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Stowing Convertible top  Rating:  Rating
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 Posted: 10-28-2005 10:22 pm
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edward_davis
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Hello.  Just another question as a result of spending too much time surfing up photos of Jensen Healeys. 

What's the best way to stow the soft top?  I was instructed in rolling up the top when I bought my JH, but I've seen several photos online of cars that seem to have the top folded down like a more conventional convertible top.  Can they all do that?  Is it bad for the plastic rear window?  What's the preferred way to store the soft top?

 

Thanks. Edward.

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 Posted: 10-31-2005 08:22 pm
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Mike Linn
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Ed:

you are correct in rolling the top.  Once you have the top undone, lay the material on the trunk and fold it in half by bringing the metal bar almost even with the headrail...fold the 'ears' in and roll from the back towards the front.  You will be able to tuck the ends of the metal bar under the ledge of the body of the car.  I added three straps and snaps, that allow me to keep the top rolled, and not to let it drap into the rear area...keeps the back cleaner and makes it easier to put tonnau, or boot on.

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 Posted: 11-01-2005 05:18 pm
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Jay
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I'm not clear on the procedure. When you say "Once you have the top undone..." are you implying that the top is completely removed from the steel frame? I thought that you kept the top fastened to the frame and just folded the whole assembly. I will look at removing the top from the frame and rolling it up as you suggest. A couple of photos of the procedure would be helpful. Thank You.
Jay

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 Posted: 11-02-2005 06:43 pm
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edward_davis
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The top remains attached at the front bar, the one that has the latches that secure above the windscreen.  You have to take the back end of the top out of the two chrome notches immediately above the top well.  This will only work if you've undone all of the snaps everywhere.  Then the whole fabric part of the top is loose, so you collapse the metal part into the top well and drape the fabric over the boot area.  Afterwards, you fold it back and roll it up as Mike explained. 

Just folding the top like a conventional soft top will make it quicker to go up and down, but it seems lie it would also put undue strain on the plastic window and on the fabric.  Rolling the top on my car by the PO's has made it last 30 years.  The key to a long-lasting top is to live where you never need to use it...

I'll get my wife to take some pictures of me stowing the top, and I'll post them this weekend.  Unless someone else has already done it.

Edward

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 Posted: 11-07-2005 04:11 pm
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nvandal
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Since I have a hard top for my car as well as the soft top, I disconnected the front bar from the frame ( 2 bolts ). I could then hang the top in the barn from the center of the bar ( connected to the soft top ) so it is unfolded. I've been cleaning it in this position as well.  Norm Vandal

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 Posted: 10-10-2006 11:43 pm
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Mayors Ride
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HI Ed,

Did you ever get to those photos?

Steph

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 Posted: 10-11-2006 01:25 am
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edward_davis
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I still haven't gotten a chance to do it.  Since Tennessee has the weekend off from football, maybe I'll do it this Saturday.  I've even gotten better at it, after reading some more posts here and also (surprisingly) looking at some MGB sites.  The ol' 'B has a simiilar "roadster" top, so they have to deal with the same problem.  They have the sidelights in the top, too, so it's even easier for them to screw it up and crease the windows.

Maybe I'll go ahead and post some pictures of mounting the hard top, too.

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 Posted: 10-16-2006 01:17 am
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edward_davis
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I was going to post the pictures at JHPPG.com, but it seems to be down.  I'll try again tomorrow.  If I can't get it done then, it will have to wait a week 'till I'm back from Canada.

Edward

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 Posted: 10-23-2006 02:57 pm
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edward_davis
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I've finally gotten the pictures.  They're here on the JHPPG:

http://jhppg.com/gallery/album138

I still have my album in the CA listing, even though I'm in NC now.  I suppose I'll leave it there, to reduce confusion...

Enjoy,

Edward Davis

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 Posted: 10-24-2006 09:12 am
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Harkes
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thanks Edward,

the pictures are very helpful. Now i can finally do it right.

Cheers

erik

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 Posted: 04-14-2008 01:13 am
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dwalls1
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Have been reading this thread and found it very helpful, but was unable to bring up the photos. Could one of you admin guys check this out? Thanks Dale

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 Posted: 04-14-2008 03:40 am
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Jensen Healey
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I can't even get my top to stow correctly.

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 Posted: 04-14-2008 05:02 pm
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edward_davis
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I moved my JHPPG photos to the Oregon folder to reflect my Oregon move but that should not have broken the old link.  It looks like the whole JHPPG is down right now.  I'm sure Dan is working to get it back up.

Edward


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 Posted: 04-15-2008 04:29 am
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dwalls1
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Thanks Edward!

      I appreciate the reply, though I am still unable to get the pics. I did put my top down this evening using the roll procedure and it stowed very well. The top cover installs nicely this way as it is apparrent with the top rolled as to how the cover works. I am disapointed that my tannaeiou (OK you spell it) cover won't go on over the top cover, but one can't have everything. Am going to try to leave the top down and keep the car in the garage like a California person might, this will mean my TR7 will sit outside. It has a new canvas top and should do allright outdoors in New Mexico. This should work 'til I can get the garage arranged to accomodate both, provided my bride doesn't expect her car to be inside when there's room.

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