Dogleg grommet on later tonneau?

[Don H.]

Has anybody installed an eyelet grommet at the top of the dogleg on their TR3A/B tonneau? Any advice or tips?

 

Here are some images of originals:

 

 

 

 

[Lebro]

Yes I did on my new tonneau last year. Installing is not difficult with the right tools, tricky part is getting them in the right place.

My previous tonneau (1970's) did not have this cutout section, & I actualy prefered it, but most modern repro's do have them.

My new one was (& still is) very tight to put on, despite the fittings being on the edge of the fabric.

 

Bob.

[RandallD]

Don-

 

I don't have pictures, but I did it on my TR3A 2 years ago when I installed a new Robbins tonneau. The hardware with the tonneau did not have the grommet, but I sourced something suitable from an online source. Here is at least the type of grommet and grommet tool I used:

http://www.beaconfabric.com/vindex.html?cat294.htm

 

I hadn't seen pictures of originals, so I sized the grommet a little smaller to fit over the peg - it has been working fine.

 

Randy

[BlueTR3A-5EKT]

If you were local you could swing by and borrow my sail eyelet tools and punch.
I did the job on my own tonneau
Q Do you have the the bobble double length peg at this position?
Cheers
Peter. W

Edited August 17, 2014 by BlueTR3A-5EKT

[Don H.]

"Bobble length", Peter? Ya lost me on that one.

 

Every original I've seen had a standard Lift-The-Dot peg at the top of the dogleg, although it is indeed a tough fit to fasten both grommet and LTD. If you're suggesting using a longer stud in that position to create more space, that sounds like an interesting idea. I do have some longer-than-original studs I could use in this spot.

[BlueTR3A-5EKT]

"Bobble length", Peter? Ya lost me on that one.

 

Every original I've seen had a standard Lift-The-Dot peg at the top of the dogleg, although it is indeed a tough fit to fasten both grommet and LTD. If you're suggesting using a longer stud in that position to create more space, that sounds like an interesting idea. I do have some longer-than-original studs I could use in this spot.

Yes, well spotted, I failed to read the post before pressing 'GO'

Bobble should be double, and yes OE fitment was single length but the use of a double length peg eases fitment of the tonneau.

I'll post photos of the things on my car.

 

Cheers

Peter W

[Lebro]

I used a larger eylet on mine, it is just large enough to fit over the base of the standard length LTD peg, leaving enough room for the LTD clip to go on top.

 

Bob.

[Don H.]

Here's an update on the completed dogleg grommet installation on my tonneau. As several others have correctly noted, the "right" size grommet is one that has an hole diameter that will fit over the Lift-The-Dot peg. The nickle-plated grommets I used were size #3, (using whatever system that corresponds to) with an inside diameter of 7/16". Click on any photo for a larger version.

 

 

I used my much-appreciated cork borers to cut a hole in the vinyl-coated fabric and hand closed the grommet by tapping moderately as the small tool was "tipped" around the grommet to ensure uniform working. Pretty easy. You'll see the rolled edge of the finished grommet. This is different from the style and machine-finishing used on the original tonneaux. My handwork version stands taller, which means less of the LTD peg is exposed when the grommet is placed over it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some people will use a longer LTD peg to compensate for the height of a hand-installed grommet of this type. Triumph were able to use their normal "short" LTD pegs here because their grommets were different -- see the first post in this thread for details. I wanted to keep the standard "short" LTD peg so I mounted it with two small nylon washers behind it to raise it from the body. Hard to see the spacer, and the LTD peg looks perfectly normal.

 

 

 

Edited November 27, 2015 by Don H.

[Lebro]

Neat job Don.

 

Bob.

[rhino_mac]

Stuart has just fitted a similar style tonneau to JSK. I didn't realise what the split/grommet was for until I went to tuck the tonneau behind the seats while driving when all became clear.

 

My hood frame cover was too small so I was going to buy another from a different source but I don't think I'll bother now. The tonneau looks perfect when fitted.

 

Bloody tight in the cold though - took me 40 minutes to get on the first time and I bled all over it for half of that! I've made a mental note of the order the LTD's go on now. You could bounce a pound coin on it now!

[Lebro]

Tonneau I used back in the 70's had no split behind the door, it worked just fine, I find the split type a PITA, & not as waterproof in that area.

I don't usually bother putting the eylet on as it too much of a fiddle to get it all the way over the LTD, & then get the LTD female on before the eylett slips off.

 

Bob.

[Don H.]

I think your earlier car would never have had a split-style tonneau to begin with, Bob -- those came later, well into TR3A production when the position of the LTD stud at the top of the dogleg changed.

[Lebro]

Don. That would explain a lot, even with the LTD on the very corner of my tonneau, it is a real stretch to get it on the stud.

 

Bob.