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mising
Samba Member
Joined: August 01, 2011
Posts: 32
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 Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2014 9:21 am Post subject: Top will not close |
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Finally got around to replacing my windshield and repairing the mounting points where the windshield frame attaches to the base. It is now solid with no flex! The problem is, I can no longer latch my top. There is an almost two inch gap now. Are there any adjustments that I may be missing? Will I need a new top? It was fairly hard to latch before I fixed the frame. The top was replaced by the PO, so i am wondering if it was done while the windshield frame was still floppy. The top frame is decent with only some slight bowing. Any ideas?
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doublecanister
Samba Member
Joined: September 23, 2008
Posts: 1184
Location: Richmond, Va
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| Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2014 10:42 am Post subject: too tight |
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hey there,
when I replaced my top, I had a 6inch difference tween the top and windshield,
I HAD to park the THING in the sun and get the top nice and warm first. 
then it latched no problem.
make sure the top's frame, esp the bar right above the rear window is in
the correct place or it can make latching the top tough.
you should have a helper dont bend your frame.
Cant imagine you did anything to the windshield to make it that difficult to latch, you can only move the thing an inch or two forwards maybe with the window to body adjustment, as far as the window being too far forwards or back.
without pictures, my best suggestion is to get the top warm and try to latch.
I just put on a new convert top this year and redid my window frame gasket and cleaned it all up so I know what you mean...it can be tricky.
Hope this helps, post up some photos, maybe some of the real vw guru's can chime in!
hope it helps.
T
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2020 - Mustang Eco Boost [High Performance]
1973 - Thing
1966 - Mustang GT- Fastback
1951 - Ford F1 pickup Flathead V8 |
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74 Thing
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Joined: September 02, 2004
Posts: 7390
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| Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2014 8:04 am Post subject: |
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Put up the top and side curtains and leave it in the sun. Do not force it or you will rip out a seam. My top stays down all summer so when I have to put it up for the winter I have to do the same thing. If I have waited too long and it is cold out sometimes I have had to use a hairdryer to warm the vinyl top before I am able to latch it.
Good luck |
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mondshine
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Joined: October 27, 2006
Posts: 2769
Location: The World's Motor Capital
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| Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2014 9:29 am Post subject: |
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Whenever I put my top up, I'm in a helluva hurry because I'm caught in the rain. 
I always un-latch the windshield first. It makes it much easier to align the header pins to the top of the windshield frame. Once its all buttoned down, I re-latch the windshield frame.
Good luck, Mondshine |
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citroen
Samba Member
Joined: February 28, 2010
Posts: 1578
Location: louisville ky
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| Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2014 3:55 pm Post subject: |
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| mondshine wrote: |
Whenever I put my top up, I'm in a helluva hurry because I'm caught in the rain.
I always un-latch the windshield first. It makes it much easier to align the header pins to the top of the windshield frame. Once its all buttoned down, I re-latch the windshield frame.
Good luck, Mondshine |
You have a top |
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mondshine
Samba Member
Joined: October 27, 2006
Posts: 2769
Location: The World's Motor Capital
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| Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2014 3:59 pm Post subject: |
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I should have seen that one coming Dennis  |
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Ron Domeck
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Joined: August 05, 2007
Posts: 1466
Location: louisville Ky
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| Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2014 6:06 pm Post subject: |
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| I saw that on the news, Man puts his top up after 20 years, now no one knows him. |
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mising
Samba Member
Joined: August 01, 2011
Posts: 32
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| Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2014 3:54 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for the info. I'll try again this weekend and post some pics if I still have issues.
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mondshine
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Joined: October 27, 2006
Posts: 2769
Location: The World's Motor Capital
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| Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2014 9:18 am Post subject: |
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Just take your time with it. As doublecanister mentioned, get the top nice and warm.
You might be able to hook the latches onto the windshield frame without actually latching them down. That would leave about a one inch gap at the front. You could leave it that way for a day or so to let the top stretch, and then try to latch it down.
Don't over do it; there's no "Command Z" (Control Z) if you rip the top!
Good luck, Mondshine |
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mising
Samba Member
Joined: August 01, 2011
Posts: 32
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| Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2014 4:56 pm Post subject: |
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| mondshine wrote: |
Just take your time with it. As doublecanister mentioned, get the top nice and warm.
You might be able to hook the latches onto the windshield frame without actually latching them down. That would leave about a one inch gap at the front. You could leave it that way for a day or so to let the top stretch, and then try to latch it down.
Don't over do it; there's no "Command Z" (Control Z) if you rip the top!
Good luck, Mondshine |
Actually got it to this point today after leaving it out in the sun for two days. Gotta bring it in tonight though because it is supposed to rain. Sunny all weekend, so maybe I can get it latched by Sunday. No big rush though as I still have the engine out to clean it up a bit.
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GI Joe
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Joined: April 28, 2005
Posts: 2012
Location: Athens, TN
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mising
Samba Member
Joined: August 01, 2011
Posts: 32
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| Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2014 7:34 pm Post subject: |
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Finally got it to latch today, but it seems as I may have to end up having to redo the top at the front header if that is possible, because now it pulls the windshield frame too far back by about an inch and the side curtains still don't line up properly with the top latched. They are perfect now when the top is unlatched I'll give it another day or two in the sunshine while we still have some. It looks like part of the top may have pulled out already, see picture. It looks like the metal tab pulled out of the piece of vinyl where my finger is pointing. Is it possible to undo and reattach the top to the header to loosen it up a bit?
[/img]
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mising
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Joined: August 01, 2011
Posts: 32
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| Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2014 7:39 pm Post subject: |
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| GI Joe wrote: |
Sheesh, I knew the Thing top took a bit to put up, relative to say... A Miata.... But you'll never hear another convertible owner use the phrase
"...after leaving it out in the sun for two days... maybe I can get it latched by Sunday.." 
Lol.... The Thing..... Gotta love 'em!
Just give it time to relax....  |
Oh it latched easy peasy before I repaired the window frame, but I think the only holding it together was the paint, lol! I put a new top on my fiancees '03 Beetle and the I had to leave it outside all day before I could get it to close the first time!
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