chris whitlow Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 Hi All,I've had my 7 for four weeks now, I'm using it as often as possible and loving it!This morning I tried the half hood for the first time, as it looks a bit wet later, only to find that at around 70mph the front unpoppered itself.Is this normal, is there a maximum recommended speed with a hood fitted?Cheers,Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonL Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 That must have been exciting!I have been on the motorway at 70+mph with the half hood on and no problem. Mine is a bit of a pig to popper on though, so maybe I have very grippy poppers.Jon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thompster Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 I used my Oxted Thundersport mohair half hood for the first time on Saturday after trusting the weather forecast rather than the sky. I only got up to about 60 but there was no flapping or lifting at that speed.Mine too is a right pig to fit onto the screen. The poppers themselves aren't particularly tight but I have to stretch it really hard between each popper to fit - no idea if that's normal or not. Other than being harder and less dignified to get in/out than with a full cage I was really chuffed with it.Is the hood old or new? Maybe check with the maker - don't know if poppers get loose over time or not? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Machine Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 Been upto an indicated 80mph on French motorways with no problems. Was it that once one popper went then the lift on the others caused those to separate? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris whitlow Posted September 14, 2015 Author Share Posted September 14, 2015 The hood is a new Thundersport half hood and was nice and tight with no flapping at all, until it went with a bang! Fortunately only the poppers on the passenger side let go so I could pull the now flapping hood back inside.When fitting it I have to stretch the hood from one popper to the next but the poppers do attach reasonably easily. Maybe I need new male poppers on the screen? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 I use a SoftBits half hood ... and I haven't found the max limit yet ! This is a fabric hood rather than the vinyl type which I believe the Thunderstorms version may be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gulf 1 Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 I have a soft bits half hood which I had occasion to use on the IOM no limits tour.I had an indicated 80mph over the mountain road and can report no trouble with the hood other than a slight flapping near the back end of the doors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickh7 Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 I've had my SBFS hood well over with no issues once I'd got the fit right at the front with the soft bar part just right on the screen. I did replace one popper because it did keep lifting but the hood was 2nd hand and not designed for an FIA bar . But I have to say its one of the best bits oft kit you can buy for your 7.Some racers at Spa one year thought the standard hood would be more aerodynamic than running the car without it . I was told that a full hood letting go at over 100mph on the drag up Les Combes is quite a sight to behold . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonL Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 Just to add some balance to the manufacturers - mine is a Thundersport one, and is fine (albiet tight to fit). I assume you had the doors on, and they were tucked inside the hood.Jon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martyn Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 I have the Thundersport mohiar half-hood. On two occasions I have had the outermost drivers side popper come undone on the motorway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbird Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 Just to add to the data, My SBFS half hood never parted company, not sure what speed its been up to, well over 70, Always fit it loose with the roll behind windscreen frame, pop the press studs on and then tension the straps at rear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil7W Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 I’ve never had a problem with my hood, but this does remind me of a story I heard from a customer with a seven. He was caught out in the rain, quickly stopped and pulled on the hood and off he went again. A few minutes later as he got up to speed the hood was ripped off and through his mirror, he watched it splat against the grill of the lorry behind. He then had to deal with the indignity of watching the lorry carry on going, hood plastered to the grill, as he stopped! Fortunately, I believe the hood dislodged itself further down the road and he was able to retrieve it. A great story but I think it gave him a bit of a shock at the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian B Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 Have been into 3 figures with a SFBS original "Classic" half hood and no problems.Mine is left connected at the back with the straps tensioned, and I just throw it over the car and popper onto the screen and the two side tensioner straps (one-way poppers).It is tensioned quite tight, but doesn't flap or come off (it actually 'balloons' upwards in the centre at speed). Maybe the "originals" are better than the "copies" - now where have I heard that before? (oops - Can open, worms everywhere!). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juju Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 I have an SBFS hood with easy in zips. It has never lifted off the screen and has been over 70mph. At slow speeds the water can pool on the top of the hood and leak through the zips so it is best to travel everywhere at high speed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 Or avoid zips ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6speedmanual Posted September 15, 2015 Share Posted September 15, 2015 Go aero! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john aston Posted September 15, 2015 Share Posted September 15, 2015 I had the SBFS coming undone issue ; the turbulence created by lorries unpopped two or more poppers . Returned it - SBFS (presumably ) fitted tighter poppers and since then it 's been perfect and speed tested at 120 mph + Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntonyH Posted September 15, 2015 Share Posted September 15, 2015 Our full hood did once start to unbutton itself at 60mph, however I suspect that's because I'd put it on in a hurry because it was raining.On the other hand, we've visited the Isle of Man, and our Oxted / Thundersports mohair half hood has remained secure at over 80mph.Personally, 80mph is somewhere around the top of my comfort zone in inclement conditions and/or at night (where "dry but cold" might suggest use of the hood), so if it didn't remain in place at higher speeds I'd most likely never find out, nor care! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Downing Posted September 19, 2015 Share Posted September 19, 2015 I've had mine unpopper itself on the M4 at (ahem) 70mph. I managed to grab hold of the free edge before it departed, which made for an interesting drive (in the pouring rain) as far as the next services. Fortunately they were not far away...That was quite early in my time with the car. After that I just made really sure that all the poppers were 100% done up and secure - it did the rest of the journey ok. It has only happened once more since then, but that time I spotted it when only one popper had let go and was able to pull over in time. Aero screen now, so the worry transfers to whether or not my hat & glasses are securely in place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thundersport Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 All sorted now Chris? Jemma Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris whitlow Posted October 8, 2015 Author Share Posted October 8, 2015 All sorted now thanks Jemma. It's taken me a while but I've finally tested the roof at over 80 and the new poppers worked brilliantly.For anyone with similar issues, Thundersports sent me some 'one way' poppers FOC that, on the female side, have a 2mm wide band of steel on the inside of the popper that hooks under the bottom edge of the male side, attached to the screen frame. Therefore, no amount of pulling on the front lower edge of the roof will make the poppers let go. It meant replacing the poppers on both my full and half hoods and the male part around the screen but I now feel I can trust the roof to remain in place at any speed.I had two reasons for buying a Thundersport hood the main one being the style. I like the way the lower edge on the side of the hood lines up with the top of the window on the door. Anal I know but to me it just looks right. The second reason was they had them in stock and within a couple of days of ordering I'd received it. I'm very pleased with the quality too.Thanks for all your replies chaps.Cheers,Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel R300 Posted October 8, 2015 Share Posted October 8, 2015 100 + with a SBFS half hood with no problems more chance of losing my licence than the hood Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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