Stained Devon roof vinyl

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NathanW
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Stained Devon roof vinyl

Post by NathanW »

Hi all,

Ive just purchased a 1984 Holdsworth conversion which has a Devon side elevated pop to roof fitted. The vinyl is ok condition but has some brown staining that I’m struggling to shift. It had a sticky feel to it so i thought it could be the vinyl degrading or maybe tree sap. Has anyone experienced this?
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Thanks for looking
Nathan

H Julia
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Re: Stained Devon roof vinyl

Post by H Julia »

Hi , I had the same problem. what I discovered is that the stain fades significantly in sunlight .
I found it disappeared almost completely over a week or so when left open and in sunlight. It then reappeared when the roof was left closed for weeks/months. It is a sort of iron mould I think and I discovered that it seemed to have developed from the metal handle inside to pull the roof down which had some rust on it. I wonder if the stickiness on your vinyl has been left by previous efforts to clean the vinyl.
Cheers , Julia
1981 2.0 l air cooled Devon

TONYT25T25
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Re: Stained Devon roof vinyl

Post by TONYT25T25 »

Hello, I have exactly the same stain on mine but not in the same place, mine was more near the front and therefore not in contact with the pull down handle, I noticed it one day but I am sure it was not there when I first bought my campervan.  No amount of solvents/cleaners seems to move it, like mentioned above it could be from tree sap whilst camping under one but cannot link the two in my case.
1984 Campervan 1.9DG Petrol WBX

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DoubleOSeven
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Re: Stained Devon roof vinyl

Post by DoubleOSeven »

Have you tried a diluted bleach mix? Good for mould removal & lasts.
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Re: Stained Devon roof vinyl

Post by Fugeh »

You could try a Flash Ultra Power Magic Eraser
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NathanW
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Re: Stained Devon roof vinyl

Post by NathanW »

Thanks for the replies guys, Julia had it spot on. I left the pop top up all weekend in the sun and it’s nearly all disappeared. Looks a lot cleaner now. 🙂

TONYT25T25
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Re: Stained Devon roof vinyl

Post by TONYT25T25 »

Have you time to post a before and after image, or an after image after the sun has done its work, as mine is the same colour stain as yours but more nearer the front no where near the handle and nothing seems to shift it annoyingly I just spotted it one day.
1984 Campervan 1.9DG Petrol WBX

NathanW
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Re: Stained Devon roof vinyl

Post by NathanW »

TONYT25T25 wrote: 27 Sep 2020, 13:20 Have you time to post a before and after image, or an after image after the sun has done its work, as mine is the same colour stain as yours but more nearer the front no where near the handle and nothing seems to shift it annoyingly I just spotted it one day.


Sure, I’ll take a picture tomorrow and put it on here 👍🏻

TONYT25T25
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Re: Stained Devon roof vinyl

Post by TONYT25T25 »

NathanW wrote: 27 Sep 2020, 21:22
TONYT25T25 wrote: 27 Sep 2020, 13:20 Have you time to post a before and after image, or an after image after the sun has done its work, as mine is the same colour stain as yours but more nearer the front no where near the handle and nothing seems to shift it annoyingly I just spotted it one day.


Sure, I’ll take a picture tomorrow and put it on here 👍🏻
Thanks look forward to it, the stain on mine albeit very similar to yours seems to be ingrained.
 
1984 Campervan 1.9DG Petrol WBX

NathanW
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Re: Stained Devon roof vinyl

Post by NathanW »

TONYT25T25 wrote: 27 Sep 2020, 21:37
NathanW wrote: 27 Sep 2020, 21:22
TONYT25T25 wrote: 27 Sep 2020, 13:20 Have you time to post a before and after image, or an after image after the sun has done its work, as mine is the same colour stain as yours but more nearer the front no where near the handle and nothing seems to shift it annoyingly I just spotted it one day.


Sure, I’ll take a picture tomorrow and put it on here 👍🏻
Thanks look forward to it, the stain on mine albeit very similar to yours seems to be ingrained.
 

Here is a picture of the vinyl now, it’s not the best picture as the van is close to the house but you can see the difference, and I think I’ve found the culprit!
ImageImage

TONYT25T25
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Re: Stained Devon roof vinyl

Post by TONYT25T25 »

NathanW wrote: 28 Sep 2020, 18:36
TONYT25T25 wrote: 27 Sep 2020, 21:37
NathanW wrote: 27 Sep 2020, 21:22


Sure, I’ll take a picture tomorrow and put it on here 👍🏻
Thanks look forward to it, the stain on mine albeit very similar to yours seems to be ingrained.


Here is a picture of the vinyl now, it’s not the best picture as the van is close to the house but you can see the difference, and I think I’ve found the culprit!
ImageImage

Thanks looks much better, cannot work out who the culprit is ?
 
1984 Campervan 1.9DG Petrol WBX

NathanW
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Re: Stained Devon roof vinyl

Post by NathanW »

TONYT25T25 wrote: 28 Sep 2020, 18:39
NathanW wrote: 28 Sep 2020, 18:36
TONYT25T25 wrote: 27 Sep 2020, 21:37
Thanks look forward to it, the stain on mine albeit very similar to yours seems to be ingrained.


It’s a brown metal bracket used for closing the roof. The paint is flaking from it and it’s rusting underneath. It lays on-top of the vinyl when the roof is closed so I’m guessing that could have caused it.

Here is a picture of the vinyl now, it’s not the best picture as the van is close to the house but you can see the difference, and I think I’ve found the culprit!
ImageImage

Thanks looks much better, cannot work out who the culprit is ?
 

TONYT25T25
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Re: Stained Devon roof vinyl

Post by TONYT25T25 »

I hope you are right, mine does not appear to be in contact with anything to cause a stain in that area, but will take a look at the tubing which keeps it taught lengthways. Just need a bit of sun now to clear it up.
1984 Campervan 1.9DG Petrol WBX

H Julia
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Re: Stained Devon roof vinyl

Post by H Julia »

Yep , mine was just the same Nathan! Had the handle 'powder coated' and that resolved it.
So glad to be able to help solve the problem! it felt quite like magic seeing the stain gradually disappear by doing nothing after trying so hard to remove it!
Don't think the it can be the tubing causing the problem Tony as that doesn't rust. You'll probably find the culprit on close inspection.
Cheers,
Julia
1981 2.0 l air cooled Devon

TONYT25T25
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Re: Stained Devon roof vinyl

Post by TONYT25T25 »

Thanks, I just noticed it one day, definitely not there when I bought it as have pictures since without the stain, a bit more investigating I think and some sunshine.

Just adding a bit more, had a good look today but no culprits, however did notice that an awful lot of grime collects at the exterior top of the vinyl  where it meets the inside of the hood, took me ages to clean due to angle of the roof and access, worth mentioning as it looks as if this area is neglected it could lead to further deterioration of the fabric.
1984 Campervan 1.9DG Petrol WBX

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