89 Holdsworth Villa 3 - luggage rack drain holes
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89 Holdsworth Villa 3 - luggage rack drain holes
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
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”
Golf, Touran, LWB T4 Caravelle, ‘79 1.8 Tintop T2 - “Smurf”, Mk1 Polo - “Ralph”
- itchyfeet
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Re: 89 Holdsworth Villa 3 - luggage rack drain holes
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?
P1090127 by Paul_Barr, on Flickr
P1090133 by Paul_Barr, on Flickr
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?
P1090127 by Paul_Barr, on Flickr
P1090133 by Paul_Barr, on Flickr
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Re: 89 Holdsworth Villa 3 - luggage rack drain holes
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
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”
Golf, Touran, LWB T4 Caravelle, ‘79 1.8 Tintop T2 - “Smurf”, Mk1 Polo - “Ralph”
- itchyfeet
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Re: 89 Holdsworth Villa 3 - luggage rack drain holes
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.
- itchyfeet
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Re: 89 Holdsworth Villa 3 - luggage rack drain holes
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.
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Re: 89 Holdsworth Villa 3 - luggage rack drain holes
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”
Golf, Touran, LWB T4 Caravelle, ‘79 1.8 Tintop T2 - “Smurf”, Mk1 Polo - “Ralph”
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Re: 89 Holdsworth Villa 3 - luggage rack drain holes
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.
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.
Holdsworth Villa2 1983 1.9 DG, 4 Speed, LPG & Petrol+underslung leisure tank
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Re: 89 Holdsworth Villa 3 - luggage rack drain holes
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”
Golf, Touran, LWB T4 Caravelle, ‘79 1.8 Tintop T2 - “Smurf”, Mk1 Polo - “Ralph”
- itchyfeet
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Re: 89 Holdsworth Villa 3 - luggage rack drain holes
my struts worked for a few months then failed in summer heat
replaced last year
replaced last year
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Re: 89 Holdsworth Villa 3 - luggage rack drain holes
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”
Golf, Touran, LWB T4 Caravelle, ‘79 1.8 Tintop T2 - “Smurf”, Mk1 Polo - “Ralph”
- itchyfeet
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Re: 89 Holdsworth Villa 3 - luggage rack drain holes
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.
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Re: 89 Holdsworth Villa 3 - luggage rack drain holes
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.
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
- itchyfeet
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Re: 89 Holdsworth Villa 3 - luggage rack drain holes
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
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Re: 89 Holdsworth Villa 3 - luggage rack drain holes
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