TheSamba.com :: View topic - Full Size Straight Up Riviera Pop Top Springs

Sun Nov 01, 2009 11:58 am

The Riviera pop top is going back on the 75 bus today and I can't remember where the large springs go. A gallery seach shows some Riviera's with the front spring down low parallel with the rail. Other photos don't show any springs so I assume they are both up "inside" the pop top and you can't see them with a side photo. I've got three places to place springs and two springs per side? The only one I'm sure off is the back spring which is up high. Anybody know where they go?

Sun Nov 01, 2009 7:06 pm

My 78 rivi has two springs per side, attached on the upper portion of the mechanism, or up high following your description. The fronts and rears are the same. They are attached with their own mounting hardware (couple of clips bolted to the arm). I know what you mean by can't see them. I checked the pictures I have with the top up and the springs are not visible in any of the angles.

The rear facing mechanism on the back of the top does not have a spring, ie two per side for a total of four springs, with five scissor mechanisms in total. I can take specific photos if you want.

BTW if you have any nifty ideas on how to repair the plastic sliders that attach the mechanism to the rail, please post. Also maybe say how the mounting goes, because I tried to remove the springs to attempt a repair once. Lets say the top still works decently and I felt I was going to do more harm than good.

Sun Nov 01, 2009 8:11 pm

my 77 top is still attached they should be the same design, If you need any pictures that would help with your reassembly I would be more than happy to pop mine up and take a picture of any potion for you.

Mon Nov 02, 2009 2:56 pm

Thanks for the info. I installed the springs in the upper positions and the top works nice. Those springs take a considerable effort to install, its all I could do to stretch them into position. I'm not sure why the lower front position has spring retaining brackets. Maybe Riviera moved the springs but left the hardware in place, or had three springs per side at one time.