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MG MGA - Cloth roof repair

Sorry as this is applies to my MGR but there is never any traffic on that forum, so as things are so quiet at present, I am hoping its ok to ask here.
I have discovered a couple of small holes in the cloth roof. Only fairly small, it looks like maybe it lost a fight with a protruding bolt, or something similar.
Otherwise the roof is in excellent condition. I've done a quick research and seen Stormsure Black Flexible Repair glue. It looks like it could do the trick.
Just wondering if anyone has used it, or knows of an alt6ernative product they could recommend?
Thanks
Graham V

Seems to have some good reviews on Amazon.
Dave O'Neill 2

I don't know that product but I've had to use their 'Stormseal Seam Sealer'.

On a piss-poor Don Hoods (Don Trimming Co. Ltd.) that Don Hoods supplied, and fitted at their place in Erdington, and leaked at 3-4 years old and has shrunk so much I can only attach it in warmer weather without struggle.

Their seam sealer worked very well and was very easy to use.

So two recommendations there, one to try one one to avoid.

https://www.stormsure.com/

Nigel Atkins

Hey Graham
Havn't used the stormsure product but have used Bostic flexible vinyl glue which sounds very similar
Foun that for best/tidiest results it's best to do it from inside
If you stick some sticky tape over the out side of the hole and press the vinyl around the hole against the tape to get it nice and flat then glue it from the inside it stops the glue going everywhere on the out side
When it dries pull the tape off and you'll hardly be able to see where the hole was
works for me
willy
William Revit

Thanks the feedback and good idea Willy about using sticky tape on top.
A friend who used to wind surf, said he has used it on his wet suit with good results too.
I will buy some and let you know how I get on.
Graham V

Graham

Gaffer (Duck) tape adheres well. I have tried it up to 250 knots and it held in place! bird strike on the wing leading edge. Diverted to the nearest base where they did the first aid (on the wing, not the bird). Then flew her home slowly for a permanent fix.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Thanks Steve
That's a pretty convincing recommendation for gaffa tape. I once did a temporary repair to a cracked down pipe at our previous hose. It was still firmly in place when we moved 7 or 8 years later, despite being permanently exposed to the elements.

But you will see from the attached picture, the holes in my roof are fairly small, so I am hoping to make a more discreet repair.



Graham V

So that's what a Euro looks like, how big are they.

A bit tape or material of some sort would be a good idea under those holes if you can get to the inside of the outer layer of hood.

I don't know how you'd keep the pile with the repair though.

For the rest of the outer material a vacuuming with a (clean) pile or brush attachment then brush the pile with a (brush-o-matic) textile brush to lift the pile to give good appearance (if cleaning isn't required). Proofing is a different matter.
Nigel Atkins

I always hate it when an OP doesn’t report back to advise how things worked out.

I bought the Stormsure product and utilised Willy’s sellotape tip. I’m very pleased with the results. Initially I applied too much of the stuff, and had to cut some away. So I would advise patience and apply it in thin films over a few days.
I was impressed that although the Stormsure glue only cost about £8, it came in three separate small tubes, so you don’t run the risk of one big tube drying up after it’s been opened.
I also used it to repair the back of my MGA seat, and a dining room chair!
Graham V

Good move repairing the dining room chair Graham, you've been awarded 3 extra points for that---lol
William Revit

Willy
Before you award extra points, you need to know how the leather on that chair was split!
Don’t ask.
Graham V

Scissors in back pocket?

That's how a couple of decades back I put a split in my new expensive replacement leather seats for the MGB (and last year in my wife's car's driver's seat!). There was shortly after an open day at Aston Martin, Newport Pagnell (the factory then and where the restorations were done), small admission fee for charity, I patiently waited to see the upholster (a surprisingly low paid job at the time) and get his recommendation for repairing the tear that hadn't gone all the way through, his words of wisdom from his years of experience of his craft - use superglue. 😀

Nigel Atkins

Nigel. My wife's ex-brother-in-law was an upholsterer at Aston- Martin. Wouldn't be surprised if it he you spoke with.

Cheers

Gary
79 MGB

PS. My wife worked at Aston-Martin also
Gary Hansen

Gary,
it'd been early to mid-90s IIRC. I thought the chap might have been a outside/contract/sole trader but that might have just been my assumption. I can't remember seeing much of the place and IIRC there was a wait and queue for across the road with the restore cars which didn't have the same pull as an ale in a village pub (or perhaps The Cannon).

I think I've told you before I was born and lived in Wolverton and New Brad''ll (well Bradville really, in the prefabs, very damp) from '60-'72.

I well remember being told about a lot of craftsmen leaving the Wolverton BR works (where they worked on the Queen's carriages) to get higher pay at AM and then to get laid off as business went down as it often did.

I don't think it was my dreaming but I remember on a Saturday job as a lad going to one of the new houses near AM in Newport Pagnell, all very new to a council estate lad like me, and I was told the chap worked at AM and in the house were raised floors as the chap was of very diminutive height, I'm only 5' 5" fully grown and was short as a lad and I was a lot taller than this chap even then.

All my yesterdays. 😁


Nigel Atkins

I had a tour of the plant in 1997. Some of the people that my wife knew were still working there.

Her ex-brother-in-law was still working even in 1997. His name is Keith. Yes he is a bit on the short side.

We were visiting 2 years ago at their "family reunion" in Newport-Pagnell. He is now retired.

Conversation was a bit fun, My Yank "Noo Yawk" accent vs. British English. After a few pints it all worked out.(LOL)

When this pandemic is over we will return and see them again. Can't wait.

Yes, I consider the UK as my second home.

Cheers

Gary
79 MGB
Gary Hansen

I think I went a year or two before that but with my memory it could also have been '97.

The chap I meant was very short nearer four foot than five I'd guess and it'd be before 1972.

If you remind me I can let you know some proper pubs with, hopefully still, good quality, well kept and served real English ale, not "warm" but not kiddy-winks or fizzy lager chilled, in the nearby area (well sowlf Norf'mptunshere anyway).

We took the midget along the Tyringham and Filgrave road to end up at a walk around the village of Clifton Reynes. We'd only got a few hundred yards and saw that not only was the pub still there (it's a very small village with no through road) much to my wife's delight (no really) it was open and you could have a drink without a meal, we stopped for refreshment. Our first ale in a pub since 4th of November my wife informs the lady!

Later on our walk of the, very small, village we got talking and walking with a couple of ladies walking their dogs and when I said I was surprised to find the pub still in the village and open they told us the villagers own the pub (community own pubs are getting more common).

With such a small village on literally a dead end road, unless you're on horseback or walking, there's no way the pub could survive unless the locals were comfortably off enough to be able to eat out regularly at the pub to sustain it, food gives profits 'wet sales' only needs lots of volume.

Many villages now where only the comfortable , well off or very well off can afford to live - but they often have good pubs for riff-raff like me to visit. 😁
Nigel Atkins

This thread was discussed between 27/03/2021 and 25/04/2021

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