NEW SOFT TOP WOES!! Somethings wrong, any knowledgeable folk able to assist please?

[BartonStag]

Hi all, as the title suggests all may not be well with the new soft top I've fitted . Plan was to have it fitted by the trimmer, but due to work commitments that couldn't happen so had it shipped home and fitted it myself.
Much faffing later I had it on and left it a few days to hopefully stretch and settle. Then today in my wisdom thought I'd try to stow it and then re-raise it ..... bad idea!!
I struggled a bit to get the frame/soft top to collapse, but got there in the end - maybe due to new velcro and lack of experience, however, trying to refit it took 20 mins or more. The frame came out and the rear window section locked on the catches, but the "front" section didn't want to move forward, then at some point thought i'd try starting again - only to find the window section would release on one side only . Much pushing and pulling later i got the thing to move and it's now back up ....... problem is i don't know why or what stopped it in the first place. Obviously somethings not right, I'm not sure the two tension springs are acting/located correctly (on the mechanism not the ones attached to the body). Any thoughts suggestions would be very much appreciated folks, as at the minute the soft top STAYS UP - i daren't attempt to stow it coz if it rains the car interior and me WILL get drenched.
Thanks in advance
Gord

[Kithmo]

Aren't you supposed to latch the front first when putting it up ?

[Mopo]

While hood in up position take the bolts out the rear seat back so you can remove it for easy access to hood and frame. You may then be able to see what’s going on.

[dasadrew]

Good grief - where do I start!

Just been through several weeks of fettling as I was unsatisfied - like yourself - at how much a struggle it was. To be honest, I'd started to think it was a Stag "thing" until Klaus turned up in his Stag and I saw how easy it should go up and down.

A few pointers on my findings:

The major struggle was because the soft top frame was too low in the car on its elongated bolt holes. This meant that the soft top bottomed out on the top of the "B" Pillars and prevented it comfortably reaching the front windscreen holes. After I'd raised the hood in its entirety, things got a lot better, but it was still quite a squeeze over the "B" Pillars. I then compared Klaus' rubber seals to mine and found out that the ones available now are of very firm rubber. As a quick fix, I trimmed out a sliver of rubber in the few centimetres that bottom out on the "B" Pillar to allow hte seals to compress easier. I've got some different seals from Phoenix Rubber which 'squish' easier - haven't fitted them yet.

Regarding the catches, it's a bit fiddly bit they are adjustable in up-down and fore-aft direction after loosening the two screws/nuts holding the catch boss plate.

If you're fiddling about in the catch area where the rear bit folds up, you'll see one of the hood frame bits attached with 3 bolts each side. These allow the rear of the hood to be "elomgated" which enables the rear to be better positioned where the plunger goes and affects the tension of the hood in general.

The Velcro on mine is very ferocious - basically a good thing - but I have to really make sure it is separated along the whole length to be able to fold the hood.

I found that the frame can get very close to the bolt heads which retain the hood frame assembly in the car. Sometimes one of the frame bits just clips a bolt head, sometimes it glides over them, and sometimes it gets stuck behind one. By judiciously bending one of the main frame parts ( a really hefty "U" shaped lever") very slightly, by giving the bolt heads slightly rounded off corners, and by putting a slight bevel on the big major frame "U" lever I finally got rid of this annoyance.

Following all of the above, I just need more practice!

Drew

[BartonStag]

Kithmo,
Yes you're right the front is supposed to attached first, but the rear section has catches on the back of the frame, when they held the rear i couldn't budge the "front" section forward to engage the front locking levers - and that was a large chunk of the issue unfortunately!
Cheers
Gord

[BartonStag]

Mopo,
All the back seat and cubby panels are out so access is at maximum. But with the hood half up and half down it's still not that easy to move around and see whats going on - when i didn't know exactly what i was looking for if that makes any sense. See Drew's post as a guide, it may well be no single factor but multiple ones.
Cheers
Gord

[BartonStag]

Drew,
Thanks for the post ..... i think!! Looks like i'll have my hands full for a while. Easiest solution .......could you have a word with Klaus and get him to drive over from you - to Sunny Northampton and i'll also have a look at his Stag!! i'll supply the tea and biscuits naturally!! Seriously tho, sounds like a bit of an epic you had to get it right. The frame has been reconditioned by a well known company so am hoping it shouldn't need to much fettling. I'll check the B post rubbers and the height for clearance as you suggest, although i found the rear plunger a problem to locate as the whole frame sat to high in the adjustment slots, accordingly i dropped it down. I'll also look into the "rear" latches as you say there's adjustment to be had there and i'm with you about the frame being able to snag on the pivot bolts - that's one concern i have, hopefully wont need to go to mad with the frame tho.
Many thanks for all the pointers, i'll go back armed with these ready for round 2.
Cheers
Gord

[Guest]

I don’t attach anything until the window is zipped in, I then close the rear of the hood then I do the front. I find this way i don’t have to try to slam the rear down.

[BartonStag]

Ok stagstan, thanks for the pointer. Had another go at it, sorted out the incorrect spring positions and a couple of other tweeks, so now i can raise and lower in a minute or two