Hardtop weight

miata · Postby **miata** » Mon May 31, 2010 11:59 am

lightyear wrote:Have you weighed the latches by themselves? they are heavy. You must have the lightest hardtop if yours weighs 19.8 complete. And you also have to include the clips on the car and the bolts.

The clips on the car and the Frankenstein bolts, are part of the car and are fitted at the factory, they are of course available as a kit so that cars not ordered with the hardtop can be retro fitted but they are not included in the weight of the roof. There has only ever been one factory weight for the top and that is 19.8 Kg, (NA and NB weighed the same). That's why it's so easy to get on and off, single handed. It is a purely cosmetic, non load bearing attachment, it doesn't need to be heavy.

lightyear · Postby **lightyear** » Mon May 31, 2010 12:45 pm

I do include the latches and fasteners, as without them you can't use the roof.

GP · Postby GP » Mon May 31, 2010 1:18 pm

That's why it's so easy to get on and off, single handed.

Only if you are a gorilla with very long arms, I would like to see someone do it. It's quite tricky with 2 people

lightyear · Postby **lightyear** » Mon May 31, 2010 2:49 pm

I didn't have any trouble taking the oem roof off by myself. And yes, i am part gorilla.

miata · Postby **miata** » Mon May 31, 2010 3:26 pm

GP wrote:That's why it's so easy to get on and off, single handed.

Only if you are a gorilla with very long arms, I would like to see someone do it. It's quite tricky with 2 people

The only time I ever let anyone help me take it off (another MX-5 owner) we scratched the rear deck. It's MUCH easier with one. Simply a matter of, standing on one side (toward the rear of the top) reaching as far to the other side and lifting it straight up, with the far hand, under the edge of the top. The main thing is to knock it rearward first, to disengage from the Frankenbolts.

GP · Postby GP » Mon May 31, 2010 4:08 pm

Nah It's not possible for me I'm afraid, Am only 6' and 70 kg's. Cannot even budge it which annoys me as I would like to try it as a convertible again one day

lightyear · Postby **lightyear** » Mon May 31, 2010 4:12 pm

The only time I ever let anyone help me take it off we scratched the rear deck. [quote]

Same.

RobH · Postby **RobH** » Mon May 31, 2010 4:47 pm

I have always removed and reattached my hard top on my own. It takes a bit of practice and working out the best way to balance with it in your hands. Another worthy tip is to make sure your windows are down at least a couple inches.

miata · Postby **miata** » Mon May 31, 2010 5:38 pm

RobH wrote:I have always removed and reattached my hard top on my own. It takes a bit of practice and working out the best way to balance with it in your hands. Another worthy tip is to make sure your windows are down at least a couple inches.

I always put them right down.
Viewed from behind, the operation looks like opening the lid on a Grand Piano, using your hips as the fulcrum or the hinge of the oyster if you can imagine the comparison.

Guran · Postby **Guran** » Mon May 31, 2010 6:08 pm

Careful guys. You'll do your back in by lifting the hardtop that way. :shock:

I'm with GP on this one, except at 5'6" and 66kg, I'm at an even greater disadvantage! :lol:

Benny · Postby **Benny** » Mon May 31, 2010 6:21 pm

If you want to remove it by yourself, make sure you've got a nice big buckle on your belt, then when you lift it clear of the car, you can rest the roof on the buckle as you carry it away.

Mrs Benny and I remove the hardtop every time we take the car out, and it takes all of 5 seconds to do it, with Mrs Benny grabbing the curly cord so it wont scratch the paintwork (she's on the pasenger side).

I also have a hardtop stand, whcih is on castors, and all we do is take the roof off, walk it to the rear of the car, then tilt the roof and place on the stand and wheel it into the garage.
Easy peasy.

To put it back on, we just reverse the operation, and either way it only takes a few seconds to do.

I've also taken the roof off with various other people, and it was still very easy with no scratches or bumps.

If you are having trouble taking it off, or putting it on, you're doing it the wrong way.

Alex · Postby **Alex** » Mon May 31, 2010 7:02 pm

miata wrote:
GP wrote:That's why it's so easy to get on and off, single handed.

Only if you are a gorilla with very long arms, I would like to see someone do it. It's quite tricky with 2 people

The only time I ever let anyone help me take it off (another MX-5 owner) we scratched the rear deck. It's MUCH easier with one. Simply a matter of, standing on one side (toward the rear of the top) reaching as far to the other side and lifting it straight up, with the far hand, under the edge of the top. The main thing is to knock it rearward first, to disengage from the Frankenbolts.

Not quite how I do it, I find it's easier to put one hand at the front in the middle, another hand underneath the rear edge in the centre and lift straight up.

hethro87 · Postby **hethro87** » Wed Jun 02, 2010 9:42 am

30Kg Alan?! Wowzers!

Big difference there!

As for taking it off, can do it by myself thats what 6'4 wingspan is for! Also great for Small Forward position for bball

Hethro

toadcat · Postby **toadcat** » Mon Jan 13, 2014 1:36 pm

You guys really that lonesome you don't have another person around to help take the roof off?

It's not so much the weight (it's quite light) it's just an awkward thing to carry and wiggle off the frankenbolts by yourself. As long as you're both communicating and don't drag it over the rear of the car or trip over while carrying it, it's a very simple task