Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) Check your easy up!!

I must confess that my hood has been stowed for about a year. last time I tested it for fit, it went up with no bother. Today I thought I'd better do the annual check, so removed the cover, and my other fripparies, and put it up. The screen header was a shade tight, but went on OK. But for the first time I couldn't locate the rear bonnet catches. So I had to resort to a fan heater in the cockpit until the mohair and rear screen had softened up a bit. I'm also aware that the S1 Roadster has a weak rear frame which can break, so I'm careful when persuading it to catch. Serves me right I suppose.

I've always stored the convertibles I've owned with the tops up if they're going to be in the garage for more than a day or two...not terribly hard to drop before a drive and avoids that issue.
It is incredible how tops will shrink. Constant vigilance!

When I collected my plus4 I was instructed to leave the car in the garage with the roof up even for a few days. --Obviously good advice from Newtown Motors!!!

Cheers!

I had a new "easy-up" fitted by the factory in December. Mark at the factory suggested that I left it up, initially for a couple of weeks and then (where possible) leave the car with the hood up when parked in the garage.

ps The fit and finish of the new hood is fantastic; and they also added some dark red piping to match the car - lovely.

Bud
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2003 - 4/4
Triumph Bonneville

Dave, Many thanks for the advice, it does make sense to get the hood up more often. I now use a smear of grease in the header rail just to speed up the process even more.

It is also worth checking that the rubber seal fitted to the header rail is still properly located. They can come unstuck at the corner, making it a "challenge" to locate the rail properly.
This was a problem on my old hood, despite attempts to re-glue it into place. I used to put a wooden clothes peg into the slot on each side when the hood was stowed. Worked a treat.

Bud

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2003 - 4/4
Triumph Bonneville

Silicon spray works well on the header Dave. Less messy than grease.
When my seal separated at the corners I used a roll of neoprene to hold it in place until the glue set. New seals have a ribbed finish.
My big problem is that I love the look of the hood cover, but you know what a pain that is to fit and remove. I don't like to see a furled hood laying naked on the rear panel. But I like that better than no visible hood with the trad stud hood........

+1

I don't bother locking the rear down once the hood cover is on.

I also ordered a torneau cover to use when we have the side screens off and need to park the car somewhere. I am told the torneau is incompatible with the hood cover (it is one or the other) but I have not tried it yet.

Dave: even better than grease or silicone spray ... is silicone grease! As used for plumbing joints: not so messy as ordinary grease, and lasts longer than spray. That's my two penn'orth, anyway

Gambalunga: I have the same dilemma - hood cover or tonneau? When we take the Roadster to Spain/France in June, it would be nice to have the tonneau for parking up. But I've ordered a set of Rob Hill's fitted luggage, and suspect that there won't be much space left for either

As an aside: does anyone know of a way round the perennial seat belt retraction problem, when using the tonneau rolled back? I find it a right pain, and often have to stop and rearrange the darned thing whilst en route, as the belt gets caught up and won't retract. I feel sure there must be a better way!

The full tonneau is a right P.I.T.A, and I've only used it once, for that reason - making the belts stick. There are those who say that with careful folding it can be made to work, but I don't like having to take the headrestraints off either. So my favoured method is either a short storm cover, or the full storm cover if the weather is particularly wet.

Small: (Hood down)

Full: (Hood up)


Who says my Roadster never gets wet............