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Gentlemen:
I have just recently been fighting with this very problem on my freshly =
restored BJ8.
It seems that on most BJ7 / BJ8=E2=80=99s, in order to have a nice, =
relatively wrinkle free soft top installation (when it=E2=80=99s up), it =
has to be installed relatively tightly, and most are a bear to get =
latched. I=E2=80=99ve seen more BJ8 owners struggling with their soft =
tops recently =E2=80=93 most of us are ageing (a bit!), and =
don=E2=80=99t have the finger / hand strength that we once had.
There are 2 components regarding this thing: getting the latch hook to =
=E2=80=98snap=E2=80=99 over the fixed hook on the windshield frame, and =
then lifting the =E2=80=98tab=E2=80=99 on the latch itself to haul the =
top frame forward and lock it to the windshield. You may have noticed =
that there is enough force when doing this to visibly move the =
windshield frame rearward =E2=80=93 that top frame applies a lot of =
force!
I have =E2=80=93 just recently - learned (at the Penticton Rendevous =
Meet) of a couple of techniques that promise to help. One is to file a =
bevel on the latch hook to help it slide over the fixed hook. Thanks to =
Kent Lambert of Oregon for that tip. If you sit there and simply look =
at the bits as they engage, it will be immediately obvious where the =
latch hook needs to be filed. I have just done this, but =
haven=E2=80=99t yet tried it out. It may need further work, so I =
can=E2=80=99t yet comment. When I was doing it, it seemed to make a big =
difference, but the top was already up and stretched (and it was a warm =
day). Of course, once all the filing is done, the hook will have to be =
re-chromed. (at least mine will be).
The second item was a small assist handle made from a short length of =
appropriate sized conduit flattened at one end to slip over the latch =
=E2=80=98tab=E2=80=99 for additional leverage =E2=80=93 thanks to John =
Wilson for that little tip. Haven=E2=80=99t gotten to that part yet, =
but I bet it will nicely solve the problem.
One other tip, which really applies to any Healey: when the car is to =
be stored for any length of time, the top should be up and fully latched =
to combat shrinkage. ( that way, you can regularly check if you are =
getting weaker!)
PS =E2=80=93 I have installed a clutch pedal extender on both Healeys in =
order to be able to get the seat back further and still be comfortable =
operating the clutch. Makes a huge difference, and I=E2=80=99m not all =
that tall.
Earl Kagna
Victoria, B.C.
BJ8, BT7 tri-carb
=20
From: Mike=20
Sent: Saturday, August 27, 2016 4:45 PM
To: insidedim@aol.com ; Healey List=20
Subject: Re: [Healeys] top frames
Thanks, Bill. I was hoping for something easy, as usual. I am able to =
get it together, but it takes a lot of effort. I don't like to drive it =
with the top up, anyway, as the vision is terrible. I do have a mirror =
on both fenders, which helps, but don't feel comfortable with the top =
up. I'm too tall for LBCs, anyway. I can't put the seat all the way =
back and still work the clutch properly, and so I stick up with my eyes =
level with the top of the windscreen. Wish the seatback would recline =
further. Complain, complain! My third AH, you would think I like them.
Mike
On 8/27/2016 4:30 PM, insidedim@aol.com wrote:
Hey Mike,=20
The only easy adjustment is the bolts at the latch that you describe. =
Have you run out of threads? =20
The convertible top frame is bolted to the body just behind the seats =
with 3 bolts on each side. You could eke out a little adjustment by =
loosening the 3 bolts and move the entire top frame forward a tad if it =
will go. =20
Another point of adjustment is the windscreen itself which can be =
moved forward or backward a little and even tilted a bit. Too much =
adjustment here and your windscreen could hit the chrome vent window on =
the door glass frame. Follow the windscreen frame down into the door =
jamb and you'll see 2 bolts there. =20
A third way is to undo the vinyl at the rear where it's attached by =
little spring clips. This will involve removing the entire seat back =
assembly from the deck to get to the u shaped metal that is screwed to =
the rain gutter. Not a fun job.=20
A 4th way is to remove the hidem strip across the front of the top =
where the front wood bow is attached to the aluminum piece that rests on =
the top of the windscreen, then loosen the vinyl and move it back a tad. =
=20
Be forewarned that any or all of these adjustments can get you into a =
lot of hot water if not done incrementally and with a lot of =
forethought. Ask me how I know!
