hard tops

Body, Paint, Interior and Trim questions and answers

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m-lo

hard tops

Postby m-lo » Thu Sep 14, 2006 1:34 am

so its my third week with my mx5 and i finally got a spare pair of hands to help me take the lid off :P v excited...i was stoked to find the soft top underneath was in mint condition and looked like it had never seen the light of day! bit of roof rub on some areas round the sides from the hard top....is this a common thing? and my main question is whats the best way to store it once you take it off?? Ive got got mine on the garage floor with a cpl of cushions under the rubbers...but it still doesnt feel like a great idea :roll: .they (rubbers) look a bit squishy :| *as per pic below* is this the best way to store them or can you stand em up somehow??
cheers as usual (this place is so helpful :D ) m-lo
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ps-no animals were harmed in the making of this pic.lol.its my lil buddy jezabelle.

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STV
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Postby STV » Thu Sep 14, 2006 2:58 am

if you own the place where you live, you may be able to rig up a pulley system to allow for a single person to add/remove the hardtop, and store it in the air when it is not on the car to keep it free from harm and allow you that additional space in your garage.

Unfortunatley, we rent, so that aint an option :cry: but mine rests on the chrome points at the base of it on a towel, and leans up againt the wall with more towels there too.. Sorry i dont have any pics atm, but i am sure you get the picture :wink:

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Postby JBT » Thu Sep 14, 2006 8:41 am

I think some hang them on a wall from hooks which engage the rear (chrome) lugs.
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Postby Fatty » Thu Sep 14, 2006 9:27 am

haha looks like your kitty has found a nice new cubby house. :D

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Postby miata » Thu Sep 14, 2006 9:54 am

I had a large towel on the floor of the garage and stood the top leaning against the wall, standing (on the towel) on the chrome brackets.
You'll find it's much easier to take off and put on by yourself than it is with two people. Just a matter of spreading your hands far enough apart, it only weighs 19 Kg.
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woah

Postby m-lo » Thu Sep 14, 2006 12:04 pm

you can do it yourself!! i like the idea of the roof pulley....was thinking of ways for that myself....like an attachment to the remote garage roller door so when you open the garage door the roof comes off etc...but i rent too so sounds like im off to the gym to bulk up for the solo effort :) how do you go about putting it back on by yourself? from the back of front first?...

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Postby Ben » Thu Sep 14, 2006 12:17 pm

it is easier with 2 people, i dont see how it is easier with 1 person at all.

i regularly remove and put it on by myself, like it was said you just have to space your hands far enough apart.

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Postby Bevan » Thu Sep 14, 2006 12:29 pm

MX5 Mania have their hradtop stands on special for $125 at the moment.
Call them on 02 94823238 8)

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Now that the warmer weather is coming back it's time to put the hard top into storage. Make sure you store your top securely with one of our handy hard top stands.

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Re:

Postby miata » Thu Sep 14, 2006 12:37 pm

Ben wrote:it is easier with 2 people, i dont see how it is easier with 1 person at all.

i regularly remove and put it on by myself, like it was said you just have to space your hands far enough apart.


The only time I did it with another person, he was also an MX-5 owner, and it was too hard to co-ordinate the movements and we scratched the windscreen pillar. 19Kg is the weight of a plastic bucket full of water, hardly gut wrenching.
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Re:

Postby Mr_Q » Thu Sep 14, 2006 1:21 pm

miata wrote:... it was too hard to co-ordinate the movements and we scratched the windscreen pillar ...

Are you sure you were putting the hard top on? :shock: :D Lift, step, step, step, put down on car - it's not that hard. :P

I've done it single handed once or twice and while it's not that heavy it is really awkward (unless you've got extra long arms) - and it's not something you'd want to drop on the car.
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Re:

Postby Bevan » Thu Sep 14, 2006 4:30 pm

miata wrote:The only time I did it with another person, he was also an MX-5 owner, and it was too hard to co-ordinate the movements and we scratched the windscreen pillar.
I thought you just plonked it staright on and then did the fasteners? :?

m-lo

tried n failed

Postby m-lo » Fri Sep 15, 2006 12:06 am

19Kg is the weight of a plastic bucket full of water, hardly gut wrenching.


i only weigh 50 kilos myself...i tried picking it up and shuffling over to the car earlier today...i wish i had of filmed it for funniest home videos :oops: . i got it over to car but couldnt lift it up :cry: and got stuck in an awkward position of almost dropping it on the garage floor & car, swearing lots and shuffling back just in time to let it slip/drop back onto the towel.its too heavy.waaggh! ok so i'm too weak.meh.
problem solved.bake cookies for the neighbor when i need to take the roof on or off :D

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Re:

Postby OMY005 » Fri Sep 15, 2006 12:37 am

miata wrote:I had a large towel on the floor of the garage and stood the top leaning against the wall, standing (on the towel) on the chrome brackets.


Same here for mine.

As for fitting and removing. Come to the biggest dodgy day ever and we'll give some instructions and how fit and remove the hard top.

Andrew. :)
Previously, White 95 NA 1.8 Hard Top,Stock standard
Now, 2016 Fiat 500x, 2014 Fiat 500, 2015 ND GT 2.0

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Re:

Postby JBT » Fri Sep 15, 2006 8:58 am

miata wrote:19Kg is the weight of a plastic bucket full of water, hardly gut wrenching.

.......errr....that's a biiiig bucket :shock: . Standard placcy bucket = 9 litres = 9 kg.
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