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MG MGF Technical - small rip in hood

I've just noticed a small rip (1/2") in the hood (black)& I want to put some kind of patch on it before it rips further. After contacting my local Rover dealer & searching the internet, I have not been able to locate any specific repair kit - any ideas anyone ?
Gerry Palmer

If you can find a bit of tent canvas, I suggest you fix it to the inside of the hood with Copydex and leave it overnight under pressure while the glue dries. Colour will be a problem but black woodstain should do it. Certainly cheaper than a new hood.

Brian

Yuck,
Obviously a room full of boys ;-)
what you need is wonderweb and some black material
Wonderweb is for bonding fabric to fabric - it is white and needs to be ironed on.
Copydex will do a simmiler job but will end up stiff (an is it waterproof?)

Will
Will Munns

Gerry,

A collegue of mine recently had this on a (dare I say it) Escort Cabriolet. The rip was about 1 inch straight, and was caused most probably by ware and tear as the rip wasnt a puncture tear, and it was on a "heavy fold" area of the roof.

we came up with the theory of using a tent repair patch (canvass not rubber), placing this on the inside without any glue but a little tape to hold it in place. We then simply sewed the rip, ensuring that the internal patch was incorporated in the stitching. We used extra strong nylon thread with a reasonably thick curved needle. The excess on the internal patch was then trimmed away.

It took a little time to make sure the stiches were as small as possible.

The results are really good. One wouldnt notice it from the outside (apart from extra close inspection) and because of the patch on the inside it is sealed and it doesnt leak at all. (tested with a pressure washer)

I was well impressed with the results, and a little extra stitching on the ends of the rip should make sure that it doesnt get any larger.

I would certianly recomend this, but I hope it never happens to my F.

Anyway, thats enough from sewing corner!! Hope that helps

Roger
Roger

Hi, is the rip in the back site near the rear window, on the side of the car. That's a known problem with the MGF. I had the same problem, i went tot a softtop fabric and asked them what to do. The repairman gave me a small piece of hood(black) and he told me to place it on the inside and attach it with gleu. I've done it and it looks new. The problem is in the hood frame when you open your softop, you have to pull out the hood between the frame on the upper window and the next. If you want i can send you a piece of hood..
No cost.

Greetings maurice, Rotterdam
MP Maurice

I had a similar problem a couple of weeks ago with my elise - two 4-5 inch long cuts in the roof. Someone decided to try and break in so they sliced the roof and reached through to open the door. The alarm did it's job and they ran off.

I took the car to a couple of auto upholsterers, and one thought they would be able to patch it up reasonably well. I left the roof with him for a day and he did a great job under the circumstances. He closed the rips and glued patches on the underneath of the hood, and then sewed very closely around the cut - no more than say an eighth of an inch.

Result is two patches visible inside the car, but a close colour match. And from outside two places where you can see rows of stitching, if you look closely. The hood is black canvas, not sure if it is identical to the MGF hood type of material.

Best part was he only charged me 25 pounds for the work - no materials, and one or two hours of his time. I've been out in heavy rain and no leaks at all. While he had the hood he also repaired a couple of places where the stitching was starting to come loose (the hood is close to 5 years old), so it's probably in better nick now than before.

So the advice is, take it to an auto upholsterer - they can do a really professional job for very little money.

Regards

Mike
Mike

Don,t believe it just went to look at mine and yep just where MP MAURICE of Netherlands says i have a small rip exactly where he says ,pee,d off now AAAAAHHHH!!!!1
david morris

This thread was discussed between 09/04/2002 and 18/04/2002

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