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Tight NA6 soft top

Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2020 9:08 am
by chrislevingston
My wife has had her soft top replaced and it's too tight for her to put up.

I need to pull it forward and really pull it towards me before I can do it up.

Has anyone a cure for this or know someone in Adelaide who could fix it?

Re: Tight NA6 soft top

Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2020 9:20 am
by rascal
New tops are like that, they just need to stretch a bit (like new shoes)

Best advice seems to be to latch it however then leave it out in the hot sun for a few hours to help it stretch.

Where you will find hot sun in Winter is another issue...

Re: Tight NA6 soft top

Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2020 11:54 am
by Ross
When we fitted a new top, the instructions said not to open it for a week to allow it to stretch.
It was still tight after that too. You may need to adjust the latches a bit to help.

Re: Tight NA6 soft top

Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2020 1:28 pm
by bruce
New, they're all like that.
Hot day, put it up but don't latch it, leave it for a few hours, then give it a heave and latch her up.

Re: Tight NA6 soft top

Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2020 2:13 pm
by Mr Morlock
"My wife has had her soft top replaced" really that sounds uncomfortable but with a bit of use it will come good. Vinyl tops do stretch and move also dependant on weather so it should become more supple-if not the original fitter might need to take a look.

Re: Tight NA6 soft top

Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2020 3:42 pm
by bruce
My dirty mind was thinking all sorts of double-entondres (sp).

Re: Tight NA6 soft top

Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2020 5:50 pm
by chrislevingston
Thanks, folks.

It needs to be pulled hard to the right to fit the driver side latch and sometimes takes me a few tries to get it on - and my wife does not have my strength.

It's an after-market item, and the fitter went broke years ago.

Advice on adjusting the latches would be great, thanks.

Re: Tight NA6 soft top

Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2020 7:25 pm
by StillIC
bruce wrote:My dirty mind was thinking all sorts of double-entondres (sp).

The thought of you having the same thoughts as me, scares me.

My top is a bit tight and has been since I bought the car 11 years ago. It is set up so that the passenger latch has to be actuated first, then the driver's side latch once the passenger's is fully closed. This seems to keep it tight yet still allow it to be latched.

Re: Tight NA6 soft top

Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2020 6:17 pm
by Ross
chrislevingston wrote:
Advice on adjusting the latches would be great, thanks.

See here
https://www.miata.net/garage/latch_adjust.html

From the fount of all MX5 knowledge
https://www.miata.net/garage/

Re: Tight NA6 soft top

Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2020 9:56 am
by chrislevingston
Thanks - will try.

Re: Tight NA6 soft top

Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2020 1:20 pm
by chrislevingston
Worked a treat - thanks lots!