Help, please... My convertible top has shrunk

Let it warm up half up in the sun?

Leon

Leon,

Great suggestion!

Having already employed it to its fullest, I feel I am in need of a chemical answer, i.e., a softener of sorts, to achieve my objective.

Thanks, again!

Steve

I must say this is the first case of "shrunk tops" I have ever heard of...!

Is it an aftermarket roof, or the original one?

Steven

- - -

Chemical 'softners' will NOT be the answer as they will break down the long chain molecules of the vinyl .... and keep on stretching.

In a windless location, put the top/car in a sunlit place where the top is in direct rays of the sun. Let the top soak up the heat for an hour

You might have to do this a few times until it returns to its original shape. Just be patient, dont overtly force the top or you risk tearing out/splitting a seam!

i hope to replace my top this weekend due to a burn mark put on it by a "body shop in hamden, ct". it does have a spot on it but it is in pretty good condition otherwise. cost of shipping, its yours peter

Good point on the "softeners"!

I have tried the "heating & stretching" process and it no longer works.

How about "sponge-bathing" the vinyl top with DIDP or some other plasticizer?

Any thoughts?

Steve

Original, I think...

Really, a "shrunk top" is rare?

Might I have another problem?

Steve

: > > It is getting cold and my vinyl convertible roof has shrunk to : > > the point where I can not put it up! : >

: > I must say this is the first case of "shrunk tops" I have ever heard : of...! : >

: > Is it an aftermarket roof, or the original one? : >

: > Steven : >

: > - - - : >

: >

: :

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.

Steve,

Please be certain to cross post the best response to this problem from either rec.autos.makers.mazda.miata or rec.autos.makers.chrysler.

Best,

Ken

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?

Leon

: >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 (

hé i once had the same problem, the firsttime i used the top after a hardtop winter. i solved the problem by parking in the april-sun. and wait for 15 min.

Its not that the top is really schunken but i just feeld like the car growd a inch during the winter. scarry.

Tommy

"Steve Forrester" schreef in bericht news: snipped-for-privacy@comcast.com...

Find a friend with a heated garage, wait until the vinyl loosens up, put it up and zoom off. Or Find a heated car wash, ditto. Or Find one of those do-it-yourself rent-a-garage places, pay for a few hours, ditto. Or Drive so far south the sun stays up longer, park somewhere, ditto Or Find a bunch of those rubber bed-warmers (AKA hot-water bottles), fill them with hot water, place them over the top, ditto. Or Find an underground parking facility in an office building or a mall, ditto.

Most of the above cost about $14-20 Canadian, and some are free! Lemme know how it turns out.

-- Nora (imagine a Canadian flag here) =======================and the Rollerskate (imagine a '99 gleaming silver Miata here)

I done wished that my car would growed some....in the leg room area!

Right. I had them mixed up myself.

Leon

Nora, do you really think this is such a hot idea?

Leon

Steve, perhaps I've missed something in the follow-ups but I'm assuming you have adjusted the latches to their loosest position, right? I'm refering to the turnbuckle at the windshield header latch assy.

replying to Roald Oines, John wrote: I have A 1988 MB 560 SL with a canvas soft top that has also shrunk. It looks like new but previous owner had not taken hardtop off for last 15 years and I cannot get it to stretch enough to fasten in place. Any suggestions?