| Anyone fitted a Duetto top with the tinted rear screen, or any comments about Duetto tops in general. Looking to get a new top when I'm over in the US, but wondering whether a tinted rear screen is even legal here (they don't look a heavy tint; either smoked or bronze tint for not a lot more than the standard top). I'm wondering how easy it is to fit a roof that doesn't have a preinstalled rainrail. (5/00) |
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Duetto is a good company to deal with. Tinted rear window is no problem. Installing the rain rail is no big deal. If you are getting a hood from the US then it's better coming without the rail. Most likely to get damaged in transit I think. To get it off the old hood you need to drill though a few rivets. To fit it to the new one you don't need to worry about the rivets. Just cover the holes both sides with pieces of gaffer tape to avoid leaks, then assemble using just the bolts, which will hold it all together. This is the official procedure from the factory manual. The rivets are not the nornal type, they are the kind found on clothing and uphostery, so I guess they don't expect dealers to have the right gear to do it. As they are only there to keep it all in one piece until it's installed at the factory, then it's Ok to re-asssemble without them. Most aftermarket guys don't bother sealing the holes left by the rivets when they replace tops or rear windows. Hence the several cars I have seen with damp rear shelves. (5/00) |
| Only prob I have with them is they couldn't sell me one, massive wait after 2 months I gave up, they agreed that was probably best as they still had no idea how long it would be.Shame as the price is very good/at the time they where offering a heated screen a the same cost as unheated. Wouldn't have thought tinted was a prob. laws only apply to front screen (I think).If your rainrail is fine keep it, it isn't physically attached to the hood anyway. (5/00) |
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If your rainrail is fine keep it, it isn't physically attached to the hood anyway. Really? I thought the rain rail was rivetted to the hood, and thats the mind-numbing bit. (5/00) |
| Only so it's a quick one man operation to fit the hood/rain rail assembly on the production line. The hood can slot loosely into the rain rail and then it's all held secure by the bolts holding the set plates, which go through the hood and rain rail. Of course, you have to get the old rain rail off the old hood, preferably without damaging it, but the rivets drill out very easily. (5/00) |
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Ok, I have this leak that is driving me nuts. I replaced my fragmentary original top with a Duetto vinyl hood back in May/June, following Duetto's frame-on-car method. I thought I had made a good job; vinyl sat nice and flat, no wrinkles on rear screen. However, now we're into winter in Ireland. Torrential downpours all the time. That old chestnut, the door seals are giving problems, by filling up with water and soaking the seat just like my old roof did. Now, I see how old tops give problems here, since the edge above the doors shrinks back, exposing a bit of the frame to the elements. Now my Duetto top doesn't seem to "cover" the seals as well as other Duetto hoods I've seen fitted. I spent this weekend (a rare sunny sunday) trying to adjust the top a bit. I virtually had the whole top off but to no avail. The sides just will not sit ofver the seals properly. And guess what...this morning, the driver's seat was soaked again . Whats the top tip here. Am I best to try and reinstall the top, frame-off car, or is there something I can do with the tensioning cables (stretch the tensioning spring a bit?)? Or have I got a dud Duetto hood (I sent off the warranty card to EZ-On, but got no acknowledgment; is this normal?) Exasperated, and damp.... (12/00) |
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I had the same problem, but with an old top, and found that the
following seems to do the trick. Fixed it for me, and many customers who have come in with the same problem. (12/00) |
| Cheers, I was shying away from the silicone sealant trick, as I reckoned a new top should be better than this! (12/00) |