Hey all, I've had a tear about 2inches long in my top that was previously patched by the original owner. Looks like what he did was just put a patch on the inside and some silicone or something on the outside. Well the patch finally came off and now its time for me to do something new about it.

I plan on sewing the the hole together using a baseball stitch which I got out of an old aircraft maintenance book. After stitching, I was going to glue a patch on the inside and put silicone on the outside of the stitches to prevent any water coming through. So what do you guys think?

 

I would just sew it tightly and sew the patch to it from underneath...

 

I have a small tear in my top in the spot everyone gets them. I just used some black thread, sewed it, and then put some fabric glue on the inside of it. It hasnt leaked any water or anything.

 

So does it look like the thread is wearing at all from the outside or the top is wearing any around the stitches?

BearNVa I don't want to put extra stitches if i can help it.

 

My suggestion is to read the following link.

Vinyl top tear repair

 

sew it up. get one of those iron-on patches. apply it on the inside w/ a long bbq lighter.

 

energetic thats a great link, I think that would have been perfect if it was the first time it tore cause I'm having trouble cleaning off the left over silicone but i think i will take a lot of ideas from that especially with the iron-on patch.

Mike21 did you really use a bbq lighter?

 

What I did wass to sew a patch of top material to the underside and stiched through both.. Hasn't torn or let water leak in.. I tried to just sew another place but without the patch and it tore again.. It needs the reinforcement.. I haven't tried the iron patch but I thnk it would just peel off in a short time if you drop your top from time to time.. My patched one has held up vey well and I drop the top when I get the chance and here in SO Cal I get to do that quite often..

Saving for a new top but I'll be patching it up until then..

 

Well so far my thread has stayed there and isnt worn. I know every once in a while it will wear out and probably take 10 minutes to sew it back up.

 

yup. no way in hell i was gonna fit an iron in there. i sewed up the holes that form behind the windows. put a patch on it, torched it, and pressed it on. this was about 4 months ago. still holding up like a champ.

those iron-on patches work with heat.