Ok....how do I get the top down?...no kidding

[kaptnjack]

I tried lettin the top down for the first time yesterday.

I had a problem or two with the top. When I first unlatched the top to lower it...the front top seal was stuck, I was careful and gentle but probably not gentle enough in retrospect and caused the weatherstrip to tear loose in about an 11 inch section along the roof....it seperated at the attachement rail but didnt break it so I think I can reattach with an adhesive and be ok. The motor and lift assembly checked out ok too.

The other problem ...after several gentle attempts to lower the top, it was about 6 inches short of going down all the way. It seemed as though there was way too much pressure on the canvasat the lower attachement points not allowing it to retract completley. I dont have a vert supplement and no previous experience with this model car so I may have missed something somewhere. It just wasnt right so I didnt force it. It retracts in a smooth and uniform fashion, the frame is not racked...it seems to be binding on the canvas. There was no way the top was going all the way down the way I was doing it.....Is there anything I need to loosen or unattach before fully retracting the top?

Something is in a bind somewhere.

[Crazy K]

how cold is it?

inspect the upper area of the top for broken parts. namely. the funky link that seems to break on many of these cars...

[Fleeingpepper]

the funky link that seems to break on many of these cars...


??
You mean the thing that's like a screw with a hole on the top of it or what?

[kaptnjack]

thanks for the tips.....

It was 75 degrees the first time I tried to drop it here in Tennessee.

I read the post about the frame link you described...it appears the tops action is very smooth and even on the way down.

The top is new canvas, new pads and new liner installed at the dealer one year ago.

Its something to do with the way it is folding or something similar...when its down the pressure on the canvas is so tight around the corners at the rear deck quarters that it looks like it could tear itself loose from the attachment and the canvas is tight as a drumhead.

I noticed there is an additional horizontal metal rib on each side of the window about halfway up....it kinda looks like that might be the area where the problem may originate. Almost like that rib is pulling down on the canvas. When I lower the top...all the pressure or tension is between that rib and the lower attachment points. For example....if the fabric was 5 inches longer between the rib and the lower attachment...the top would lower into place as expected.

Below are a couple of shots I took a week or so ago before even trying the top. You can see the rib I am talking about clearly in the passenger side shot...its not so eveident on the driver side but it might just be the lighting...Is the bulge normal?

see pics

http://justrightdomains.com/ragtop/P1010112.JPG

http://justrightdomains.com/ragtop/P1010113.JPG

[kaptnjack]

Had a chance to fool with it today and got the top down and the boot on without any major problems.

I dont really understand why I am having this issue but I figured out a way to solve it.

There was way to much stress on the fabric when trying to retract the top.

I lowered it about 3/4 the way down, got out and manually folded the fabric in a way that allowed more "slack", lowered the top and it dropped right into place.

only a slight inconvenience.