Holes in my soft top/what is this strap for?

M.J.S · May 23, 2018, 14:44

Howdy Folks,

Back again with more questions....

1. Holes in the top. I'm generating matching holes in the roof between the two bars. One is now quite large. Are these 'normal' weak spots or do I have a different problem? I've a contact adhesive patch on order to try and repair them. I'd love to get a new roof fitted, but I'd hate to end up with the same problem.

2. Passenger side, what is this strap (pic)? it looks like it should go to the rear bar? but it looks pretty long for that.

As ever, Cheers!

Call the midlife! · May 23, 2018, 16:07

Quote from: M.J.S on May 23, 2018, 14:44
Howdy Folks,

Back again with more questions....

1. Holes in the top. I'm generating matching holes in the roof between the two bars. One is now quite large. Are these 'normal' weak spots or do I have a different problem? I've a contact adhesive patch on order to try and repair them. I'd love to get a new roof fitted, but I'd hate to end up with the same problem.

2. Passenger side, what is this strap (pic)? it looks like it should go to the rear bar? but it looks pretty long for that.

As ever, Cheers!

The strap is your "ears" strap that goes side to side and tidies the hood away nicely when folded.
The holes would suggest the frame is rubbing on the fabric when opening/closing so possibly damaged or missing some retainers.
Generally a replacement roof would be framed properly anyway so would sort both sides.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Topdownman · May 23, 2018, 18:54

Cant say I have seen holes like that before.

I would want to do some investigation to try and find out what is causing that by trying to watch that section as the roof goes up and down to try and see where/when it is making contact as that is some serious damage on both sides.

As you say, if you go for a new hood (eg from swansea)then you could wear through the new one too.
If you went for a different roof (ie frame and hood complete) from someone like Rutland MR2 you may get lucky and solve the problem.

There are lots of old posts about how to re-attach the "ears" strap and that doesnt cost anything to re-attach but I doubt that will be the answer sadly.

Why dont you come along to this event;

https://www.mr2roc.org/forum/index.php?topic=64556.0

as there will be lots of other roofs to compare yours to?

SteveJ · May 23, 2018, 19:23

The holes are caused by the plate that is pop-riveted to the frame (the silver piece visible on the passenger side photo) - a very common problem. It seems that there were a couple of suppliers for the OEM hood and one of them didn't finish the bracket properly.

Ozzy · May 23, 2018, 19:43

No holes but I have scratch marks in the same locations on each side on mine. Looks like the roof vinyl is getting caught or stretched on something sometimes.

When putting roof down, I noticed it doesn't happen as much if I push down on the rear window when around half way. I suspected the joints for the roof bars may be seizing and getting stuck. Seems ok now and haven't noticed any marks since I've used it a couple of times. Might try spraying something on them to lube and clean them up. You could try the same.

Also, are the straps causing problems for anyone? Mine are loose and tried to attach them properly but it seems to be pulling the vinyl away from the windows when up and looked weird so just left it. Maybe I was doing it wrong, I don't know $:-\$

Joesson · May 23, 2018, 20:06

"Pushing down on the rear window" as mentioned above is something that the previous owner of my 2 suggested to me, it does seem to ease things into place. I thought it must be common knowledge.

Enjay · May 23, 2018, 20:27

If you decide to go the new roof route, it's a bit of a run but you're not a million miles from Swansea and a number of members have had their soft tops replaced there.

https://classics.honestjohn.co.uk/good-garage-guide/garages/j/jack-smith-trimmers-swansea/
(Ignore the facebook page that says "permanently closed". Apparently it was put up by a customer.)

I got mine done a almost 2 months ago and it was worth the journey from Aberdeenshire. The roof was supplied and fitted for £300 in under 3 hours. I'm very happy with the finished product.

M.J.S · May 23, 2018, 21:23

Thanks all,
I think I've had the roof down a lot more than the previous owner. The mechanism seems a bit stiff still.

When I put the roof down this evening I could see the bar stretch the worn/holed section.

The trimmers in Swansea, the use the existing frame? A good second hand one I guess could be the way forward.

I've seen a guide on replacing one, looks quite involved.

The mr2 day looks like it could be fun!

Enjay · May 23, 2018, 21:48

Quote from: M.J.S on May 23, 2018, 21:23
The trimmers in Swansea, the use the existing frame? A good second hand one I guess could be the way forward.

I think if he has a frame handy he might make a hood up ready to drop into place. When I arrived, the fabric part of the hood was made up and a window sealed into it but I'm pretty sure he used my original frame. I stood and chatted with him for about an hour as he took things apart but I went for a wander around Swansea after that and about an hour and a half later I got a call to say it was ready so I didn't see it being put together.

The roof had been a bit stiff to put up/down beforehand and it isn't now (and not just because the fabric is softer than the old vinyl original) so I assume that he did a bit of a refurbish/lubrication/whatever. Cables etc were all replaced and the roof operates perfectly. It was very tight to close initially but I didn't bother readjusting the closing clips and now that things have settled (stretched a bit I guess) it's fine.

If you do contact him, he will probably advise that you get some "drain pockets" too. These are the bits that catch the water that runs down between the hood and the bodywork and then channel it to the side drains (behind the side vents). Old ones become brittle and perish. He can't provide them, but will fit them for you while the roof is off. It's worth doing because disturbing old ones could lead to a leak and the roof needs to come off to fit them. I managed to get brand new ones from my Toyota dealer but decent second hand ones can be got from the associate breakers on this site. It's not a bad idea to get spare clips for the side vents too just in case these break when the vents come off to do the pockets (mine didn't break, but they are cheap, so why not).

Thread I posted about drain pockets:
https://www.mr2roc.org/forum/index.php?topic=64735.0

I think these are the right clips:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10x-Plastic-Trim-Clips-for-Toyota-Side-Mouldings-Wheel-Arch-Vent-Trims-/291731628038?fits=Model%3AMR+2%7CPlat_Gen%3AMK+III&epid=1087920313&hash=item43ec8f6006:g:gQIAAOSw-RRXBk2w

The location in Swansea is literally a lockup garage in a back street of an area of town full of student flats etc but don't let that put you off. I searched for some time to get a roof replacement recommendation nearer to home but Swansea just kept coming up time and time again (here, on the MX-5 forum, from garages etc.

M.J.S · May 23, 2018, 21:56

Thanks Enjay and all. Sounds like I've got some thinking to do about a new roof vs a second hand one and just trying to get this one repaired.

The trimmers I also see recommended when I was looking at the mx-engineinwrongplace before I bought the mr2

Topdownman · May 23, 2018, 22:35

The swansea roofs are made up prior to you getting there and are just fitted to your own frame on the day but you do get a different window and yours is put in the roof he does.

Call the midlife! · May 23, 2018, 22:43

Quote from: Topdownman on May 23, 2018, 22:35
The swansea roofs are made up prior to you getting there and are just fitted to your own frame on the day but you do get a different window and yours is put in the roof he does.

That's an education for me then, I always thought he did them on an exchange basis, had yours ready and then used your old frame to do another one. I suppose he can't guarantee the condition of your frame though so your version makes more sense.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Enjay · May 23, 2018, 23:31

That certainly ties in with what I thought was done to mine (like I said, the fabric part was made up when I arrived but I wasn't there when he actually fitted it to my car).

When I phoned, he did say that there was a possibility of fitting a new window rather than a second hand one. Apparently he has a some new ones that he got ex-factory or something, but it would have added to the cost of the roof. I had considered it but, basically, I forgot to call back and specify which I needed so he'd already made a roof up with a second hand window (which is in good condition), so that's what I got. I assume that my old glass will be on someone else's car sooner or later.