Erectile dysfunction

[garrythefox]

I tried for the first time this morning to erect the soft top.
All seemed ok but the front rail wont go far enough forward to engage with the top of the screen it looks like it needs another quarter to half an inch to engage. Any one have any ideas what I can try.

Thanks

Garry

[Stagsongas]

Hi Gary,

About a month or so ahead of you I had (and still have) similar poblems.

SWMBO and I stood at either side of the car and 'nursed' the hood forward bit by bit. It helps if you do this whilst the hood has been sun warmed and it really helps if you have the rear portion pushed right up, not down.

I still have this and other issues to sort out but I'm focussing on a broken engine right now. I still have not been able to shut the rear of the hood down no matter what I do.

Good Luck!

Steve

[Jeff]

I tried for the first time this morning to erect the soft top.
All seemed ok but the front rail wont go far enough forward to engage with the top of the screen it looks like it needs another quarter to half an inch to engage. Any one have any ideas what I can try.

Thanks

Garry

But only just engage front handles, do not lock them until the rear catch is in otherwise you will have trouble with the rear fixing catch.

Jeff.

[Tdm]

One trick I found with mine was not to deploy the rear part of the hood until you have engaged the front.
In other words - lift the hood out and fasten the front before undoing the clips holding the rear part, then slam the
rear part down into it's locating hole.

[andy p]

have you still got the back part locked to the roof, if so then with your right hand from passenger side you can pull the roof forward from the back

[V Mad]

One common reason for the front being difficult to lock is that the hood frame is sitting too low in the body and binds on the top of the b-post. If it seems like this is happening loosen the three hood frame mounting bolts and list the frame up a bit until the binding is eased. Also check that B-post rubbers are not too thick/hard which prevents the frame going fully forwards.

[ChrisLD364]

I think I've got similar issues.

It does go up and someone from the club stand at Silverstone (Alan?) has had a look and helped. I need someone who really knows the mechanics of the hood to look at mine. It might be bent or have dodgy catches.

However the only way I can make the front and back lock is to do the front first. I stand on the drivers sill and push down. Lock both sides and only then deploy the rear and slam it down.

Mine does foul the B post a little so I'll have a look at raising it up a bit.

Please update how everyone else does.

Thanks

Chris.

[martin]

Hi Garry, if the hood's been left down for some time, one thing that often works, is to fully open it, but don't try and lock down either end, then give it a good soaking, and keep it wet/damp for several hours at least, if that nearly works, but not quite, then repeat. Goodness knows why, but they can shrink. Martin.

[garrythefox]

Thanks for all your replies regarding soft top and car ramps. I am going to try all solutions given.

Garry

[StagnJag]

Hoods need to be pretty tight, or they will flap about at speed and look a bit saggy.

A firm shove gets the front engaged on mine and a good slam sorts the rear.

Rgds

Dave

[milothedog]

Hoods need to be pretty tight, or they will flap about at speed and look a bit saggy.

A firm shove gets the front engaged on mine and a good slam sorts the rear.

Rgds

Dave

I love it when you are forceful Dave

Ian

[StagnJag]

[flying farmer]

My hood was quite loose and baggy when I got the car.

It all went wrong when I covered it in filler dust doing body work. I took it off, hosed it clean then put it in the house to dry.

When I refitted it, it had shrunk quite badly.

I tried rewetting it but to get the damn thing to shut I had to resort to shutting the rear catch first, then open the bonnet, climb on to the bulkhead and sit on the front rail while reaching in through the window to shut the catches.

Obviously you would not want to be doing this in front of a pub full of spectators, so in these instances I would leave the rear catch undone and this would allow the front catches to engage quite easily without the open bonnet antics.

Fortunately after a year or so the hood stretched and now closes relatively easily despite the hard top being on for about 18 months

Neil

[keeny]

Just my two penneth ,I locate the front pins in but don't lock them down,then lock the rear hood pin in,then zip up the rear window ,now lock down the front catches,and as Martin says the hoods do seem to shrink especially if they have been down for a long time
Phil