Repairs to Soft Top

[MajorClanger]

Some stitching holding in the rear screen has come undone/broken . Any ideas on the best way to repair this? It's only over a small section about 6 cm long but main priority is to stop it getting worse. Has anyone tried this sort of repair themselves ?

MC

[crimsonchim]

I believe this happens quite a lot. Went on mine and I phoned all the trimmers in the area, all seemed familiar with the job and said TVR use cheap thread so the windows fall out when the thread rots.

Unfortunately all trim shops also said the window has to be stitched on a jig OFF the car, so you have to pay for removal and refitting of the whole back part of the roof. You're talking about hundreds of pounds for a few inches of stitching.

Also, I was scared that it would rip when it was removed from the rear and roof rails (it's glued on I believe) so I did it myself with a needle and thread (thimble and pliers, its tough stuff!)

Good luck.

[trefor]

In that case Peninsula Automotive's quote on their website of a replacement rear screen for £130 is a good deal. (I've not had this done, only repeating what I saw.)

Trefor/.

[MajorClanger]

quote:
I did it myself with a needle and thread (thimble and pliers, its tough stuff

I was thinking along the same lines myself (after hunting through yellow pages and search engines). Not that I'm often caught discussing sewing technique but what sort of thread did you use? I won't even ask what stitch you used ?!!!

MC

[crimsonchim]

quote:

what sort of thread did you use? I won't even ask what stitch you used ?!!!

No, I took advise from girlfriend on that one. It was just a normal sewing thread (but a man-made thread that should last a while),doubled. I tried to follow the existing holes, sewing "outside/inside", then back again the opposite way. So when I got to one end every other stitch was visible. Then went back over the missing ones, if you see what i mean!

I only needed to patch up about 18" or so to stop it going any further, looks fine from the outside, bit messy in places inside where the thread gets freyed and breaks from pulling through the tough material.

I'll keep patching the threads by hand as they go (this was glued in when I got the car, so a big bit went at once), but eventually I'll need to replace all the folding hood material as it's getting a bit iffy around the velcro behind the doors, so there's no point in paying all that labour twice.

Cheers,

Andy


Edited by crimsonchim on Wednesday 9th January 17:21

[macca]

Stitch it by hand, follow the existing holes but you will need a thimble. I did about a meter on mine but it took a few hours.

Working from left to right: Start with the second hole from below and bring the thread up and then down into the first hole. Come back up in the third hole and back down into the second hole, up in the 4th down in the 3rd, up in the 5th down in the 4th, etc.... If the thread breaks then put the end through the loops created by the next 4 or 5 stitches to secure it.

Buy extra stong stitching rather than the standard stuff you'll find in a sewing basket.



Edited by macca on Wednesday 9th January 18:20

[MajorClanger]

Thanks for all your help. Think I might 'invest' in a sail maker's thimble and some polyester thread!

MC

[SwanJack]

I can vouch for the fact that the original thread used is a pile of crap. I have just put my hand through the back window, the stiching all along the top of the window has become rotten.

Booked in for monday to be re-stiched and new rear window while at it. (£130+VAT). The stiching on my S1 must have been better stuff as the roof material disintegrated before it did.

[plotloss]

Why oh why oh why do they make such wonderful wonderful cars that are truly in a class of their own and then use cheap thread.

Its nothing short of bloody annyoing.

Matt.