox.team.net>
Subject: Re: [TR] New TR6 top
From: DAVID MASSEY <dave1massey@cs.com>
Date: Tue, 29 Dec 2020 16:50:46 +0000 (UTC)
Delivered-to: mharc@autox.team.net
Delivered-to: triumphs@autox.team.net
References: <c1f90aae6b40d4080186aacf2d34c929@mail.gmail.com> x64; rv:84.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/84.0
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 The vinyl material used in tops is produced with a plasticizer which is an=
 additive that makes the vinyl soft, pliable and stretchable.=C2=A0 The pro=
blem is this product is volatile and will dissipate over time making the to=
p less and less stretchable.=C2=A0 If the top stretched whens installed (an=
d 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.=C2=A0 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).=C2=A0 I had that top=
 installed and it was a dream to erect and fold the whole time I had it.=C2=
=A0 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 mat=
erial is more resistant to stretching.=C2=A0 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 op=
inion, cut about 1 inch too short.=C2=A0 I installed the Lift-A-Dot snaps a=
s close to the edges as I could but still could only install it on a hot da=
y in the sun.=C2=A0 Since this car lives mostly in the garage the tonneau i=
s virtually permanently installed and over the years as the cover gets less=
 stretchy it has become easier to install.=C2=A0 I think the plasticizer ha=
s dissipated and the top took a set in the stretched position.=C2=A0 So, th=
is raises a question: What would happen if one slit some garden hose and pl=
aced it over the bows and left the top up with a little extra stretch.=C2=
=A0 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.
=20
Dave=20

=20
=20
-----Original Message-----
From: Dave MacKay <dave@mdmackay.ca>
To: triumphs@autox.team.net
Sent: Mon, Dec 28, 2020 4:41 pm
Subject: Re: [TR] New TR6 top

#yiv8638386929 #yiv8638386929 -- filtered {}#yiv8638386929 filtered {}#yiv8=
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font-size:10.0pt;font-family:sans-serif;}#yiv8638386929 filtered {}#yiv8638=
386929 div.yiv8638386929WordSection1 {}#yiv8638386929 I, too, have had prob=
lems with the Robbins tops although my car is a TR3A, not a TR6.=C2=A0Like =
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. Rob=
bins was responsive when I complained. I even sent my previous tonneau to t=
hem so they could see what fit, but the replacement they sent me after that=
 was no better.=C2=A0The top hasn=E2=80=99t stretched or loosened over time=
. If anything, it may have shrunk because it seems as hard or harder than e=
ver to put on.=C2=A0I would suggest having the top (tonneau or convertible)=
 made by your installer so that you get a good fit. That would have been ch=
eaper for me than buying the Robbins tonneau and having to pay for two inst=
allations.=C2=A0As always, particularly since you=E2=80=99re dealing with a=
 TR6 not a TR3A, YMMV=C2=A0Good luck,=C2=A0

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<div style=3D"color:black;font: 12pt Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<div style=3D"font-family:arial,helvetica;font-size:10pt;color:black">
<div id=3D"yiv8638386929">
<div>
<div style=3D"color:black;font:12pt Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">

<div> <font size=3D"3">The vinyl material used in tops is produced with a p=
lasticizer which is an additive that makes the vinyl soft, pliable and stre=
tchable.&nbsp; The problem is this product is volatile and will dissipate o=
ver time making the top less and less stretchable.&nbsp; If the top </font>=
<font size=3D"3"><font size=3D"3">stretched when</font>s installed (and ins=
tallers don't like wrinkles and the easiest way to remove wrinkles is the s=
tretch the top to remove them) it will become more difficult to erect, espe=
cially when cold.&nbsp; When I rebuilt my TR6 in 1996 a friend gave me a to=
p that was sitting in his basement for 20-odd years (he bought it but his c=
ar was totaled before he could get it installed).&nbsp; I had that top inst=
alled and it was a dream to erect and fold the whole time I had it.&nbsp; I=
 attribute that to the fact that it wasn't stretchable when installed.</fon=
t></div>



<div><font size=3D"3"><br clear=3D"none">
</font></div>



<div><font size=3D"3">My advice is to get your top installed when the weath=
er is cold and the material is more resistant to stretching.&nbsp; The inst=
aller will pre-stretch the top less and it will work better in the long run=
.</font></div>



<div><font size=3D"3"><br clear=3D"none">
</font></div>



<div><font size=3D"3">Here's another anecdote: I bought a tonneau for the T=
R3 which was, in my opinion, cut about 1 inch too short.&nbsp; 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.&nbsp; Since this car lives mostly in th=
e garage the tonneau is virtually permanently installed and over the years =
as the cover gets less stretchy it has become easier to install.&nbsp; I th=
ink the plasticizer has dissipated and the top took a set in the stretched =
position.&nbsp; So, this raises a question: What would happen if one slit s=
ome garden hose and placed it over the bows and left the top up with a litt=
le extra stretch.&nbsp; After a while the top will take a set with extra sl=
ack, perhaps making it easier to put up.</font></div>



<div><font size=3D"3"><br clear=3D"none">
</font></div>



<div><font size=3D"3">Or buy your top years before you install it.</font><b=
r clear=3D"none">
</div>



<div> <br clear=3D"none">
</div>



<div style=3D"clear:both;"><font size=3D"4">Dave </font><br clear=3D"none">
<br clear=3D"none">
</div>



<div> <br clear=3D"none">
</div>



<div> <br clear=3D"none">
</div>



<div class=3D"yiv8638386929yqt5567463398" id=3D"yiv8638386929yqtfd03937">
<div style=3D"font-family:arial, helvetica;font-size:10pt;color:black;">---=
--Original Message-----<br clear=3D"none">
From: Dave MacKay &lt;dave@mdmackay.ca&gt;<br clear=3D"none">
To: triumphs@autox.team.net<br clear=3D"none">
Sent: Mon, Dec 28, 2020 4:41 pm<br clear=3D"none">
Subject: Re: [TR] New TR6 top<br clear=3D"none">
<br clear=3D"none">


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<div>

<div class=3D"yiv8638386929WordSection1">

<div class=3D"yiv8638386929MsoPlainText">I, too, have had problems with the=
 Robbins tops although my car is a TR3A, not a TR6.</div>



<div class=3D"yiv8638386929MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</div>



<div class=3D"yiv8638386929MsoPlainText">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 professiona=
l installers who complained about the fit. Robbins was responsive when I co=
mplained. I even sent my previous tonneau to them so they could see what fi=
t, but the replacement they sent me after that was no better.</div>



<div class=3D"yiv8638386929MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</div>



<div class=3D"yiv8638386929MsoPlainText">The top hasn=E2=80=99t stretched o=
r loosened over time. If anything, it may have shrunk because it seems as h=
ard or harder than ever to put on.</div>



<div class=3D"yiv8638386929MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</div>



<div class=3D"yiv8638386929MsoPlainText">I would suggest having the top (to=
nneau or convertible) made by your installer so that you get a good fit. Th=
at would have been cheaper for me than buying the Robbins tonneau and havin=
g to pay for two installations.</div>



<div class=3D"yiv8638386929MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</div>



<div class=3D"yiv8638386929MsoPlainText">As always, particularly since you=
=E2=80=99re dealing with a TR6 not a TR3A, YMMV</div>



<div class=3D"yiv8638386929MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</div>



<div class=3D"yiv8638386929MsoPlainText">Good luck,</div>



<div class=3D"yiv8638386929MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</div>

<br clear=3D"none">
</div>

</div>

</div>

</div>

</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
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</div>

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