ZUKIWORLD Online | Suzuki 4x4 Editorial and Forum
ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Suzuki 4x4 Forum => Topic started by: warbird on September 29, 2012, 08:26:13 AM
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Some one else may have already tried this but I found a way to fix small holes in my oild soft top. After my rollover the front of my 2-piece top had some damage. I tried duct tape on the outside and the wind pealed it off. It worked on the inside til it started shriveling up from the heat. My top is made from the denem finish fabric. I hit on the idea of using iron-on patches. To make sure it wouldn't melt I tested a small corner with the iron. That came out OK so I cut patches to fit over the holes and ironed them on the inside. It's been raining off and on all week & no leaks!
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Great idea... any pictures? What heat setting did you run the iron?
Zig
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Nice!!! pics please!
I have used iron on patchs to repair tents and awnings in the past, but first I take out the darning needle and stitch the rip closed. There are some supposedly "better" patchs available at camping/outdoors shops that also would probably work well.
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pics if it ever quits raining...
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I've found that Gorilla Tape works excellent too. Much better than your standard "duck" tape. I've had it on a top (outside) that has seen a good amount of hwy duty, and the tape is still on nice and tight.
http://www.gorillatough.com/index.php?page=tapes (http://www.gorillatough.com/index.php?page=tapes)
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pics if it ever quits raining...
My general "motto" is never rely on sticky $#1T if there is a mechanical option. That would be sewing in this case. But poking more holes in the fabric to fix leaks seams counter productive.
Tried a few pics in my garage but they don't really show anything. The damage is from abraision aganst the rock that the bent the windshield frame. A cluster of small tears and puntures. The top is black and there's not enough contrast to make out anything. Inside all you see is the black patches against the grey inner fabric (I made no attempt whatsoever to match the color). Maybe I can get more detail outside with better light.
- BTW Animals must make good tape(?). We have tape from ducks, gorrillas and now frogs! ;D
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Yes, but it is working very well. I am actually quite amazed by it's longevity and strenth of adhesion. Regular tape wouldn't have lasted more than a couple of days before the wind/rain peeled it off.
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pics if it ever quits raining...
- BTW Animals must make good tape(?). We have tape from ducks, gorrillas and now frogs! ;D
LOL
But stitching is the best repair, the stitching is not the last step, that would be the application of a clear urethane seam sealer with an acid brush. My first kayak was a old boat that was a wood frame with canvas skin boat, I had to do ton's of repairs that remained waterproof(hopefully), LOL Sewing is not a sissy skill, LOL, LOL, LOL
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pics if it ever quits raining...
- BTW Animals must make good tape(?). We have tape from ducks, gorrillas and now frogs! ;D
LOL
But stitching is the best repair, the stitching is not the last step, that would be the application of a clear urethane seam sealer with an acid brush. My first kayak was a old boat that was a wood frame with canvas skin boat, I had to do ton's of repairs that remained waterproof(hopefully), LOL Sewing is not a sissy skill, LOL, LOL, LOL
X2 on the sewing! I have a nice set of camo sunvisor covers I made when I rebuilt the visors. I also have plans to make a set of MOLLE gear compatable seat covers (out of my old BDU's)
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Update:
The iron-on patch didn't leak per-say but it did get wet (on the inside). I should have thought of that. The adhesive is not enough to keep a pair of jeans from soaking through the knees.
To provide an outside seal I applied some of the spray-on rubber coating ("As Seen on TV" - but Rustolium brand). So far so good. It's not really ment for flexible surfaces but it seems to have adhered well. I think it looks better than a sewn-on patch. Time will tell if it holds up.