: >I've been lurking in this group for a couple of years now, and this is : >the first time I've heard of a shrunk top also. There's no mention of : >it in the garage section of miata.net either. If it's not just less : >flexible because of the cold, something must be tweaked in the top's : >frame mechanism. : : While I have not heard about shrunk tops either, "Caring For the : Soft Top", which came with the car, says: : : "NEVER lower the top when it's [sic] wet. This promotes mildew, : shrinking, and deterioration." : : Hence shrinkage is apparently possible. It also notes that : the top should be left in the up position if stored for long : periods of time and overnight, to reduce chances of : shrinkage. : : Wild guess: try wetting the top maybe? :
Hmmm, serves me right for buying used (w/o the original manual or other documents). FWIW, Robbins (
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)warns about storing boots or tonneaucovers when wet to avoid shrinkage, but they only warn againstdiscoloration or "other damage" about lowering a wet top. BTW, "it's" is correct when it represents the contraction for "it is", as in this case. :)