Soft top pinch point and repair?

Body, Paint, Interior and Trim questions and answers

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Old Dude
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Soft top pinch point and repair?

Postby Old Dude » Sun Nov 15, 2009 9:59 pm

OK I picked up some soft top Vinyl from a car/boat trimmer the other day to glue over the wear spot and picked up some Contact gel.
Now I have some questions? :)

which is the best way to glue it, I have done some test pieces, with a some small vinyl patches, shiney side to fabric side, and fabric side to fabric side,. Now the fabric side to fabric side is definately the best bond, but as I have a small hole in my soft top, would that method be as waterproof as the other way? :? (Shiney side to Fabric side of soft top).
Any help would be appreciated.
Cheers
Dale 8)
"Everybody dies......, but not everybody lives" ;-)

MX 5 2001 Grace Green
NB8B

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Old Dude
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Soft top pinch point and repair?

Postby Old Dude » Mon Nov 16, 2009 2:25 pm

All good, Benny came to the rescue
Cheers
Dale 8)
"Everybody dies......, but not everybody lives" ;-)

MX 5 2001 Grace Green
NB8B

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smmax
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Soft top pinch point and repair?

Postby smmax » Mon Nov 16, 2009 3:13 pm

And Bennys advice was?

Or is it a secret?
Green does go with Grey
2001 Emerald Mica

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Old Dude
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Soft top pinch point and repair?

Postby Old Dude » Mon Nov 16, 2009 6:22 pm

:lol: Benny's Advice was to glue fabric to fabric, as it is stronger, the patch's were about 100mm diameter, attached are some early photo's of the repair
PICT1787.JPG
PICT1788.JPG

The yelow line around the patch isa chalk line I drew around the patch so I knew where to put the contact cement.
Cheers
Dale 8)
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"Everybody dies......, but not everybody lives" ;-)

MX 5 2001 Grace Green
NB8B

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smmax
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Posts: 18
Joined: Mon Apr 21, 2008 12:19 pm
Vehicle: NB8B
Location: TTG, Adelaide

Soft top pinch point and repair?

Postby smmax » Mon Nov 16, 2009 7:50 pm

Neat Job Dale,

I know it has "fixed" the hole, but do you reckon it will stop it pinching again at that point? Is it a permanent fix to the problem?

Very keen to know 'cause I'm getting sick of checking both sides each time I drop the top.

Steve
Green does go with Grey
2001 Emerald Mica

User avatar
Old Dude
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Posts: 1166
Joined: Tue Apr 07, 2009 8:06 pm
Vehicle: NB8B
Location: Gold Coast

Soft top pinch point and repair?

Postby Old Dude » Mon Nov 16, 2009 8:35 pm

Well smmax,
I have heard that because it is now thicker in that place the top may fold a different way and not get caught :? . But anyway its thicker so that will stop it getting any worse, and I will just check everytime I drop the top.
Cheers
Dale 8)
"Everybody dies......, but not everybody lives" ;-)

MX 5 2001 Grace Green
NB8B

User avatar
Old Dude
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Posts: 1166
Joined: Tue Apr 07, 2009 8:06 pm
Vehicle: NB8B
Location: Gold Coast

Soft top pinch point and repair?

Postby Old Dude » Thu Nov 19, 2009 5:12 pm

The repair is completed and here are the photos
PICT1791.JPG
PICT1792.JPG
PICT1793.JPG


1. First both the area and the patch were wiped with metho and let dry.
2. marked out the softop area with chalk, so I knew where to put the glue.
3. Selleys kwik grip gel contact adhesive was put on the soft top and the patch and left to dry until they were tacky.
4. placed a nylon cutting board against the outside of the soft top, and fitted the patch on the inside then put some pressure on the patch and the cutting board.
5. waited for the glue to dry and then cleaned of the chalk.

Now when I put the top down it appears to move the problem area to a different spot, but as I know where it catches now, I will make sure that it doesn't catch when I lower the top.
I hope this helps any one else in the same position. And many thanks to Benny for his expertise.
Cheers
Dale 8)
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"Everybody dies......, but not everybody lives" ;-)

MX 5 2001 Grace Green
NB8B


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