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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Soft top seal

So I've finally got some spare time to fit a new soft top, after looking at several how to posts I noticed that there is a rubber seal where the top joins the body work, and after removing my Tonneau, I do not (see picture).

I can't seem locate this seal on the Moss site is it something that has been added by owners and not standard?

Rich


Rich65

item 47 here?:
http://www.moss-europe.co.uk/shop-by-model/mg/midget/weather-equipment/hoods-hood-frames-fittings/hood-frame-fittings-sprite-iv-midget-iii-1500cc.html
David Smith

or item 42 here if it's the rear one.

http://www.moss-europe.co.uk/shop-by-model/mg/midget/interior/trim-panels-fittings/interior-trim-kits-sprite-midget-1275-1500cc.html
MG Moneypit

No got that one, it's the one that should be under the fitting points you can see in the image
Rich65

Thanks that's the one (42)
Rich65

i fit one a few years ago dont know if this will be any help


https://www.flickr.com/photos/markythesparky/sets/72157633862111410/
mark heyworth

I probably have a couple in the garage, Lurgan Co Armagh.
P Morrow

Well not a good start, I got the car with a Tonneau fitted so no old hood for reference. Mark I found your photo's very helpful if I could ask you few questions.
Did you use glue on the header rail
You seem to have a more spare material at the header than me I'm wondering how much I should be stretching it because I can see some of the header in the top corners. Should I allow for shrinkage
Finally what the tab for at the front top corners

Thanks
Rich
Rich65

yes i glued it i first marked it with chalk and checked it twice before final gluing it, i got it as tight as i could ,it was a bit hard to put up at first but now its ok and not saggy anywhere,if its the tab under the plastic spacer block i left it because i did not want to remove spacer to cut it off (lazy)
mark heyworth

the guide i fitted with

https://www.flickr.com/photos/safety_fast/sets/72157623606866759/
mark heyworth

Rich,
At the front corners your new hood should have two tabs that point sideways from the corners. These pull down around the outer ends of the header rail and prevent the main part of the hood from shrinking inwards as you add tension towards the front, or over time as the tension in the fabric tends to pull inwards without them.

Below those tabs there are two more shaped tabs at the front of the hood above the side windows. When the fitting is completed these should have snap studs fitted to fasten onto press studs screwed to the top inside surfaces of the screen side supports. Fitted correctly, these will improve the hood seal over the top of the side windows.

B careful to get the tension in the hood right. The first one I did I was too keen to get it taught so that it didn't flap in the wind. I was over zealous and thereafter always had difficulty in getting the header rail over-centre cla,mps to connect to the screen top. So bad that on more than one occasion in cold winter weather it was impossible to fasten the front of the hood or even to get the ends of the clamps to reach to hook onto the frame lugs.

There is some adjustment in the hood tension available by slackening the three bolts each side that hold the roof frame hinge plates. With these plates free to move a bit the frame will lower and pivot forward slightly to release hood tension. Or conversely will lift and rotate rearwards to add roof tension.

I used a coating of spray on upholstry adhesive on the top leading surface of the header rail.

The small plastic spacer blocks at either side are important. Without them the header rail tilts backwards and won't fasten down squarely onto the top of the screen and the screen seal will leak when it rains!
GuyW

Thanks all the mud is a bit clearer now, I've been waiting since June for a warm sunny day It looks like an heater will have to do.
Rich65

Also be aware that there could be different profiles of head rail seals supplied, I got two different profiles from the same supplier within about 6 months - see photo below.

You shouldn't need to have the over-centre clamps clamped down too tightly on the header rail seal.

I have a technique I use for possibly incorrect profile header rail seals that are already fitted (like mine) to prevent water weeps creeping through when I fasten the header rail.


Nigel Atkins

Thank you all, ending up doing it on my own I haven't glued the head rail, I'm going to put the cover on and leave it over winter and see how it looks in the spring, no wrinkles at the moment

Rich
Rich65

This thread was discussed between 07/09/2017 and 22/09/2017

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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