New top too tight?

[mcvgums]

Got a new Gahh sonnodek top installed over Thanksgiving. It has been up on the car since. We had a warm day here and I put the top down for the first time and could not get it to latch back. The installer said it would stretch out with heat, but it is unsusable now. It took me two people to get it latched and that won't work.

What can I do to accelerate the stretching process without damaging the top?

Thanks, :renntech: Mark

[1schoir]

Got a new Gahh sonnodek top installed over Thanksgiving. It has been up on the car since. We had a warm day here and I put the top down for the first time and could not get it to latch back. The installer said it would stretch out with heat, but it is unsusable now. It took me two people to get it latched and that won't work.

What can I do to accelerate the stretching process without damaging the top?

Thanks, :renntech: Mark

Mark:

If the top has been on since Thanksgiving, it should have stretched by now, unless you are in a particularly cold area with no exposure to the sun.

1) You can get a little adjustment, which will allow the front edge of the top to come forward a little more by adjusting the front pushrod on each side.

2) You can also get a little adjustment by decreasing the tension that is applied by the tension ropes on the rear main bow. That will allow the entire top and frame assembly to "rotate" slightly forward and perhaps allow you to close the top more easily until it stretches some more.

If you want to try the tension rope adjustment first (because it's easier), just locate the adjusting bolt on each side, in the convertible top well. If you follow each tension rope down from where it is attached under the rear main bow, you will see a 14mm (IIRC) bolt head located just above and inboard of each point where the lower steel ball cup presses onto its intended steel ball. (It's the part that you must pop off when putting the convertible top in the service position).

IIRC, turning the bolt Clockwise will give you a little less tension on the rope. If your top is currently evenly aligned, make sure to turn each of the adjusting bolts the same amount of turns.

BEFORE YOU START TURNING each bolt to adjust it, MAKE SURE THAT YOU MARK ITS POSITION and KEEP TRACK OF THE NUMBER OF TURNS (or partial turns) so that you can go back to your original setting, if necessary!!!

Let us know if that solves or alleviates the problem.

Regards, Maurice.

[Peter Serbanica]

I install these tops in NJ. The installer may have pulled too tight in the front. Some tops come with the cardboard strip stitched in the front and some must be glued. You could steal about 1/2 inch by ungluing or opening stitches and releasing top in front center to sides on front bow. Taper adjustment from center to side, because you are commited on sides. A good contact cement must be used and allowed to dry. I never had to do this recently.