Soft top question

ivan · Postby **ivan** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 9:17 pm

Hi,

Sounds like a stupid question, but I have searched the forums and couldnt find my answer.
I have a NA6, should I unzip my window before putting the top down? It seems not everyone does this, but if not don't you get a crease in the plastic?

2nd question: the zip is tearing away from the window, which is not a huge problem yet because the roof still covers it so no leaking, but what are my (cheap) options? I tried the stickiest tape without luck, so I'm thinking of hand sewing it while its still on the car...any other bright ideas?

Thanks
Ivan

Jimmy · Postby **Jimmy** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 9:52 pm

ivan wrote:should I unzip my window before putting the top down?

Yes, every time. Also, put a soft cloth between the plastic window and roof when the roof is down to stop scratching.

ivan wrote:'m thinking of hand sewing it while its still on the car

I reckon give it a shot. Make sure you use the right thread for the job though and remember to waterproof any new stitching.

Juffa · Postby **Juffa** » Fri Dec 19, 2008 8:41 am

What Jimmy said.

Also as the roof gets older the plastic window will become brittle and will split if not unzipped when putting the roof down. Having said that there are people that use a 'pool noodle' when putting the roof down. The idea is that you place the noodle on top of the window as you drop the roof and noodle stops the window from creasing at the fold. This also stops wear and tear on the zipper. Oh and one last thing, when putting the roof up, and the window was unzipped make sure you zip it back up before you lock the roof using the front catches, this puts less strain on the zipper.

J

ivan · Postby **ivan** » Sat Dec 27, 2008 6:49 pm

thanks guys. Very helpful!

Hammer · Postby **Hammer** » Sat Dec 27, 2008 7:59 pm

Wow! I've been an owner of an MX5 for 6yrs now, and I never knew there was a different process to lower the roof on the NA. Very handy to know, as I'm about to buy an NA to accompany my NB.

As the cliché say...you learn something new everyday.

adherent · Postby **adherent** » Sat Mar 14, 2009 8:03 pm

ivan wrote:2nd question: the zip is tearing away from the window, which is not a huge problem yet because the roof still covers it so no leaking, but what are my (cheap) options? I tried the stickiest tape without luck, so I'm thinking of hand sewing it while its still on the car...any other bright ideas?

Sticky tapes won't help you. There's too much tension on the fabric for tape to hold it.

It depends a bit on where the tear is. If it is somewhere where there is plenty of fabric on either side of the tear, you should be able to sew it. Use a heavy black cotton thread. It can help have a selection of needles, maybe some curved ones, depending on the location of the tear. Pay a visit to Spotlight.

However, if there is not enough fabric because the tear is close to the roof or another seam, or its a bit ragged, it can be really difficult to sew, and if you can manage it, the repair won't hold, because the tension when the window is zipped will pull your sewing through the fabric. This might happen along the high side of the window. After several unsuccessful attempts to repair such a tear in my top, I found the following solution effective.

Get some black fabric mending tape (a loose weave cloth tape - Spotlight) and some 5 minute araldite. Prepare the tear if necessary by putting a couple of stitches in to hold it in place. Cut two equal lengths of mending tape. These will be a bit long longer than the tear you want to repair. You're going to araldite them to each side of the top's fabric, sandwiching the tear between them. You'll wind up with a triple layer of fabric - tape:top:tape - soaked through with araldite, so that it cures in a continuous matrix through the fabric. Mix the araldite, paint it onto the top's fabric along the tear, soak a length of mending tape with araldite, and place it along the tear. Work quickly. Squish it a bit if necessary so the araldite wets through both sections of fabric. Hold it in place until the araldite has cured. Then, mix up a bit more araldite, soak the second length of tape, and apply it to the other side of the tear. If you do this immediately after the first step, the second step will glue into the partially cured araldite, and you've effectively made a fabric weld.

This is very strong. Its the only effective way I found to repair a tear in a fabric section that has to carry a lot of tension - all my attempts at just sewing pulled through. The finish is not as discrete as stitching, but its in black, inside, in the dark, and not anywhere you look, so I'm happy with it. It saved me from buying a new top.

Hope that helps,
cheers,
john