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I couldn't agree more.=C2=A0 Even my TR3 tonneau, which is shipped with th=
e snaps loose, was just too small to fit properly.=C2=A0 An additional one =
inch would have made all the difference.=C2=A0 I think they are influenced =
by the concour people who value appearance over functionality.=C2=A0 They w=
ant a nice, taught look to the finished product.
=20
Dave=20
=20
=20
-----Original Message-----
From: David Friedlander <forzion7@gmail.com>
To: DAVID MASSEY <dave1massey@cs.com>
Cc: dave@mdmackay.ca <dave@mdmackay.ca>; triumphs@autox.team.net <triumphs@=
autox.team.net>
Sent: Tue, Dec 29, 2020 11:01 am
Subject: Re: [TR] New TR6 top
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 s=
ure I understand why the various manufacturers don't try out their patterns=
on actual vehicles and adjust them, especially for when they use fabrics t=
hat don't stretch. I have a hoodstick cover from Prestige in the UK and hav=
e had a real challenge to get it to stretch to fit the lift-the-dot fastene=
rs properly. The manufacturer has never actually fitted one to a real TR3 s=
o I don't know how they derive their patterns....
Dave Friedlander
Dave
On Tue, Dec 29, 2020 at 11:51 AM DAVID MASSEY <dave1massey@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.=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
I, too, have had problems 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 t=
op) 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 complain=
ed 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 th=
ey 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 ever to put on.=C2=A0I 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.=C2=A0As always, particularly since you=E2=
=80=99re dealing with a TR6 not a TR3A, YMMV=C2=A0Good luck,=C2=A0
** triumphs@autox.team.net **
Archive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/triumphs=C2=A0 http://www.team.net/a=
rchive
@gmail.com
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<div style=3D"color:black;font: 12pt Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<div> <font size=3D"3">I couldn't agree more. Even my TR3 tonneau, wh=
ich is shipped with the snaps loose, was just too small to fit properly.&nb=
sp; An additional one inch would have made all the difference. I thin=
k they are influenced by the concour people who value appearance over funct=
ionality. They want a nice, taught look to the finished product.</fon=
t><br>
</div>
<div> <br>
</div>
<div style=3D"clear:both"><font size=3D"4">Dave </font><br>
<br>
</div>
<div> <br>
</div>
<div> <br>
</div>
<div style=3D"font-family:arial,helvetica;font-size:10pt;color:black">-----=
Original Message-----<br>
From: David Friedlander <forzion7@gmail.com><br>
To: DAVID MASSEY <dave1massey@cs.com><br>
Cc: dave@mdmackay.ca <dave@mdmackay.ca>; triumphs@autox.team.net <=
triumphs@autox.team.net><br>
Sent: Tue, Dec 29, 2020 11:01 am<br>
Subject: Re: [TR] New TR6 top<br>
<br>
<div id=3D"yiv5079397989">
<div>
<div dir=3D"ltr">
<div class=3D"yiv5079397989gmail_default" style=3D"font-family:comic sans m=
s, sans-serif;font-size:large;color:#000099;">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 vari=
ous manufacturers don't try out their patterns on actual vehicles and adjus=
t them, especially for when they use fabrics that don't stretch. I have a h=
oodstick 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 deriv=
e their patterns....</div>
<div class=3D"yiv5079397989gmail_default" style=3D"font-family:comic sans m=
s, sans-serif;font-size:large;color:#000099;"><br clear=3D"none"></div>
<div class=3D"yiv5079397989gmail_default" style=3D"font-family:comic sans m=
s, sans-serif;font-size:large;color:#000099;">Dave Friedlander</div>
<div class=3D"yiv5079397989gmail_default" style=3D"font-family:comic sans m=
s, sans-serif;font-size:large;color:#000099;"><br clear=3D"none"></div>
<div class=3D"yiv5079397989gmail_default" style=3D"font-family:comic sans m=
s, sans-serif;font-size:large;color:#000099;">Dave</div>
</div>
<br clear=3D"none">
<div class=3D"yiv5079397989gmail_quote">
<div class=3D"yiv5079397989yqt3191805432" id=3D"yiv5079397989yqt33723">
<div class=3D"yiv5079397989gmail_attr" dir=3D"ltr">On Tue, Dec 29, 2020 at =
