bigmalcy Posted April 1, 2018 Report Share Posted April 1, 2018 Hi guys Following a recent soaking, I've decided the time has come to get the soft top fitted to the car. I have the soft top and also have LTD fittings and 10no. new Tenax fittings (male and female) for the screen top. The existing male Tenax's on the car are much smaller than the new ones I bought a few years ago (from Rod on here). See photo below. Can someone explain the difference? The car is a post 60k model so i thought it should have the larger Tenax fittings? Photo of old and new is attached. I presume that to fit the new studs, all i need to do is cut down the threaded portion so it doesn't crack the screen? I have checked the thread, and it is correct, and screws a long way in before contacting the screen, certainly much further than the smaller Tenax. TIA Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ijonsson Posted April 2, 2018 Report Share Posted April 2, 2018 I would for sure cut the threads, even if you had one pass the edge of the glass, next one might not and you just need to touch the edge of the glass to crack the windscreen. I cracked a windscreen with a thread just .5 mm to long Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BlueTR3A-5EKT Posted April 2, 2018 Report Share Posted April 2, 2018 (edited) Buy yourself a set of these excellent reproduction items. Part Number 553827 http://trf.zeni.net/webcatalog/specials6.22/17.php Peter W Edited April 3, 2018 by BlueTR3A-5EKT Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TR 2100 Posted April 2, 2018 Report Share Posted April 2, 2018 Buy yourself a set of these excellent reproduction Part Number 553827 http://trf.zeni.net/webcatalog/specials6.22/17.php Peter W And even better - they have the special fitting required for an aluminium windscreen frame. That always was a pain. AlanR Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bigmalcy Posted April 3, 2018 Author Report Share Posted April 3, 2018 THanks for the input guys, but still looking for some background info so i can understand the choices to be made rather than just being told what choices to make. I believe that cars up to TS5513 had 'baby' Tenax fasteners. Cars after that had 'Standard' Tenax fasteners. True or False? From the photo, is it possible to tell if the smaller Tenax in the photo is a baby one from an early car? My car is TS72xxx so much later. SImilarly, does the larger, newer Tenax stud in the photo look like a 'Standard' item from TS5514 +? Finally - what material is the original screen frame? If it is not aluminium as i suspect, then the suitability of the linked fittings to aluminium doesn't come into the equation. Thanks again and looking forward to some pearls of wisdom... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted April 3, 2018 Report Share Posted April 3, 2018 The small Tenax are very small indeed and cant be mistaken for the later type. What you have in the picture is the original standard Tenax stud as fitted from new, the new one next to it is the repro type generally available now. The link to the TRF ones show the difference between theirs and the ones available over here. So if you want to be "Correct" then buy the TRF ones. The screen frame will be chrome on brass and when fitting new studs be very careful and check with a depth gauge each one and cut the studs down to suit otherwise you will break the glass. Also if you are going to use the above illustrated new stud do be aware that the thread doesnt go all the way to the end so it may sit slightly proud. Be very careful when fitting the studs anyway as there is minimal thread in the frame. Stuart. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lebro Posted April 3, 2018 Report Share Posted April 3, 2018 I have recently swapped my LTD studs on the screen for Tenax (the pointed modern type) I also found that they could not be screwed all the way down as the thread does not go all the way up. I fitted a small (M4 I think) Stainless washer under the head, & shortened the studs to suit. Bob. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted April 3, 2018 Report Share Posted April 3, 2018 Another thing to note with those pointed Tenax and the new repro Tenax receivers is they dont grip too well unless you make sure that the catch is pulled back fully. Stuart. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TR 2100 Posted April 3, 2018 Report Share Posted April 3, 2018 (edited) Stuart - What I really wanted to know is - I know the top part of the small tenax fasteners is (obviously) smaller, BUT Is the windscreen fitting smaller as well? My suspicion is NOT - but I wasn't going to open my big mouth just to have you put me straight! AlanR Edited April 3, 2018 by TR 2100 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fireman049 Posted April 3, 2018 Report Share Posted April 3, 2018 Hi AlanR ~ What do you mean with 'Is the windscreen fitting smaller as well' ?? Tom. