Shrunk soft top

[jaydeeuu]

Getting The Stag ready for 01/04 tax - hard top off, soft top up and appears to have shrunk; fasten at the front or rear and there is no way it will close - probably a simple answer to this (a good soaking maybe??) but thought I would ask anyway - It has not been used for some 3-4 years and is new, never been wet and once upon a time closed fine.

[martin]

You've mentioned one possible fix, try and keep it wet for 24 hours, longer if it doesn't work, fit the front catches first. Martin.

[jakesmig]

Try loosening the rear rail retaining bolt as far out as it will go and try slamming the rail down until it catches. If successfull, leave the hood up for a while to stretch then repeat the action gradually tightening the bolt up.
Perhaps that may help.

Rgds
John.

[Another Peter]

I had the same problem with my car when I bought it last June. The previous owner couldn't even remember the last time the hood was up.

I tried fiddling about with the rear slam bolt and the frame adjusting bolts but nothing seemed to make the hood fit any better. It would fit, but under a great deal of fiddling and force

Salvation came when I left the car out overnight in heavy rain. Almost by magic within 24 hours the hood went from seeming too small to being too big. Then I had to adjust the frame again

So the moral is to wait for the current dry spell to end, leave the car out in the rain, and try the following day.

Regards

Peter

[flying farmer]

My Stag had a very slack hood when I got it, but I made the mistake of hosing all the dust off the hood when I was respraying the car, then leaving it to dry in the house.
I now have a drum tight hood that I can sometimes only close by opening the bonnet, climbing on the bulkhead, and sitting on the front rail while reaching in to work the catches. Too embarassing to do in public, so I normally resort to catching the front, but leaving the rear catch undone, at least it keeps the rain out. I am hoping that it will eventually stretch again, but after a winter with the hard top on I am expecting a struggle next week!
Neil

[jaydeeuu]

Hi Men - many thanks for the replies - took the obvious route and soaked the soft top overnight, was able to close the next day - left it to dry in current glorious weather.
regards .. John

[keeny]

I always leave the rear window unzipted when closeing down the hood on the rear catch then i zip up the rear window,if you dont do it this way it could be worth a try

[ChasR]

I have the same issue. My rear catch seems impossible to go in, even after a heavy spell of rain and fiddling with the rear rail. Taking the hard top off will be fun!

My Stag had a very slack hood when I got it, but I made the mistake of hosing all the dust off the hood when I was respraying the car, then leaving it to dry in the house.
I now have a drum tight hood that I can sometimes only close by opening the bonnet, climbing on the bulkhead, and sitting on the front rail while reaching in to work the catches. Too embarassing to do in public, so I normally resort to catching the front, but leaving the rear catch undone, at least it keeps the rain out. I am hoping that it will eventually stretch again, but after a winter with the hard top on I am expecting a struggle next week!
Neil

[martin]

Hi Chas, the hard top should come off easily, the chances are high that the centre catch hasn't engaged. Martin.

[ChasR]

Sorry Martin, the hardtop went on very easily . It's the soft top whose catch will not engage at the rear. I don't mind too much since if I am honest I do prefer the Stag with either a hard top on or no top at all! Taking it off however is the fun part!

[V Mad]

What techniques are you using to close the rear down? If you try slamming it hard it usually works even when you cant push it down (BUT only do that if the striker is properly aligned and the latch is working!!).