89 Holdsworth Villa 3 - luggage rack drain holes

The Tardis factor (interiors, awnings, roofs etc)

Moderators: User administrators, Moderators

Post Reply
Chalawandan
Registered user
Posts: 32
Joined: 21 Apr 2018, 17:28
80-90 Mem No: 16514
Location: Hampshire

89 Holdsworth Villa 3 - luggage rack drain holes

Post by Chalawandan »

Hi,

I'm a newbie... ..now the proud owner of an 89 Holdsworth Villa 3 pop top.

When I set off to drive and hit a corner, water pours down the driver and passenger windows from the luggage rack. I can see there are some drain holes, appear to be blocked with mush... question is - where should they drain to, and can I poke them clear or is it more complicated (e.g. roof off) to resolve the problem? Searching the web last night I can find plenty on westy tops, not much of the specifics of the holdsworth.

The owners manual does remind me to keep the drain holes by the jockey stick/gas struts clear - not checked these yet, so same question for them I suppose.

I'd love to come and look at another Holdsworth Villa 3 - any owners in the Hampshire-ish area that would show me around theirs?

Cheers
1989 1.9DG Holdsworth V3 Poptop - “Bianca”
Golf, Touran, LWB T4 Caravelle, ‘79 1.8 Tintop T2 - “Smurf”, Mk1 Polo - “Ralph”

User avatar
itchyfeet
Registered user
Posts: 12427
Joined: 23 Jul 2007, 17:24
80-90 Mem No: 12733
Location: South Hampshire

Re: 89 Holdsworth Villa 3 - luggage rack drain holes

Post by itchyfeet »

They just drain to the gutter via a thin gap where no seal is at the very front, it's a bad design where the hole in is bigger than the hole out.

I drilled some 50mm holes and vacuum cleaned all the leaves and twigs out then fitted bungs ( postal tube ends)

I was expecting some rust too and the holes would allow this to be treated but I was lucky.

I can clean and inspect anytime now i have the holes.

at the rear the holes are covered by the poptop 90% of the time so I doubt you will have the same problem.

I think the water pouring off is because the roof has sagged slightly in places and water is sitting in the indents, that's the case with mine gets me every time, not much you can do ( park on a slope?), it's a pain too because dirt/leaves gather in the pools and stains the fibreglass.

where are you based Dan?

ImageP1090127 by Paul_Barr, on Flickr

ImageP1090133 by Paul_Barr, on Flickr
1988 DG WBX LPG Tin Top
1989 DJ digijet WBX Holdsworth Villa 3 Pop Top
itchylinks

Chalawandan
Registered user
Posts: 32
Joined: 21 Apr 2018, 17:28
80-90 Mem No: 16514
Location: Hampshire

Re: 89 Holdsworth Villa 3 - luggage rack drain holes

Post by Chalawandan »

Thanks itchyfeet , looks like a tidy solution and very helpful pictures. Can add some more work onto the growing list...!
We're in Alresford. You go to any local meets in the van?
Cheers again
1989 1.9DG Holdsworth V3 Poptop - “Bianca”
Golf, Touran, LWB T4 Caravelle, ‘79 1.8 Tintop T2 - “Smurf”, Mk1 Polo - “Ralph”

User avatar
itchyfeet
Registered user
Posts: 12427
Joined: 23 Jul 2007, 17:24
80-90 Mem No: 12733
Location: South Hampshire

Re: 89 Holdsworth Villa 3 - luggage rack drain holes

Post by itchyfeet »

Chalawandan wrote:Thanks itchyfeet , looks like a tidy solution and very helpful pictures. Can add some more work onto the growing list...!
We're in Alresford. You go to any local meets in the van?
Cheers again



you are not a million miles away from Soton where I am, you are welcome to take a look sometime.
1988 DG WBX LPG Tin Top
1989 DJ digijet WBX Holdsworth Villa 3 Pop Top
itchylinks

User avatar
itchyfeet
Registered user
Posts: 12427
Joined: 23 Jul 2007, 17:24
80-90 Mem No: 12733
Location: South Hampshire

Re: 89 Holdsworth Villa 3 - luggage rack drain holes

Post by itchyfeet »

Chalawandan wrote:Thanks itchyfeet , looks like a tidy solution and very helpful pictures. Can add some more work onto the growing list...!
We're in Alresford. You go to any local meets in the van?
Cheers again



you are not a million miles away from Soton where I am, you are welcome to take a look sometime.
1988 DG WBX LPG Tin Top
1989 DJ digijet WBX Holdsworth Villa 3 Pop Top
itchylinks

Chalawandan
Registered user
Posts: 32
Joined: 21 Apr 2018, 17:28
80-90 Mem No: 16514
Location: Hampshire

Re: 89 Holdsworth Villa 3 - luggage rack drain holes

Post by Chalawandan »

Cool, would like to take you up on that sometime!
1989 1.9DG Holdsworth V3 Poptop - “Bianca”
Golf, Touran, LWB T4 Caravelle, ‘79 1.8 Tintop T2 - “Smurf”, Mk1 Polo - “Ralph”

nesty
Registered user
Posts: 739
Joined: 18 Aug 2007, 13:19
80-90 Mem No: 4023
Location: Bushey, Hertfordshire

Re: 89 Holdsworth Villa 3 - luggage rack drain holes

Post by nesty »

I get this as well, I now remember to keep the window closed for the first few turns if haven't driven it for a while.

