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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Soft top window separating from top-reseal?

The side window on my 74's soft top has pulled away from the roof material in one small spot. Is there a way to re-attach it? Is it a gluing job or can it be reheated and stuck back together?

Thanks,

Tom


Tom Nelson

My daughter's LeBaron convertible broke the rear glass at a time when all I could afford was to buy a new piece of glass and glue it in rather than replace that section of the top. the local autoparts store had a glue for this which worked great. It is still holding three or four winters later. If you have overlap, it should work.
David "stuck on convertibles" Lieb
David Lieb

David- do you recall a brand name?

I only have about a 1/4 inch overlap......is that enough do you think?

Tom
Tom Nelson

No, I don't. I will swing by Murrays tomorrow and see if I can jog my memory. 1/4 should be plenty.

I have vivid memories of using a heat gun and putty knife to remove the remnants of the glass from the vinyl while trying not to inflict damage on my hands (I am quite good at self-inflicted wounds like the steak-knife through my left hand a couple weeks ago). On that car, the vinyl with the rear glass is a separate piece and intended to be replaced as an assembly. I found a copy of the glass on ebay and went from there. I am still surprised it worked...
David "better lucky than good" Lieb
David Lieb

thanks.. know anything about sewing it back together?

Tom
Tom Nelson

Tom,
I had a top that began like that. I tried glueing it and using waterproof tape, but apart from it looking bad it didn't last. The tear gradually lengthened and it needed replacing. I cut some plastic from an old hood and stitched it in. Not perfect, but it did the job ok and has lasted.

Guy



Guy Weller

10 years back when I first bought my midget, the heat seal had failed across most of the top of the rear window. I removed the whole top and took it to a local upholstery shop and had a stitch put across the complete top of the window. Went home and put clear silicone sealer on all the stitches. Lasted 7 years with only one re-application of the silicone. Replaced the top with a Prestige zip out. The side windows are also sewable by an upholstery shop.
Rik
Rik Hogan

Tom,
What I used was the automotive form of Goop. Just under five bucks at Murrays auto parts. It is a clear form of contact cement and worked quite well for me. With any luck, it should at least get you through the winter to a better time for installing a new top ;-)
David "eternal optimist" Lieb
David Lieb

I did the same thing as rik hogan,

When I 1st got my top, I looked at the stieching and realized it wasnt going to hold for long, so I took it to an upultory shop and had them re-sew the whole thing with a clear nylon thread(heavy gauge fishing line)...that was five year ago and still looks great...it was like $75 took them about a 1/2 hour

with the strain and stress thats on the soft top (or should be), I wouldnt glue it unless this is a tempory fix before buying a new one....save your self the hassle and grief...and get it re-sewed

prop
Prop

This thread was discussed between 30/11/2008 and 01/12/2008

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