Soft top hood bow question

Babalouie · Postby **Babalouie** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 2:44 pm

On the soft top, the hood bows are attached to the hood fabric by these flaps of vinyl that wrap around the bows and are glued to the top fabric.

The vinyl flap on the fwd-most hood bow is starting to come unstuck from the hood fabric and is unwrapping from around the hood bow....has this happened to anyone before and is this something that an upholsterer can glue back?

Chrissy · Postby **Chrissy** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 3:03 pm

This has happened to me - to the point that the whole flap is unstuck (and unstitched) and dangles uselessly in the cabin. It looks very straightforward to fix if you just wanted to re-glue it. Even if you wanted it re-sewn it's something any auto trimmer should be able do.

I have a friend who's an auto trimmer but do you think I've remembered to ask him about fixing my soft top? :roll:

JBT · Postby **JBT** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 3:10 pm

Babalouie wrote:The vinyl flap on the fwd-most hood bow is starting to come unstuck from the hood fabric and is unwrapping from around the hood bow....has this happened to anyone before and is this something that an upholsterer can glue back?

There was much discussion about this and aerodynamics just a couple of weeks ago - General Chat section I think.

You can fix it yourself with good contact glue between the soft top and the fabric wrapped around the bow. Put some telephone books on the top after glueing until it dries.

Juffa · Postby **Juffa** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 4:04 pm

Like JBT said give it a go with some good contact cement. Some have reported that this might need to be done every year or so. On the big forum they refer to a 3M product, known to them as 'Gorilla Snot', but I didn't manage to find out the actual product name.

J

Amanda · Postby **Amanda** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 4:21 pm

Juffa wrote: 'Gorilla Snot'
J

euuuuwwww thats gross

Babalouie · Postby **Babalouie** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 5:06 pm

Yeah Gorilla Snot is a real product, and the 4x4 guys use it for things like plugging up holed fuel tanks, sumps and it's an evil epoxy-based thing.

Not sure if I wanna use something that strong! I might glue myself to the car!

Matty · Postby **Matty** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 9:19 am

Did this several years ago. Just used some (Pertex?) vinyl glue I found at Autobarn, and the phone book on top trick. Has been perfect ever since.

Steve Tinker · Postby **Steve Tinker** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 3:28 pm

Babalouie, I used industrial Bostic for mine - but be carefull. Mine had un-glued completely, so like an idiot I just tightly wound the newly glued PVC tab around the metal bow, and as soon as I lowered the hood it pulled the PVC strap away from the hood (roof). You have to leave some slack for the hood to move when it is moved into the lowered position. :oops:

Babalouie · Postby **Babalouie** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 6:01 pm

Cheers guys for all the replies. I'll give it a go with the vinyl glue, and thanks Steve I'll remember to leave some free play in the whole thing.

Postby **Okibi** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 9:54 pm

Clark rubber sell some glue that should be suitable.

sabretooth · Postby **sabretooth** » Sat Apr 01, 2006 9:06 am

http://forums.sabretooth.id.au/viewtopic.php?t=49

I glued mine successfully. There's an unfinished article there on regluing it.

sharyl · Postby **sharyl** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 6:03 pm

I ripped mine off to fix a tear in the roof

Curly · Postby **Curly** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 11:08 pm

Yep - mine has come away and is dangling in the cabin. I've been meaning to reglue it, but since I never drive with the roof up, I always forget about it.

Will get the motor trimmer to do it when I take the car in to get a small tear in the roof patched.