I purchased a tan canvas Robins top two years ago for around $500. I was
woried that the plastic would not last as long as the canvas...
Installation went fine. Recently I started getting fraying of the canvas
inside on the panels right above the window in between where the support
bars touch when the top is up. I assumed that this was due to the scissor
effect when the top was down though it did not look like it could be
possible when the top is down. I went out and got some canvas and glued
it in over that panel in hopes of avoiding the inevitable. About a month
after that, two weeks ago, The seams and middle of the top started
leaking. The top is made from two layers of canvas sandwiched around an
acrylic layer. It appeared that the acrylic layer was deteriorating. I
called Moss and they put me in touch with Robins who agreed to replace
the top only because of the area in the middle leaking due to the
breakdown of the acrylic layer. I have not put the new top on yet. Moss
sent me a pretzeled header gasket retainer and I'm waiting for a new one.
I talked to a guy name Robins and he spoke of using a little extra glue
on the seams of the new top so it appears that they are a mom and pop
place. Try calling the people that you purchased it from and see if they
will do anything. They might refer you to Robins as Moss did for me. The
jury is still out on this one. I'll let you know how it turnes out.
On Fri, 22 Sep 1995, Leland Smith wrote:
> This spring I purchased a new convertible top for my 69 MGB. The top was
> manufactured by Robins. During the installation when I had with what I
> considered the right amount of tension on the top, I noticed that the
> corners of the top rail were still exposed. I hear Robins made high
> quality top, and since I had never installed one before I figured that I
> was just too conservative with my tension. I stretched the top tighter
> until the corners of the head rail were covered. By this time the top was
> very tight. I should have realized at this point I was in trouble, but I
> convinced my self that the top would "relax" after a while. Besides the
> tabs that snap to the window frame barely reached the male snap on the
> window frame and I wasn't even sure I would have enough material to install
> the female portion of the snap. so I persevered.
>
> Now I stuck with a top that is so tight it takes two people to close it and
> too tight to fasten the lift-on-dots in the rear.
>
> The two most logical scenarios are either installed it incorrectly or got a
> bad top.
>
> Has anyone else had any problems with Robins tops?
>
> Any suggestions would be appreciated regarding fixes, (I'm afraid not too
> likely) brands of good tops and installation techniques.
>
> Thanks
>
> Leland
>
>
> P.S.
> I consider my self mechanically adept (don't we all). I'm a mechanical
> engineer and have worked on my cars since I was a teenager.
>
>
>
>
>
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