Soft Top Fit above Doors

[Guest]

Hi All,

The soft top is one area I have very limited experience, once owned a Lotus Seven series 3 but the soft top on that was very basic.

Just spent yesterday getting it sorted, where it was a struggle to fold away and get the cover to close the hood can be erected or folded away in a couple of minutes and the cover nowcloses easy with only a gentle push.

My question is the fit above the doors, the Velcro stuff is there and I can get the hood on the Velcro on one side but the other side seems to be too high, I can get the hood on the Velcro sort of half and half each side but would be happier if the hood was on the Velcro better. It almost seems as if the hood has shrunk sideways as all other fitment is good it seems unlikely. It is possible that the hood was made this way from new or maybe I am missing something ( apart from brain cells ) or possible that is normal ?.

As always any advice or comments welcome.

Don Kennedy.

Hope you all have a great weekend, looks like sunny weather so this will be my first time in the Stag without the hard top and with the hood down.

[V Mad]

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Don, it does sound like the cover is too small. If the cover is duck it is likely to have shrunk. Alternatively, the frame may be badly bent out, but I am sure you would already have noticed that if it was!

[stustag]

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Hi Don

I now what you mean about the ease of opening and closing the hood, my new hood (S/H Original Hood) is a little stiff however like you I will be following the instruction from V Mad and oiling the frame tomorrow.

I had some issues when I first fitted this hood with the front catches being very difficult to latch and the rear rail needed slamming quite hard to get it closed.

However after leaving it on the car for over a week without unlatching or moving it the hood now latches easily and the back rail closes easily with only a light 'slam'.

I think after some oiling and being left for another few weeks undisturbed the Mohair will stretch a bit more a be a much better fit.

Without knowing if your hood is easy to latch or if it is Mohair or not then I would suspect it has shrunk a little. Why not try leaving it up for a while and let it get wet a few times this may help get it to fit better?:?

Stuart

[grahamb]

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stustag wrote:

Hi Don

I now what you mean about the ease of opening and closing the hood, my new hood (S/H Original Hood) is a little stiff however like you I will be following the instruction from V Mad and oiling the frame tomorrow.


Stuart

Stuart,

oiling the frame, by your standards, thats not a very adventurous bank holiday project

[stustag]

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grahamb wrote:

stustag wrote:

Hi Don

I now what you mean about the ease of opening and closing the hood, my new hood (S/H Original Hood) is a little stiff however like you I will be following the instruction from V Mad and oiling the frame tomorrow.


Stuart

Stuart,

oiling the frame, by your standards, thats not a very adventurous bank holiday project

Hi Graham

Forgot to mention I will be also doing the following;

Replace rear wing badges

Replace NS Door handle

Waxoyl Sills, Inner wings, Valance, Windscreen Surround, Outriggers

Rebiuld the steering column.

Replace broken Hot/Cold heater cable.

Oil Choke cable.

Remove Propshaft for UJ replacement and balancing (Proptech,Kidderminster)

Underseal NSF inner arche

Replace diff with 3.45:1 diff.

Is that better Graham?

Stuart

[grahamb]

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thats more like it Stuart.

[Guest]

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V Mad wrote:

Don, it does sound like the cover is too small. If the cover is duck it is likely to have shrunk. Alternatively, the frame may be badly bent out, but I am sure you would already have noticed that if it was!

Hi All,

Looks like I was a bit premature with my question. I had sorted the frame beforeIasked,I had oiled the joints on the frame, more than that I had removed all the bolts, cleaned, lubricated etc although they were in very good condition. I had to give the frame a bit of a shove/bend here and there to get it straightand it now folds away very easy. The fitting of the hood above the doors is getting better. I suspect that is was due to the soft top never being used since I purchased the Stag, I have pulled and engaged the Velcro, left a few hours and done it again. Each time the fit is getting better and after a couple of days doing this its almost there so I think it will be OK if I keep doing this. Today was the first time I have driven the Stag without a top on the carand it was the first time her indoors has been in the car, she was very impressed with the lack of rattles, squeaks etc, I should hope so after a week of rebuilding the front and rear suspension. Looking forward to going back to work to have a rest !.

Many thanks to you all for the replies and suggestions and your time in giving them.

Don Kennedy.

P.S. Unsure if it was someone one here ?. Nice red Stag, going up the hill out of Totnes heading towards Paignton, about 1:00 ish. Same colour and reg as mine ( L plate ). I did give a flash of lights but remembered I was in the misses car ( Red Clio ) so you may have been confused. ( Please,no coments about being in a Clio ).