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TR 2100 Posted April 3, 2018 Report Share Posted April 3, 2018 Tom, The tenax fastener comes in two parts - the fitting in the windscreen and the fitting in the hood. I know the fitting in the hood came in two (external) sizes, (the small early ones and the later, more usual, larger ones) but I was wondering if the internals were the same (so same size fitting in the windscreen) or different. Hope that is clear. My vague recollection is that the internals of the small tenax was the same as the larger tenax. But - I really don't know for sure. Hence my question to Stuart. AlanR Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fireman049 Posted April 3, 2018 Report Share Posted April 3, 2018 Thank you for that AlanR ~ Tom. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
doretti Posted April 3, 2018 Report Share Posted April 3, 2018 The internal dimensions of a baby Tenax button and a standard Tenax button are different. A standard Tenax button will be a very loose fit on a baby Tenax stud, but a baby button will not accept a standard stud. Ken Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Don H. Posted April 3, 2018 Report Share Posted April 3, 2018 The internal dimensions of a baby Tenax button and a standard Tenax button are different. A standard Tenax button will be a very loose fit on a baby Tenax stud, but a baby button will not accept a standard stud. Ken And as Ken notes, this is the whole problem with baby Tenax, of course. If a tiny stud would fit in a standard button there would been hens-teeth hunting for original parts. I believe the tooling costs for baby Tenax buttons has been what's kept modern production from coming to market. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BrianC Posted April 4, 2018 Report Share Posted April 4, 2018 Does anyone have the dimensions of a baby Tenax stud? I have some small (round not pointed) Tenax from some early windscreens which may or may not be babies. I guess it's worth trying one with a standard button. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
doretti Posted April 4, 2018 Report Share Posted April 4, 2018 Baby Tenax stud dia. = 5/32" Standard Tenax stud dia. = 3/16" Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BrianC Posted April 4, 2018 Report Share Posted April 4, 2018 Baby Tenax stud dia. = 5/32" Standard Tenax stud dia. = 3/16" Many thanks - I measured mine and got the same results. I don't know why I didn't think of doing this before. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dic Doretti Posted April 4, 2018 Report Share Posted April 4, 2018 Hi Ken I have some medium sized Tenax, the head is slightly larger than the small Tenax but they take the male part of the large Tenax. Where do they fit in the great scheme of TR weather proofing? Cheers Richard Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BlueTR3A-5EKT Posted November 4, 2018 Report Share Posted November 4, 2018 Off at an angle here.... LOXX make a thing that looks quite like a baby Tenax. They state the thing will not fit made in England Tenax, so clearly the ball of the peg is metric rather than imperial sized. Any one had one in their hand and tried it? Link to Australian seller of the fastener with image of small headed fastener. https://www.classicfasteners.com.au/loxx LOXX USA https://loxxfastenersusa.com/ LOXX maker in Germany seem not to mention this small headed version. https://www.loxx-products.com/live/marine-saltwater-proof-stainless-steel-snap-fastener/marine.aspx The challenge will be the peg and ball fitted to the windscreen, the body ones can easily be accommodated if metric. Keep us updated please as there are a few early TR2 owners seeking these things. Peter W Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted November 4, 2018 Report Share Posted November 4, 2018 Direct links here https://www.classicfasteners.com.au/loxx https://loxxfastenersusa.com/ https://www.loxx-products.com/live/marine-saltwater-proof-stainless-steel-snap-fastener/marine.aspx Years ago I had a German made hood for a 3a that had those type of fasteners and they knocked the standard Tenax into a cocked hat. Stuart. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lebro Posted November 4, 2018 Report Share Posted November 4, 2018 3 hours ago, BlueTR3A-5EKT said: The challenge will be the peg and ball fitted to the windscreen, the body ones can easily be accommodated if metric. Peter W Should be easy, choose the M5 version, & run an M5 tap into the screen - it's the same tpi as 2BA just a tad bigger in dia. then cut the thread length down to to suit the depth available in the screen frame. Bob. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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