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Just to play it safe, stuff some dish towels snugly under the rear window inside the car. If water penetrates the top/glass, it will be absorbed by the towels instead of flowing into the fuse box in between the rear seats. If you wrap paper towels around the dish towels any leakage will be more apparent.
I can confirm that the top is indeed leaking at that edge. Has anyone else not had this problem with the Rhino glue? What other option do I have now? Just undo that edge and add more Rhino glue?
Maybe consider running a bead of clear silicone around the edge. Let the Rhino glue add the strength, and the silicone as a water barrier. I have used silicone on my BMW top before.
I'm in the same boat. Window separated completely on top
Glad I found this thread. So it appears Rhyno glue is the best option ?
My concern is , it appears my top has shrunk as I'm not able to put the top to go over the window where it originally attached. Any way to remedy this ?
let me know if anyone has a set of clamps their not using to sell me.
You might be able to stretch your canvas top by soaking it with hot water and finding the right clamps that can hold and pull the shrunken area back into place. You'll probably have to do this repeatedly to stretch it enough while it's drying. Stuffing some towels between the top bows and the fabric might help with the stretch. Fortunately, you're in San Diego where it's still warm - but maybe not hot enough - for the top to dry fast enough outside. So you might need to use a space heater in your garage.
I noted from your Personal Profile thay you have a 2008 XKR. Since it's over 10 years old, you might want to invest in a new top. An OEM-quality aftermarket top costs around $2K installed.
You might be able to stretch your canvas top by soaking it with hot water and finding the right clamps that can hold and pull the shrunken area back into place. You'll probably have to do this repeatedly to stretch it enough while it's drying. Stuffing some towels between the top bows and the fabric might help with the stretch. Fortunately, you're in San Diego where it's still warm - but maybe not hot enough - for the top to dry fast enough outside. So you might need to use a space heater in your garage.
I noted from your Personal Profile thay you have a 2008 XKR. Since it's over 10 years old, you might want to invest in a new top. An OEM-quality aftermarket top costs around $2K installed.
Thanks thanks for the tips I'll try the hot water trick. Honestly my convertible top looks like brand-new other for this window issue the car has been garage all its life so really kind of waste of money on a new top if I can get this window fixed
Be sure to place a large sheet of plastic under the top to prevent any water from entering the rear compartment that houses the fuse box between the rear seats. Prop up that plastic with some towels to angle it so the water runs off properly.
I understand how you feel because my XKR has always been garaged and, except for some minor wear marks on the sides where it folds, my top is like new. Fortunately, my top didn't shrink as much as yours, and the window that I reattached with Rhino Glue and Suck N Clamps is still holding up well.
Good luck and thanks in advance for keeping us informed of your progress.
P.S. Hold off buying the Rhino Glue and Suck n Clamps until after you get the top stretched. You'll probably have to partially open the top in order to have some slack in order to get the fabric to stretch. It took 10 years for it to shrink, so don't expect to stretch it back overnight. Try to measure your progress, and if it's too slow you probably have no choice but to get a new top. But it's just an investment in your time and the clamps to stretch the fabric, so it's worth a try.
Last edited by Stuart S; 11-07-2018 at 10:09 AM.
Reason: Added P.S.
Well looking at your top it appears it is done for. Anything you do is just a patch as the material is starting to frey. Unfortunately it's time for a new top.
I've got an 07 that had the window separate. I'm trying to coax another couple years out of it. I took it to a local top shop and they reattached it with a glazing compound for $100. Well worth the money. You can see a small bead around the perimeter but it's holding.
I must post an update !
im happy to report back gluing window back in was easier than I though and went very smoothly. Im not sure that Rhyno glue is 100 % water proof so in aditional I put a thin line of black silicone around the edge. Window looks like factory. Just hoping that it will hold
I'm glad it worked for you! The top looks great! How did you stretch the fabric - like I suggested or something else? If you didn't glue all the way around the glass, you can expect the portion without the new glue to eventually separate (mine did). But that's an easy fix.
I'm glad it worked for you! The top looks great! How did you stretch the fabric - like I suggested or something else? If you didn't glue all the way around the glass, you can expect the portion without the new glue to eventually separate (mine did). But that's an easy fix.
Well honestly I am a little worried about that, the top is closed but there's definitely tension there. To get it to close I pulled the car out in the sun to warm it up and I rubbed a bit of the top protector stuff in to make it a little wetter. It closed just fine . I just hope it holds.
Hello Gents.. I wouldn't be here unless I was in the same boat with all y'all. This separation occurred along the bottom of the window and moves about 2" up each side. This misfortune just happened in the last few days and I'm gonna try the repairs myself, as others have, once the skies dry out.
Lots of great info regarding products and procedure in here. Thank you all for that! To be continued...