[TR] TR6 top R&R

[Peter Arakelian]

I have had a cloth top on my 1971 TR6 for maybe 25 years.  No problem with excess shrinkage.  It did tighten some from initial install, but it goes up the same every time now, even though I rarely put it up.  How tight it is depends on the installer.  Two things though:  First it should be left up for a week after first install, this "sets" its size and fit; second any top should be put up every couple of months, at least, for a day or two to keep it pliable.  Those tips from a couple of installers Robbins uses around their location for testing.

________________________________
From: Triumphs on behalf of DAVID MASSEY
Sent: Friday, April 11, 2025 6:40 AM
To: dave northrup; triumphs at autox.team.net; Robert Rochlin
Subject: Re: [TR] TR6 top R&R

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
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