It also might be worth while popping up the top and going around all the joins piston ends etc with white Lithium grease. Use it minimally on the hinges inside, otherwise you get massive white marks, you don't need a lot of it. I use the WD40 one with the smart straws. I find helps keeps things moving, especially if you haven't popped the top up over winter and keep the gutters clear of leaves and muck. :ok
Holdsworth Villa2 1983 1.9 DG, 4 Speed, LPG & Petrol+underslung leisure tank

Chalawandan
Registered user
Posts: 32
Joined: 21 Apr 2018, 17:28
80-90 Mem No: 16514
Location: Hampshire

Re: 89 Holdsworth Villa 3 - luggage rack drain holes

Post by Chalawandan »

Cheers, I'll get to a full inspection if it ever stops raining! I'e only had the top up once for a few minutes when buying it - the struts seem to work well but it appears neglected as they are very rusty on the outside. I'll get to replacing them if needed, but if its just cosmetic for now will do some general preventative maintenance and a little cosmetic tidying, stop them getting worse.
1989 1.9DG Holdsworth V3 Poptop - “Bianca”
Golf, Touran, LWB T4 Caravelle, ‘79 1.8 Tintop T2 - “Smurf”, Mk1 Polo - “Ralph”

User avatar
itchyfeet
Registered user
Posts: 12427
Joined: 23 Jul 2007, 17:24
80-90 Mem No: 12733
Location: South Hampshire

Re: 89 Holdsworth Villa 3 - luggage rack drain holes

Post by itchyfeet »

my struts worked for a few months then failed in summer heat
replaced last year
1988 DG WBX LPG Tin Top
1989 DJ digijet WBX Holdsworth Villa 3 Pop Top
itchylinks

Chalawandan
Registered user
Posts: 32
Joined: 21 Apr 2018, 17:28
80-90 Mem No: 16514
Location: Hampshire

Re: 89 Holdsworth Villa 3 - luggage rack drain holes

Post by Chalawandan »

As it sounds inevitable - itchyfeet - did you go with SGS? I haven't seen any other choice when browsing around.
1989 1.9DG Holdsworth V3 Poptop - “Bianca”
Golf, Touran, LWB T4 Caravelle, ‘79 1.8 Tintop T2 - “Smurf”, Mk1 Polo - “Ralph”

User avatar
itchyfeet
Registered user
Posts: 12427
Joined: 23 Jul 2007, 17:24
80-90 Mem No: 12733
Location: South Hampshire

Re: 89 Holdsworth Villa 3 - luggage rack drain holes

Post by itchyfeet »

Chalawandan wrote:As it sounds inevitable - itchyfeet - did you go with SGS? I haven't seen any other choice when browsing around.

yep

took the opertunity of replacing the bolts with stainless, and removed and painted the top brackets.
1988 DG WBX LPG Tin Top
1989 DJ digijet WBX Holdsworth Villa 3 Pop Top
itchylinks

nesty
Registered user
Posts: 739
Joined: 18 Aug 2007, 13:19
80-90 Mem No: 4023
Location: Bushey, Hertfordshire

Re: 89 Holdsworth Villa 3 - luggage rack drain holes

Post by nesty »

My Holdsworth roof pistons all ok, though for the first roof yearly pop up around spring, I get that sticking sensation like sealed together. Gonna lubricate with WD40 silicone seal, I think that will help!

One of my tension retaining hinges is busted, but 3 still operational & the roof is secured when travelling.
Holdsworth Villa2 1983 1.9 DG, 4 Speed, LPG & Petrol+underslung leisure tank

User avatar
itchyfeet
Registered user
Posts: 12427
Joined: 23 Jul 2007, 17:24
80-90 Mem No: 12733
Location: South Hampshire

Re: 89 Holdsworth Villa 3 - luggage rack drain holes

Post by itchyfeet »

nesty wrote: One of my tension retaining hinges is busted, but 3 still operational & the roof is secured when travelling.

it might be secure but it also may pick up a resonant frequency and shake the fibreglass badly resulting in cracking
1988 DG WBX LPG Tin Top
1989 DJ digijet WBX Holdsworth Villa 3 Pop Top
itchylinks

nesty
Registered user
Posts: 739
Joined: 18 Aug 2007, 13:19
80-90 Mem No: 4023
Location: Bushey, Hertfordshire

Re: 89 Holdsworth Villa 3 - luggage rack drain holes

Post by nesty »

Ok thanks, It's hooks over, but the tension isn't there like the others. Though can you get these hinges anymore?
Holdsworth Villa2 1983 1.9 DG, 4 Speed, LPG & Petrol+underslung leisure tank

Post Reply