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Triumph TR6 - Vinyl windows

Hi all...I am looking for some type of glue or solvent to repair a crack in the vinyl window on my top..has any one had luck with this?
Thank's Peter B.
Peter Becker

I think you're on the right track with a solvent. Remember the old styrene plastic models. The 'glue' is really a solvent. When it 'dries' the plastic should retain most of it's prior flexibility.

I think the archives had a report of using a solvent to clear clouded/scratched plastic windows in the top.

Good Luck!
EC Smith

It might work, but recognize the top is on the downward slope. If it cracks, it's because the plastisizer is about gone, unless it was folded really bad. A new top will be in order a year or so down the road.

BB
Brent B

I hadn't thought of Brent's angle. He's right.

Now, if the handyman's secret weapon (Duct Tape or Duck Tape) isn't clear enough, some heavy clear packaging tape (3-M?) might buy you an extra driving season. But totally inappropriate for our wonderful little cars.

Charlie
EC Smith

I think there is some glass shops here in Ontario that offer clear vinyl window replacement...it might be cheaper ( and easier )in the long run to get an opinion from them. Assuming the rest of the top is ok ?
Charlie
Charlie Ballard

Peter
You can have the 3 windows replaced from a "boat top" place. Had mine done up Wassaga Beach way for $150.00 ( then my wife bought me a new top for christmas:) Oh well. He did and excellent job and looks new. New zipper included and can touch up any tears if needed.
As you can appreciate, still their slow time but will end real soon.
Rick C
P.S. top is for sale....$150.
Rick Crawford

I obtained replacement vinyl and stitched it in when I bought my car back in 1977. The original was 8 years old and yellow, cracked and broken. The replacement is still soft and clear today. I attribute that to a garage and to not having had the top up more than a dozen times in the intervening years. Nasty stuff, sunlight.

The rest of the top is holding up fine. If yours is in usable condition, replacing the windows extends the life for a long time.

Tony (member, but not logged in)
Tony Koschinsky

Hi all...Thank you for all the ideas...I found a solvent made by Permatex that seems to have done the job..The top is only about 3 to 4 years old so hopefully what Brent said is not the problem...Rick if the solvent fix dose not hold then going to a boat top place for replacement is a great idea. But Maybe I will be brave and do it myself like Tony did, besides that is what I feel having the car is all about in the first place....One last Note:..Talk about "DUCK" tape might get the Geese jealous.
Thank's to all..Peter B.
Peter Becker

The season for tops is about gone for a while, but one of the best glues for this kind of temporary repair is Shoe Goo. Sunlight will harden and yellow it, though. Sewing in new windows is the better idea. The new clear plastic goes between 2 layers of top vinyl, probably wouldn't hurt to put a little shoe goo on before sewing. And measure carefully, maybe make a paper pattern of the opening before removing the old windows, tracing that onto the new window with non-permanent marker as a reference when you're sewing. Or glue it in first, sew it later.
Tom

Peter
My wife would kill me if I went near her sewing machine. Besides, I do not know how to use one and do not really want to learn. Put a wrench in my hand and I feel a little more comfortable.

Tom...are we from the deep south???
I guess I could say the same thing...top is coming down soon. Along with the car cover removal:)
Rick c
Rick Crawford

Hi Rick...Your correct I would never think of going near my Wife's sewing machine...I have one of my very own...You should never miss the opportunity to learn a new skill...I have used this little machine to do everthing from sew the seat covers and panels to sewing the vinyl edging on the carpet...This has saved me a lot of money as well as the satisfaction of doing it myself...Total cost of my interior was approximately $250 Canadian ( that is about $1.75 US ..I think? )

Peter "Singer" B.
Peter Becker

This thread was discussed between 05/03/2004 and 29/03/2004

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