[TR] TR6 top R&R

[DAVID MASSEY]

Correction.  I used the term "elastomer" when I should have said "plasticizer."
Another example:  Many years ago I was given a TR6 top by an acquaintance who bought it 20 years previously but wrecked his car before he had a chance to have it installed.  In other words, this top sat in his basement for 20 years before I had it installed.  This was the easiest top to put up and down in all my experience.  I believe it is because the plasticizers had all dissipated and the top did not stretch when the installer got his hands on it.  So it didn't "shrink" after installation.  It went up easily in any weather.  
So I guess this suggests one should buy a top now and put it away for several years before installing it.  ;-)
Dave 


 

    On Friday, April 11, 2025 at 08:40:58 AM CDT, DAVID MASSEY <dave1massey at cs.com> wrote:   

 Ditto.  For the same reasons.  Unless you are looking at doing several, there is too much learning curve.  I installed the snaps in a tonneau and that was tough enough.
I also think that if installers like a tight fitting top to avoid areas that are loose.  Stretching keeps the tops looking snug.  If you have the top installed during the cold season they will not stretch the top as much as it will not be as warm as during the normal driving season and this should make top erection easier.  Also, leave it up as much as possible for the first year or so.  This means putting the top up after each drive while it is still warm.  Vinyl and the rubber layer on canvas tops all have a chemical called an elastomer.  This makes the plastic flexible (stretchable) but this chemical will dissipate (evaporate) over time and the material will not stretch as before.  If the top is in the erected position when this happens the top will assume the shape as erected and will be easier to put up going forward.  This has worked for me on both vinyl and canvas tops.
Dave 


 

    On Friday, April 11, 2025 at 06:06:18 AM CDT, Robert Rochlin <rrochlin at comcast.net> wrote:   

 Hi Dave, I had a Robbins cloth top installed on my TR6 after starting the job myself.  In my opinion, the top is too expensive and chance of doing a good job too small that I took it to a Robbins certified top installer. The top looks great, but is a bear to get up when the weather is cool. I spoke to a very experienced top installer years later about how tight the top was going up and he told me that that the rear section of the Robbins cloth top is cut too small and it make sit hard to get the top perfect.  He said that vinyl tops were more forgiving.   I love the look and feel of the top, but, as I said it is sometimes difficult to put up. Best, Bob “72 TR6

On Apr 10, 2025, at 9:13 PM, dave northrup <dave at ranteer.com> wrote:

Have a new top (Robbins cloth); the old one is pretty rough.  Looking for instructions on how to do it** triumphs at autox.team.net **

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