Sunshine roof seal

David is correct. There never was a seal between the sliding roof panel and the roof itself.

The sliding roof support frame is of a “channel” section in four pieces and the front and rear pieces are slightly curved in length so that the rain runs to the sides. Each side piece has a short metal drain tube welded/brazed at the front and back. You then attach a length of PVC tube to each outlet, with hose clips. These discharge under the car.

There is a “U” shaped rubber seal fitted along the edges of the “side pieces” of the roof frame, which in theory stops the water running onto the roof lining.

As David says, If you have a leak, it’s generally because the drain tubes are blocked or rusted away. You can see the front two tubes as you open the sliding roof. Check these are clear. I use a length of fence wire, gently! The rear two will have to be done “upwards”, from under the car.

With the roof partially open, using a jug; pour water into the channel. You’ll soon see if the tubes are blocked.

Unfortunately, as I discovered to my cost, many years ago; the roof frames don’t last forever! The channel or the drain tubes can rust away.

My car had been sitting in a open barn for many years and I decided it was easier to have a new frame made. John Gillard from Classic Restorations was able to help. Obviously it was much easier to fit the frame before the car was trimmed, but one of the problems I found was that the four “legs” with which the frame is fixed to captive bolts welded to the underside of the roof; were not welded in the same positions on the production line. John had used the bolts on the car he had, as a template, but they were not in the same place on my car. It was much easier to re-weld the legs in the correct positions.

Generally if the drain tubes are kept free and grease applied sparingly to the runners; plus oil to the opening handle; the sliding roof works well.

However, sometimes in very heavy rain the channels can’t cope with the water flow and the roof lining will get wet. John Moon (TOC) has attached a thin strip of rubber to just the front edge of his roof panel. This helps deflect the rain into the channel and away from the roof lining. I have bought some rubber and hope to fit it to my Light 15 during this winter.

Hope that helps Jack?

Hi All

Jack, if I have understood the mechanics of the sliding roof correctly; there should not be a seal along the back edge of the roof panel, nor roof edge. I guess that someone has added this at some stage to try to stop leaks.

If you decide to remove the seal; the sliding roof panel is secured by a grub screw at each front corner of the panel, on the underside; ie. in the car.

If you can’t see them, it’s probably because the roof panel trim has covered them up. I can send a pic if you like?

If you decide to try to remove them; be careful! They are slot headed screws and if they have been in position for many years, could have rusted up. It is difficult to spray WD40 on without soaking the roof lining and even more difficult to apply heat. Mark the brackets so they go back in exactly the same place.

However once removed, the front of the roof panel simply lifts up and the two lugs on the rear of the panel (hidden at this stage), once located in the appropriate cut-outs in roof frame will ensure that the panel can be lifted free.

Bonne chance!

Martin

Jack

I will try to venture out when the rain in “sunny” Normandie, has stopped!

Martin

Jack

Good to hear you’ve sorted it!

I did take a few pics but even though they are JPEG files and less than 64MB, in total, the Forum won’t accept them.

So if anyone else wants pics, please use this posting and I’ll try to send them by email.

Martin

Hi Paul

Many thanks for the advice and Grandad here probably doesn’t know how to suck eggs!

The pics were taken with my phone, then shared to my laptop. They were saved as Jpegs and the total size for 3 pics was just over 10mb. The first pic loaded Ok, but the second was rejected as it ” was not a jpeg or was more than 64mb”???.

I did try loading them onto Dropbox and copying the then compressed files to the forum. Also rejected!

So I don’t think it’s the size?

Another annoying feature is that after a while the page you are trying to complete on the forum will time out, thus losing all the info you have just written!!

I’ve spent enough time today so I think I’ll leave it for anyone interested to send me an email address and I’ll forward the pics that way.

…Now… to search the web for “sucking eggs”??

Bon weekend

M

David

Many thanks for all your advice, but this is a bit too much for an old paysan in the wilds of Normandie, particularly on a Saturday night, after a day of “gilet jaune-ing”. I’ll have a look at compressing the files further tomorrow, but in the meantime I’ll pass the problem to the President; no, not Macron nor Trump, but Bernie!!

Bonne soirée

M