Brian, when fitting my TR3 top, I got more than an inch of stretch in 75
degree weather. It wouldn't fit without stretching, and it was
incredibly hard to do, but it did stretch. in 90 degree weather, it
stretches more easily, but it's still tough to put on.
It's a Robbins top.
Brian Sanborn wrote:
>
> TR4 Listers,
>
> I am having a problem with a new Robbins top from TRF. I
> installed the new Robbins tonneau cover with no problems and it
> looks great. It's so nice to have new deep black flexible
> material again .
>
> The top seems to be cut wrong. The first installation step was
> the front edge where it slides under the aluminum capping. No
> matter how I go about it, there was not enough width across the
> front to reach snap-to-snap.
>
> If I take a flexible seamstress measuring tape and measure along
> the front roll surface of the capping from the center of the snap
> post to the center of the other snap post it is 43 1/4". I
> measured my very old Amco top that fits OK and using the same
> flexible tape the distance from snap-to-snap along the front seam
> is 43 1/4" exactly. When I measure the new Robbins top along the
> same seam from the spot where the snap should go... to the spot
> on the other side.... it is exactly 42 1/4". The fact that it is
> off an "exact inch" make me believe it was cut wrong.
>
> In the early spring I called the TRF tech line and was assured
> that I should just wait for a hot day in summer and stretch it a
> bit. No amount of stretching on a 92 degree hot in the sun would
> result in gaining anything like an inch... maybe a 1/16 or an
> 1/8" There is double material and a seam binding with a pocket
> for the metal band that slips inside... no room for stretching.
>
> Need your help
>
> When and if it is convenient... would you mind making that
> measurement along front top of the cap, the part that rolls a
> bit, where the leading edge of the top sits... to see if you get
> the same 43 1/4". You need a flexible tape measure to do it and
> lay the tape on the cap surface the same way as the top fabric
> would lay. TRF will take the top back no doubt... but I really
> want one that fits and need to know if my car is normal or the
> top is defective. TRF seems to think it's me and recommends that
> I go to a professional shop. I'm not put off by this
> suggestion... a lot of folks would rather leave it a shop. So...
> I stopped in at the local auto interior shop that has helped me
> with my interior this winter and he agrees that the top seems to
> have been cut 1" short across the front.
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Brian Sanborn
> 62 TR4 CT16260L - Groton, MA
>
> My TR4 Restoration Web Site
> http://www.net1plus.com/users/sanborn/Home.html
> E-Mail: sanborn@net1plus.com
--
George Richardson
Wyvern - '57 Triumph TR3, TS15559LT -
http://www.merlingroupinc.com/tr3.htm
Griffin - '71 Triumph Stag - undergoing restoration
Pikachu - '75 Triumph TR6 - undergoing repair
Kitty - '83 Jaguar XJ6 Vanden Plas - Daily Driver
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