Subject: Re: [TR] TR6 top R&R

From: Dave MacKay <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 11 Apr 2025 16:37:41 -0400

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 <[email-masked]>
>To: dave northrup <[email-masked]>, [email-masked]
>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 <[email-masked]>
>To: dave northrup <[email-masked]>,  "[email-masked]"
>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.??
** [email-masked] **

Archive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/triumphs  http://www.team.net/archive

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From: Greg Lemon <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 11 Apr 2025 16:33:50 -0500

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Same issues with a Robbins vinyl top fitted on my TR250.  It is very tight,
there was not really a lot of extra material to make it less tight.

Installed myself, it looks good because no wrinkles, but best erected warm
and in the sun.

I make a point to store it with the top up every winter, if it shrank at
all I would never get it back on.

Greg Lemon
TR250

On Fri, Apr 11, 2025, 3:49=E2=80=AFPM Dave MacKay <[email-masked]> wrote:

> My convertible top is so tight that it's almost impossible to erect unles=
s
> spoke to a very experienced >top installer years later about how tight th=
e
> top was going up and he told me that that the rear >section of the Robbin=
s
> >Another example:? Many years ago I was given a TR6 top by an acquaintanc=
e
> basement for 20 years before I had it installed.? This was the easiest to=
p
> Donate: http://www.team.net/donate.html
> Unsubscribe/Manage:
> http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/triumphs/[email-masked]
>

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<div dir=3D"auto">Same issues with a Robbins vinyl top fitted on my TR250.=
=C2=A0 It is very tight, there was not really a lot of extra material to ma=
ke it less tight.<div dir=3D"auto"><br></div><div dir=3D"auto">Installed my=
self, it looks good because no wrinkles, but best erected warm and in the s=
un.</div><div dir=3D"auto"><br></div><div dir=3D"auto">I make a point to st=
ore it with the top up every winter, if it shrank at all I would never get =
it back on.</div><div dir=3D"auto"><br></div><div dir=3D"auto">Greg Lemon</=
div><div dir=3D"auto">TR250</div></div><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote gmail_=
quote_container"><div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_attr">On Fri, Apr 11, 2025=
, 3:49=E2=80=AFPM Dave MacKay &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:[email-masked]">dave@=
mdmackay.ca</a>&gt; wrote:<br></div><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=
=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">I experi=
enced the same with a vinyl tonneau I got from Robbins for my<br>
TR3A.<br>
<br>
I had a professional install it. The installer complained that it was too<b=
r>
small. When we compared it to the previous tonneau we could see that it<br>
was noticeably smaller. I sent it back to Robbins and they replaced it<br>
with a slightly larger version. Even that was VERY tight. Eventually we<br>
got it fitted but it was a bear. It wasn&#39;t a job I&#39;d want to tackle=
<br>
myself.<br>
<br>
My convertible top is so tight that it&#39;s almost impossible to erect unl=
ess<br>
the car and top have been sitting in the sunshine on a hot day (which is<br=
exactly when I don&#39;t need it).<br>
<br>
I always contended that the darn things shrink. Dave&#39;s explanation of w=
hy<br>
that happens fits with my experience.<br>
<br>
Dave MacKay<br>
10960 TR3A s/n 68639L<br>
near Toronto, Canada<br>
<br>
&gt;From: Robert Rochlin &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:[email-masked]" target=
=3D"_blank" rel=3D"noreferrer">[email-masked]</a>&gt;<br>
&gt;To: dave northrup &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:[email-masked]" target=3D"_bl=
ank" rel=3D"noreferrer">[email-masked]</a>&gt;, <a href=3D"mailto:triumph=
[email-masked]" target=3D"_blank" rel=3D"noreferrer">[email-masked].=
net</a><br>
&gt;Subject: Re: [TR] TR6 top R&amp;R<br>
&gt;<br>
&gt;The top looks great, but is a bear to get up when the weather is cool. =
I<br>
spoke to a very experienced &gt;top installer years later about how tight t=
he<br>
top was going up and he told me that that the rear &gt;section of the Robbi=
ns<br>
cloth top is cut too small and it make sit hard to get the top perfect.<br>
He &gt;said that vinyl tops were more forgiving.<br>
<br>
&gt;From: DAVID MASSEY &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:[email-masked]" target=3D"=
_blank" rel=3D"noreferrer">[email-masked]</a>&gt;<br>
&gt;To: dave northrup &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:[email-masked]" target=3D"_bl=
ank" rel=3D"noreferrer">[email-masked]</a>&gt;,=C2=A0 &quot;<a href=3D"ma=
ilto:[email-masked]" target=3D"_blank" rel=3D"noreferrer">triumphs=
@autox.team.net</a>&quot;<br>
&gt;Subject: Re: [TR] TR6 top R&amp;R<br>
&gt;<br>
&gt;Ditto.? For the same reasons.? Unless you are looking at doing several,=
<br>
there is too much learning &gt;curve.<br>
&gt;<br>
&gt;Vinyl and the rubber layer on canvas tops all have a chemical called an=
<br>
elastomer.? This makes &gt;the plastic flexible (stretchable) but this<br>
chemical will dissipate (evaporate) over time and the &gt;material will not=
<br>
stretch as before.?<br>
&gt;<br>
&gt;This has worked for me on both vinyl and canvas tops.<br>
&gt;<br>
&gt;Correction.? I used the term &quot;elastomer&quot; when I should have s=
aid<br>
&quot;plasticizer.&quot;<br>
&gt;Another example:? Many years ago I was given a TR6 top by an acquaintan=
ce<br>
who bought it 20 &gt;years previously but wrecked his car before he had a<b=
r>
chance to have it installed.? In other words, &gt;this top sat in his<br>
basement for 20 years before I had it installed.? This was the easiest top<=
br>
to put &gt;up and down in all my experience.? I believe it is because the<b=
r>
plasticizers had all dissipated and &gt;the top did not stretch when the<br=
installer got his hands on it.? So it didn&#39;t &quot;shrink&quot; after<b=
r>
&gt;installation.? It went up easily in any weather.??<br>
** <a href=3D"mailto:[email-masked]" target=3D"_blank" rel=3D"nore=
ferrer">[email-masked]</a> **<br>
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errer" target=3D"_blank">http://www.team.net/donate.html</a><br>
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</blockquote></div>

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