Geoff Johnson Posted February 18, 2000 Share Posted February 18, 2000 Does anybody out there have any good ideas about how to stretch the hood. After leaving mine in the airing cupboard for two days & after 20 minutes of swearing I can almost but not quite do all the pop studs up. I know I am not really supposed to use it, but the car would be more useable if I could put the roof up within a couple of minutes. Geoff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Posted February 18, 2000 Share Posted February 18, 2000 Many years ago, when I first had my seven, I used the hood too blush.gif, the easiest way of getting it on there was to slacken off the hood-sticks, put the hood on and then pull the sticks tight again. There is a theory that once you've got the roof on, you can warm it with a hair-dryer to get the material to stretch a little more, but it's not something I've tried. The easiest answer tho' is to fit aeroscreens, then there's no temptation cool.gif, and you get some more space in the hood bag for beer thumbsup.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadership Team SLR No.77 Posted February 19, 2000 Leadership Team Share Posted February 19, 2000 Geoff, you'll have to be patient until the warm weather arrives (I assume you mean a brand new hood, and if so we've probably all had the same problem). Put the car out in the sun, and attach the front hood poppers only. Let it warm. Attach the centre rear poppers. Leave it to warm some more. Attach the rear edge poppers. Let it warm some more. Hood sticks. Let it.....etc, etc. When fully up, if you leave it in the sun for a couple of hours it wil be quite floppy, and never give trouble again. Don't be tempted to force it without it being warm, you'll pull the top of the screen backwards slightly - a sure sign is the side screens scuffing the reae arches. Good luck. Stu. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Boy Posted February 21, 2000 Share Posted February 21, 2000 SFORSHAW, what a plonker, when it's warm day you don't need the hood. Or perhaps he is thinning on top and needs to sit in the shade! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Johnson Posted February 21, 2000 Author Share Posted February 21, 2000 Thinning on top might just be an understatement, it seems to me that there are about 3 months (4 days without rain) that I don't have to wear a hat because it's too hot or too cold & those 4 days are the ones that the nearest & dearest wants to come out too, but then I have to be able to put the hood on, on the way home as she has already got all the knots out of her hair twice & had enough of being buffetted. PS has anybody noticed that without side screens you contact lenses get pulled out at about 100? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadership Team SLR No.77 Posted February 21, 2000 Leadership Team Share Posted February 21, 2000 Barfly - what a PLONKER. Geoff asked how to fit it, not when to use it. Once fitted I hope it never sees the light of day again. Stuff the advise next time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Cox Posted February 22, 2000 Share Posted February 22, 2000 When I picked up my car it was pouring with rain so much so that I would have arrived home in a mobile bath. In any case the guys at the show room did show my how the hood should go on. 1. raise and slacken the sticks 2. attach the hood to the windscreen 3. attach the rear of the hood 4. tighten the sticks. possible the most difficult part if you have the head rests fitted. thats it it takes a couple of mins. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Seymour Posted February 23, 2000 Share Posted February 23, 2000 Well, there you have it ... lots of ideas all of which will no doubt be of help. Manny a time have I been caught in the pi**ing rain to attemp a new world record Caterham Hood erection (if it wern't for the S&M rules this could be an Olypic sport!). OK, so how do you erect a hood thats cold, non-stretch and with numb fingers ? - my solution is as follows... 1) unfasten boot cover and tuck away well clear of the hoop assembly 2) raise hoops and slip straps down on both sides of the roll bar (the hoops should go nearly flat at this stage) 3) Throw hood over disgruntled passenger - explain you were aiming for the car but didn't want to scratch it ! 4) attach hood in centre top position of windscreen 5) UNZIP the rear window ! 6) attach at center boot position (easy now ) 7) adjust to flop over car - the car and passenger are now basically staying dry if not in the dark ! 8) attach ALL poppers around the windscreen 9) return to the rear (the cars rear !) and work around from the centre all the way to the edge but ommit the final popper (you'll only dislodge it again when you adjust the hoops) 10) open drivers door and reach down the side to lift the rear hoop 11) slide the strap up the side of the hoop and over the top to the stitch line in the hood - this will simultaniously lift the forward hood 12) slide strap up side of forward hood agin to stitchline of the hood - this bit is fairly tight and you may need to push the forward stick back while you move the strap 13) repeat (now much easier) on the passenger side 14) if your rear window zip is on the outside of the car - lucky you - zip up the window and retreat inside car if you zip is inside car - clamber in facing backwards and zip up window ! 15) watch the fingers !! - velcro that bit which attaches the hood to the forward hoop. - now rest and demand copious amounts of tea and coffee while the car steams up - well there had to be a down side ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Ellis Posted February 24, 2000 Share Posted February 24, 2000 All this to ensure a nice tight hood, and what do I get? Wacking great cat sat on the hood [!]- the beast must like the feel of it I suppose. Talk about sagging. Any suggestions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadership Team SLR No.77 Posted February 25, 2000 Leadership Team Share Posted February 25, 2000 Shoot the cat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Bey Posted February 25, 2000 Share Posted February 25, 2000 I have had the same problem with a cat sleeping on my hood. However I have not noticed it going saggy. How old is your cat? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John E Posted February 25, 2000 Share Posted February 25, 2000 Drive off very slowly so you dont wake the cat and then floor the go pedal. cat will move around a bit and aid the stretching process. watch out for claws though. they may come through the hood. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Boy Posted February 25, 2000 Share Posted February 25, 2000 All of this talk of "pussy" is getting me going again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jean luca Posted February 26, 2000 Share Posted February 26, 2000 Buy a Corolla diesel, low compression... No hood problem, no speed-trap, no cat, well, not on the soft-top, no unleaded petrol problem, no oversteer, a perfect car? Jean (Belgium) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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