Club 80-90 Forums

Hi, can anyone offer any proven techniques to prevent the rubber seal around the pop-top from sticking to the van roof when it is not opened for a few weeks?

Mine has occasionally been so well stuck that it pulls off the edge of the pop-top instead of lifting with it. I have tried cleaning both the rubber and paint and then polishing the paint. Also applied silicon lubricant to the rubber but nothing so far has worked for any length of time.

Any suggestions, please?

You could try French chalk.

The rubber is probably deteriorating. It might be time for a new pop-top seal.

You have done what I would have suggested, having bought some silicon spray to do the door seals on my cars so they get a top notch service. I use Auto-glym polish and that makes the paint surface really slippery.

What did you clean the rubber seal with - I'm thinking that perhaps something in that has stayed behind and is causing further leaching of the rubber which is creating a sticky glue.It might be worth putting a layer of toilet paper between the seal next time you leave it for a couple of weeks, and see if anything comes out

Thanks for your thoughts, guys.

Cleaning the rubber - will only have been water or perhaps a weak mix of car shampoo.

Tissue paper - yes probably worth a try to detect any obvious 'gunk'.

The edge rubbers are about four years old. The pop top was built in 2015 and first used during the August Bank Holiday weekend. There is no obvious sign of deterioration.

Chalk will be worth a try if the present actions haven't improved things sufficiently.

Thanks again.