Technical Hard top, doesn't quite fit.

[Zem]

Having finally decided to put the hard top on for the 'winter' and save up for a new roof and rubber seals I found to my horror that I couldn't turn the drivers side handle to fully clamp the thing down. :bang:

Several attempts later, checked the handle moves freely when off the car, checked the position of the hood cover, checked for any obvious blocks, back on, a few position changes and still the handle wouldn't close properly.

Passenger side closes with no problem whatsoever.

The first time in eight years that I have had a problem with the hard top. I can see it's not sitting right before and after the side levers are clamped as it looks as if its higher on the driver side than the passenger side.

Slightly irritating to say the least.

I went for a drive around the block and oh, deep joy, wind noise coming through, which can be made more musical by moving the visor.

I will have another attempt this weekend, but the car is going in for a service [including belts] on Tuesday, so will get the garage to have a look if I haven't figured it out.

OK rant over, and I haven't even begun on Zem's guide to hard top motoring about not being able to take the roof down on a crisp winter day.

 

[custard]

could it have warped a bit in storage?
maybe sitting in the car with the heaters on to get the interior hot may let it 'relax' back a bit?

 

[Zem]

could it have warped a bit in storage?
maybe sitting in the car with the heaters on to get the interior hot may let it 'relax' back a bit?

Hopefully not warped, it sits at the back of a garage on a stand, as it has for the last eight years. but it could be that.

I don't think he heaters would do the trick, probably better off with one of the local obese kids sitting on the top to push it down so the handle turns completely.

Once it is in place, if it is warped, then almost four months in the right position should help twist it back.

 

[LittleRedB]

Nope, you should give it to me for the colder months and I will see if I can get it to fit LRB - won't help you much but will keep me warm!!

 

[Zem]

Nope, you should give it to me for the colder months and I will see if I can get it to fit LRB - won't help you much but will keep me warm!!

Generous though that offer is, I shall have to decline.

The weather wasn't that good for making several attempts today, the only plus was that even with the amount of rain, no water got into the car.

 

[MattB2k]

Too tight on the diagonally opposite bottom left hand clip?

Fitted my hard top weekend before last and totally loving it. It's like two cars for the price of one.

 

[Zem]

Too tight on the diagonally opposite bottom left hand clip?

Fitted my hard top weekend before last and totally loving it. It's like two cars for the price of one.

Yep, it's lower on the passenger side, well just, not sure about it being too tight, as it's always seemed a bit of a bugger getting the rear clips on, [and off] and the cable for the rear window isn't trapped on the other side.

:bang:

And yes, two cars for the price of one, at least I don't have to look at the holes in the soft top for a few months!

 

[LittleRedB]

Just back from a weekend in Cornwall in possibly the wettest windiest its been this year - things were good up until 15.00 in Saturday when mother nature unleashed her full force on The Lizard! Despite parking on harbour walls in the full force of the storm LRB remained 100% watertight - and even after battling my way back to the Thames Valley through gale force winds and rain that you could drown standing up in I did not get a drop of water through the soft top or window rubbers - if only I could get rid of the drivetrain noise!

 

[Shelxs]

Very odd!
ARe you pulling down hard on the hand hole in the middle front while you try to turn the handle? That might help.
Also when putting mine back on I thought that it would be possible to slightly misalign the hardtop quite easily and still be able to clamp the back down. There is quite a lot of room for movement with the way it sits on the car. Maybe it just needs a little re-positioning?
xS

 

[Zem]

Given that it has been roof up weather and the b was having a service today [2nd time for the belts!] I let the garage sort it out.
They said they took it off and removed all the movable parts and realigned the clamps.
I'm happy to report that the handles shut properly and I have no wind noise coming through.