Date:         Thu, 4 Sep 2008 21:07:17 -0230
Reply-To:     Joy Hecht <hecht.joy@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Joy Hecht <hecht.joy@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: fiberglass repair on poptop
In-Reply-To:  <1ed6d210809041625h1ea6c822je31f1d928c596636@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

On Thu, Sep 4, 2008 at 8:55 PM, Doug Alcock <doug.alcock@gmail.com> wrote:

> Just put a nut bolt and washer in the hole -- perhaps matching the one that
> comes with the strut kit --- then no one will now it wasn't intended.
>

I can't do that - the fender washer won't fit on over it, and it is big and
wide.  I need a flat plug, not a nut and washer.  Not using the fender
washer doesn't seem like a good idea, especially not if the fiberglass is
already weakened.


> FYI --- I have the strut kit to and love it.
>

Maybe your struts were longer than the ones I got.  Or you didn't actually
follow the instructions, and you knew to measure the length of the strut and
use that length instead of the dimensions provided.



Joy



>
> Cheers,
> Doug
>
>
>   On 9/4/08, Joy Hecht <hecht.joy@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> Hi folks,
>>
>> I've got a hole in my poptop that I'm looking for a way to plug.  I
>> ordered
>> one of the poptop strut kits, followed the instructions, and it turned out
>> the struts that came with it were shorter than the dimensions given for
>> the
>> holes to attach them.  I attached the first strut andchecked that all was
>> well before drilling the second hole, and found the problem.
>>
>> The hole should center at a spot 5/16 of an inch away from the existing
>> hole.  I've emailed the person who assembles the kits and asked him to
>> send
>> me struts long enough to match his instructions, but if I can patch the
>> hole
>> and drill a new one, that might be better.  And probably quicker.
>>
>> The kit includes large fender washers that go on both sides of the hole in
>> the poptop, and they would cover the patched hole as well providing some
>> support.
>>
>> Does anyone have suggestions for how to do this?  Ideally I'd like to put
>> in
>> a metal plug the dimensions of the hole (5/16") and the depth of the
>> fiberglass.  But I'm guessing a fiberglass plug, or one of some other
>> material, might be more realistic.
>>
>> Suggestions?
>>
>> And if you're thinking of buying one of those kits, pmail me and I'll
>> explain more precisely what is wrong with the instructions so you don't do
>> the same thing.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Joy
>>
>
>
>
> --
> http://www.dougalcock.com




--
*******************************************************************
Dr. Joy E. Hecht
Consultant on Environmental Policy and Information

Email: jhecht@alum.mit.edu
Phone: 1-202-494-1162
URL: http://www.joyhecht.net

*******************************************************************