I have a Robbins cloth top that I put on in 2017. About a week ago, in the heat, the glass back window just fell out.

Otherwise the top is in good shape.

I am thinking about trying to re-glue it, but wonder if I can get the old glue off the cloth so that new can have a clean surface to adhere to.

Plan would be to use 3M windshield glue and sandwich the joint between sheets of plywood and then weights (don't remove the top from the car).

I wrote Robbins but have not received any response.

Thoughts and experiences?

David

 

That sucks man, I LOVE my robbins cloth top. I'd try to fix it too, since they aren't cheap or fun to install. I don't have any suggestions per say but interested to see what you come up with, so keep us posted.

 

Def agree it was not easy to install. And my grandchildren were much smaller when they helped me with the rear bolts.

 

My top did the same thing. It was about 7 years old. Anybody I've known to try and reglue it did not have good success. They were able to get the glass ro stick but the top wouldn't open and close without it coming loose. I worked in a top shop and it was understood that, in the florida heat, 8 years was the lifetime. The new tops have a much better way of glueing the glass in. It should last for many years. Installing a miata top is a breeze. Don't even get me started on how difficult German cars are.

 

I have seen several glass rear windows fall out of friends cars here in the south east. I have seen OEM, Robbins, and cheap tops with glass windows fall out due to bad gluing. Not once have I seen the glass re-glued in and not fall later.

 

Follow-up. Will the Robbins Streamline Vinyl and Glass work with a Boss Frog double hoop MAX? The cloth factory style was fine.

 

Had my last one fall out too. No response ever from Robbins. They do have a lifetime guarantee on the glue failing, but good luck getting a hold of them for anything.

EDIT: Well according to the warranty section on their website, they now only offer 5 years. I know this was NOT the case when my last top failed as I kept all the documentation which specifically stated lifetime warranty on the bond from the cloth to the glass. Again, good luck getting a hold of them.

 

I just had this happen a few weeks ago as the Miata had to spend the night/day outside while I was reorganizing for a new vehicle I picked up. Glass is fine but sitting in the basement currently :-( Curious to see what solution you come up with and the outcome but as I am thinking of selling the car not sure I really want to mess with it too much since I have a hard top too.

Bill

 

Just curious for those who reported the top falling out, was this with the zippered back glass, or zipperless?

 

Zipperless for me.

Bill

 

Zipperless tops are what I have seen for the glass window falling out. Not sure I have ever seen a zippered in glass window, but I don't think I have ever looked.

 

Mine that fell out: 1990-2005 Factory NB Style Convertible Top with Defroster Glass Window, No zipper, with Rain Rail

EDIT: StayFast Cloth in Black. Charlotte NC location when window fell.

 

That is the top that is on mine as well.

Bill

 

Mines zippered, glass, cloth, defrost top. The most expensive one they friggin make. I've noticed the non-zipper ones put a lot of stress on the seam at the glass when you put them down. The zipper top I always zip the window down first before dropping it, making for lower tension when dropping the top. Just a data point but mines only about a year old, love the damn thing.

 

Following with interest.

My HT is more or less fixed in place. But the soft top is ragged, just a frame basically, and replacement is something I have thought about.

 

Good to know they make a super awesome op like that. I am in a NA with a rollbar, so unfortunately glass windows don't work for me. I will not give up a zip down rear window. It just makes the car so much more usable on super hot days. Leaving the top up, but side and rear window down and its great.

Honestly I am a fan of ebay tops now. I have used cheap and expensive ones. I just have not seen the lifespan on the expensive ones be worth it, along with them sometimes having the same problems as cheaper ones. But if your have HT fixed in place, honestly just remove the softtop. Frees up some weight and gives you a cool back shelf to hold kitties when you are out driving.

 

Yeah I am thinking of going with a cheap fiberglass hardtop from ebay and attempting to source a glass rear defroster for it. I am on my 3rd Robbins top now. 1st top started to fray after 7 years, 2nd dropped the glass after 5 years and the current top is now 4 years old. The quality between them has dropped as well.

 

Good suggestion, will be following up on that one!

Good luck with the glass window, they are unavailable here for love or money. I sold a damaged on to a buyer who was willing to pay VERY good money for the window. If you do find one, treat it with respect, not just for scarcity value but I am told the glass is easy to break.

 

Which did you get? Just curious, I tried the "budget" plastic window top from Moss and it ripped at the seams in about 2 weeks. I fortunately was able to return it, but I don't think I could risk it with a cheap one ever again considering how annoying the install is.

 

I don't buy tops with windows that don't zip down, at least not for my NA's. I have seen cheap and expensive tops loose wear plastic windows due to bending while putting the top down and such. I don't have any good recommendations on brands. I agree the install process is a pita, but over the years I think that the added cost of the "nice" tops don't always buy a ton more time during install times.

On a side note. I am storing a friends NB2, and the rear window fell down sometime last night. It might still be an OEM top. It looks like the seems ripped out more then the glue on the glass breaking..