I experienced the same with a vinyl tonneau I got from Robbins for my
TR3A.
I had a professional install it. The installer complained that it was too
small. When we compared it to the previous tonneau we could see that it
was noticeably smaller. I sent it back to Robbins and they replaced it
with a slightly larger version. Even that was VERY tight. Eventually we
got it fitted but it was a bear. It wasn't a job I'd want to tackle
myself.
My convertible top is so tight that it's almost impossible to erect unless
the car and top have been sitting in the sunshine on a hot day (which is
exactly when I don't need it).
I always contended that the darn things shrink. Dave's explanation of why
that happens fits with my experience.
Dave MacKay
10960 TR3A s/n 68639L
near Toronto, Canada
>From: Robert Rochlin <rrochlin@comcast.net>
>To: dave northrup <dave@ranteer.com>, triumphs@autox.team.net
>Subject: Re: [TR] TR6 top R&R
>
>The top looks great, but is a bear to get up when the weather is cool. I
spoke to a very experienced >top installer years later about how tight the
top was going up and he told me that that the rear >section of the Robbins
cloth top is cut too small and it make sit hard to get the top perfect.
He >said that vinyl tops were more forgiving.
>From: DAVID MASSEY <dave1massey@cs.com>
>To: dave northrup <dave@ranteer.com>, "triumphs@autox.team.net"
>Subject: Re: [TR] TR6 top R&R
>
>Ditto.? For the same reasons.? Unless you are looking at doing several,
there is too much learning >curve.
>
>Vinyl and the rubber layer on canvas tops all have a chemical called an
elastomer.? This makes >the plastic flexible (stretchable) but this
chemical will dissipate (evaporate) over time and the >material will not
stretch as before.?
>
>This has worked for me on both vinyl and canvas tops.
>
>Correction.? I used the term "elastomer" when I should have said
"plasticizer."
>Another example:? Many years ago I was given a TR6 top by an acquaintance
who bought it 20 >years previously but wrecked his car before he had a
chance to have it installed.? In other words, >this top sat in his
basement for 20 years before I had it installed.? This was the easiest top
to put >up and down in all my experience.? I believe it is because the
plasticizers had all dissipated and >the top did not stretch when the
installer got his hands on it.? So it didn't "shrink" after
>installation.? It went up easily in any weather.??
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