11:51 AM DAVID MASSEY <<a rel=3D"nofollow noopener noreferrer" shape=3D"=
rect" ymailto=3D"mailto:dave1massey@cs.com"; target=3D"_blank" href=3D"mailt=
o:dave1massey@cs.com">dave1massey@cs.com</a>> wrote:<br clear=3D"none"><=
/div>
<blockquote class=3D"yiv5079397989gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0px 0px 0px =
0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex;">
<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"yiv5079397989gmail-m_-4886593744213825898yiv8638386929">
<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. The problem is this product is volatile and will dissipate o=
ver time making the top less and less stretchable. 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. 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). I had that top inst=
alled 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.</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. 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. 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 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. I th=
ink 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 s=
ome garden hose and placed it over the bows and left the top up with a litt=
le extra stretch. 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 id=3D"yiv5079397989gmail-m_-4886593744213825898yiv8638386929yqtfd03937=
">
<div style=3D"font-family:arial, helvetica;font-size:10pt;color:black;">---=
--Original Message-----<br clear=3D"none">
From: Dave MacKay <<a rel=3D"nofollow noopener noreferrer" shape=3D"rect=
" ymailto=3D"mailto:dave@mdmackay.ca"; target=3D"_blank" href=3D"mailto:dave=
@mdmackay.ca">dave@mdmackay.ca</a>><br clear=3D"none">
To: <a rel=3D"nofollow noopener noreferrer" shape=3D"rect" ymailto=3D"mailt=
o:triumphs@autox.team.net" target=3D"_blank" href=3D"mailto:triumphs@autox.=
team.net">triumphs@autox.team.net</a><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">
<div id=3D"yiv5079397989gmail-m_-4886593744213825898yiv8638386929">
<div>
<div>
<div>I, too, have had problems with the Robbins tops although my car is a T=
R3A, not a TR6.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Like Bob with his TR6, my tonneau (and also a convertible top) is so t=
ight that I can only fit it with great effort even in warm sunny weather. T=
he tonneau was installed by professional installers who complained about th=
e fit. Robbins was responsive when I complained. I even sent my previous to=
nneau to them so they could see what fit, but the replacement they sent me =
after that was no better.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The top hasn=E2=80=99t stretched or loosened over time. If anything, i=
t may have shrunk because it seems as hard or harder than ever to put on.</=
div>
<div> </div>
<div>I would suggest having the top (tonneau or convertible) made by your i=
nstaller so that you get a good fit. That would have been cheaper for me th=
an buying the Robbins tonneau and having to pay for two installations.</div=
>
<div> </div>
<div>As always, particularly since you=E2=80=99re dealing with a TR6 not a =
TR3A, YMMV</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Good luck,</div>
<div> </div>
<br clear=3D"none">
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
** <a rel=3D"nofollow noopener noreferrer" shape=3D"rect" ymailto=3D"mailto=
:triumphs@autox.team.net" target=3D"_blank" href=3D"mailto:triumphs@autox.t=
eam.net">triumphs@autox.team.net</a> **<br clear=3D"none">
<br clear=3D"none">
lank" href=3D"http://www.team.net/donate.html";>http://www.team.net/donate.h=
tml</a><br clear=3D"none">
Archive: <a rel=3D"nofollow noopener noreferrer" shape=3D"rect" target=3D"_=
blank" href=3D"http://www.team.net/pipermail/triumphs";>http://www.team.net/=
pipermail/triumphs</a> <a rel=3D"nofollow noopener noreferrer" shape=
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mail.com</a><br clear=3D"none">
</blockquote></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
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Archive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/triumphs http://www.team.net/archive
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