Jammed Soft Top

[Bob Hinton]

Having problems with my soft top. Just bought the car and it appeared to stow correctly at first but I forgot to latch the pins when retracting into the stowage compartment. Consequently it jammed and it took a lot of pulling and pushing to release it. As a result I may have bent the frame as now I cannot get it down into the storage compartment. I have fitted new overlarge clips (stagwebber?) and although it now clips correctly with a bit of a push, the frame abruptly stops when trying to lower it. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[new to this]

hi

can you get the rear loop to latch in to the clips, may be the two small bars/arms have bent

Dave

[Bob Hinton]

I have been able to connect the pins to the clips with a lot of pushing and pulling (and some strange graunching from parts of the frame - not me) but now it seems even this is proving impossible.

[Ceejay 72]

Bob, I had a very similar problem with mine when I attempted to improve the centre rear latching. I inadvisedly slackened the three screws each side holding the lower rear hood bar to the forward bar, then after adjusting, found I couldn't get the hood far enough into the well to latch the tonneau - the frame was grounding on the rear arches. The relative angle of the two sections each side is critical and it took some trial and error to get the two each side into the right positions.
It could be that either you have bent the bars, or maybe just disturbed the positions of the three screws each side? Or do you think the problem is with part of the upper frame?
Chris

[trunt]

There are wire springs that sit in the hinge area. If they slip off then the frame will jam about 1/2 way back on them.. look down the opening down to the hinge area and make sure the wire is in front of the stop, not behind it

Terry

[jbuckl]

As Terry says check the assist or spring location.
Most stag soft top frames have suffered this tale it seems.
Instructions in handbook & on drivers visor.
A.T.B.

[Stagman66]

I had problems with my hood frame,took it to Chris at Stagwebber ,he lives in Surrey ,only 3 bolts each side if my memory serves me right, he put it on a jig he has made up ,a few bits straightened and the proper bolts put in ,done the trick . Only occasional lubrication to the pivot joints keeps it nice and smooth contact no:07518534111
Mark

[SaintGeorge]

Hi all, ive had my mk2 for3 months,and the hood has always been up , the material looks good and quite new as does the plastic window. But i have tried to lower it and stow it without success,its just needs to go down another couple of inches ! The frame looks original but intact and the the tension bar on the offside mechanism keeps popping out of position. i put it back in position and apart from that the frame seems ok. Now ive tried unzipping the rear window which helped a bit but i am still struggling. Am i doing something basic like not folding the material properly or could the frame be bent ? Any ideas will be welcomed. Tommy

[022Dave]

Hello Tommy,

Unzipping the plastic window and carefully folding the fabric away from the metal components will help, and certainly helps prevent crush damage. However, have you got the bracket fitted to the underside of the hood cover (see photo)? Mine was missing when I bought the car. Its job is to push down on the hood seal when the cover closes, so that the folded hood lowers further into the well.

Dave

IMG_0491.HEIC

[SaintGeorge]

Thanks Dave, i will look today and report back,but i think even that wouldnt help as the hood just doesnt seem happy folding flat enough.

[DJT]

Are the pivot points either end of the windscreen header rail seized?

[malc4d]

I put a folded duster or similar cloth between that metal bracket and the top. I found that on all the stags i've had over the years, that the bracket would not sit 100% right and wear away the front of the top material.

[SaintGeorge]

Cheers fellas, Dave the bracket is present, but i did notice another section of a spring the same side of the one that keeps popping out , is also out of place. It slips under a small welded bracket on the bodywork. I have now put it back but ran out of daylight so couldnt test it. watch this space !!

[SaintGeorge]

DJT dave, thats something i need to check thank you guys.