Soft maintaince after fitting hardtop

Rooster · Postby **Rooster** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 4:44 pm

Hi
I have recently purchased a hardtop, what maintance should I do to the soft top, (it is in excellent condition), I would think I should take hardtop off and put up soft top, to allow it to streach. At what intervals do you suggest?, and is there anything else I should I do? :oops:

thanks,
Rooster

Alex · Postby **Alex** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 5:21 pm

I'm interested in the replies
Mine is normally on for a maximum 3 months at a time so there is a few things I do.
I make sure it's clean and dry, so either the day after a wash or I use a dry cloth to wipe the softtop down, when I put it down that the sides have cleared the little stoppers on each side, press down on the rear window so it's sitting properly, put on hardtop then cover the folded softtop with a black vinyl soft top cover that I made
Then when I take the hardtop off I make sure it's a nice sunny day, after removing hardtop I park in the sun and pull up the softtop so it's resting forwards under it's own weight, wait until it heats up alot and stretches forwards before latching it closed

Garry · Postby **Garry** » Tue Oct 14, 2008 9:20 am

I make sure the softop is clean and dry, fold it down making sure the folds are clear of the stoppers and not caught in the frame mechanism, fit the hardtop then put a towel over the softop to stop the underside from fading. It's been folded for 3 or 4 months at a time and Ive never had a problem. When I put it up the first time it's a bit harder than usual to latch up and has a few extra wrinkles but after it's been up for a while and been in the sun everything goes back to normal.

Rooster · Postby **Rooster** » Tue Oct 14, 2008 5:56 pm

Hi again,
Thanks Alex and Garry, seems both of you have similar methods which apparently works OK.

Thanks again,
Rooster

Steampunk · Postby **Steampunk** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 4:21 pm

The previous owners hardly ever took the hardtop off (I have an NA8) and the rear plastic screen on the soft-top goes pretty browny and hard.
What car do you have rooster? If it's an NA with the zippered plastic rear-screen, you should unzip it, lay it down flat on the parcel shelf before folding the whole thing.

Rooster · Postby **Rooster** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 8:03 am

Hi 1red5,
Sorry for late reply to your message, as I have been away for a few days.
I have a 2002 NB, so I don't have the problem with plastic rear window like you.
Anyhow thanks for your suggestion
Rooster