Shetland 535 refurb step by step

[bobtooke]

I've got the std poppers on the top of the screen with a std tonneau cover and I have towed distances at up to 70MPH without the cover breaking loose. Just to make sure, I usually throw a rope over the whole lot side to side and tie down to the trailer rails. In any case, the front stays put fine!

[Whammers]

Good info Bob, thanks.
Samhoods seem a bit paranoid, as if the cover is bound to come adrift. As an engineer, and more recently a safety advisor, I don't see why it should if properly secured.

[Whammers]

Another thing I've wondered about: How many studs are needed on the top edge of the screen

[Whammers]

Excitement... looks like a weather window tomorrow. Dry from lunchtime onwards. Blimey..

I shall try to get the roof hatch in place and an improved seal on the cabin door. The cabin could finally be weather tight. It might actually dry out!

[vreagh]

Hi, just counted poppers on top of windscreen ,13 in all. As I've never changed both hood and screen together, this would be the original number as new. My Frogeye has two lift the dot fasteners that hold a sewn in bar in hood. Anything over 40mph and the hood breaks away from top of windscreen if a lorry goes past, so it might not be a good idea to scrimp on poppers. Regards Keith

[daveflack]

Hi,just reading about your cover "poppers",my Black Hawk has both a pram hood & a tonneau, I use the tonneau when its on the trailer and this is secured by 4 twisty things on the cabin roof in front of the windscreen,I've towed it up &down the M6 without a problem.As in an other post it's below the main wind flow.Cheers Daveflack.

[Whammers]

Excellent, thanks guys. Theres quite a big difference there between 4 fasteners behind the screen and 13 on top of the screen! There's a logic in the difference though ( big difference in exposure to the slipstream) I'm inclined to go with half a dozen behind the screen for the tonneau which will be used for towing at 50mph, and maybe 10 on the screen to secure a full canopy which will be used on the water at 25 knots (ish).

I think I'll be going for turn buttons throughout.

[Whammers]

This weekend I had just a brief weather window on Sunday afternoon (when places not far away were dealing with serious floods)

However, I squandered it by forgetting to take my extension lead So no power tools.

When I arrived the tarp was off as usual. .

20151206_131012.jpg

I fitted the roof hatch, though the hinges still need bolting, and I removed the cabin door so that I could bring it home for reworking. More on this tomorrow.

[Whammers]

the seal on the cabin door, a flat 3mm neoprene strip, was not satisfactory and I decided to replace it with a more substantial D-seal. This meant cleaning up the edge of the door again so I removed it and took it home for re-work.

Just as well - the hinges already showed signs of galvanic corrosion. Why? Because dunce-boy had used non stainless screws! This will be rectified!

The door edge was cleaned up and the D-seal fitted. The finish was touched up and the door left in the warm and dry to cure. I still need to paint the edge black and get some stainless screws for refitting.

[bobtooke]

Hi, just counted poppers on top of windscreen ,13 in all. As I've never changed both hood and screen together, this would be the original number as new. My Frogeye has two lift the dot fasteners that hold a sewn in bar in hood. Anything over 40mph and the hood breaks away from top of windscreen if a lorry goes past, so it might not be a good idea to scrimp on poppers. Regards Keith

Yay! Another joint 535/spridget owner!