Bill
BJ8 =20
-----Original Message-----
From: Mike mailto:phoenix722@comcast.net
To: Healey List mailto:healeys@autox.team.net
Sent: Sat, Aug 27, 2016 6:28 pm
Subject: Re: [Healeys] top frames
While we're on the subject, my BJ8 top is extremely hard to latch onto =
the windscreen. Is there an adjustment other than the little bolts at =
the latch?
Mike
=20
=20
_______________________________________________
Support Team.Net http://www.team.net/donate.html
Suggested annual donation $12.75
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Healeys@autox.team.net
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_______________________________________________
Archive: http://www.team.net/archive
Healeys@autox.team.net
http://autox.team.net/mailman/listinfo/healeys
http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/healeys/kags@shaw.ca
------=_NextPart_000_0054_01D200A5.C5933B10
charset="utf-8"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
<HTML><HEAD>
<META content=3D"text/html; charset=3Dutf-8" =
http-equiv=3DContent-Type></HEAD>
<BODY dir=3Dltr bgColor=3D#ffffff text=3D#000000>
<DIV dir=3Dltr>
<DIV style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial'; COLOR: #141100">
<DIV>Gentlemen:</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I have just recently been fighting with this very problem on my =
freshly=20
restored BJ8.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>It seems that on most BJ7 / BJ8=E2=80=99s, in order to have a nice, =
relatively=20
wrinkle free soft top installation (when it=E2=80=99s up), it has to be =
installed=20
relatively tightly, and most are a bear to get latched. =
I=E2=80=99ve seen more BJ8=20
owners struggling with their soft tops recently =E2=80=93 most of us are =
ageing (a=20
bit!), and don=E2=80=99t have the finger / hand strength that we once =
had.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>There are 2 components regarding this thing: getting the =
latch hook=20
to =E2=80=98snap=E2=80=99 over the fixed hook on the windshield frame, =
and then lifting the=20
=E2=80=98tab=E2=80=99 on the latch itself to haul the top frame forward =
and lock it to the=20
windshield. You may have noticed that there is enough force when =
doing=20
this to visibly move the windshield frame rearward =E2=80=93 that top =
frame applies a=20
lot of force!</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I have =E2=80=93 just recently - learned (at the Penticton =
Rendevous Meet) of a=20
couple of techniques that promise to help. One is to file a bevel =
on the=20
latch hook to help it slide over the fixed hook. Thanks to Kent =
Lambert of=20
Oregon for that tip. If you sit there and simply look at the bits =
as they=20
engage, it will be immediately obvious where the latch hook needs to be=20
filed. I have just done this, but haven=E2=80=99t yet tried it =
out. It may=20
need further work, so I can=E2=80=99t yet comment. When I was =
doing it, it seemed=20
to make a big difference, but the top was already up and stretched (and =
it was a=20
warm day). Of course, once all the filing is done, the hook will =
have to=20
be re-chromed. (at least mine will be).</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>The second item was a small assist handle made from a short length =
of=20
appropriate sized conduit flattened at one end to slip over the latch =
=E2=80=98tab=E2=80=99 for=20
additional leverage =E2=80=93 thanks to John Wilson for that little =
tip. Haven=E2=80=99t=20
gotten to that part yet, but I bet it will nicely solve the =
problem.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>One other tip, which really applies to any Healey: when the =
car is to=20
be stored for any length of time, the top should be up and fully latched =
to=20
combat shrinkage. ( that way, you can regularly check if you are getting =
weaker!)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>PS =E2=80=93 I have installed a clutch pedal extender on both =
Healeys in order to=20
be able to get the seat back further and still be comfortable operating =
the=20
clutch. Makes a huge difference, and I=E2=80=99m not all that =
tall.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial'; COLOR: =
#141100">Earl=20
Kagna<BR>Victoria, B.C.<BR>BJ8, BT7 tri-carb</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV=20
style=3D'FONT-SIZE: small; TEXT-DECORATION: none; FONT-FAMILY: =
"Calibri"; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; COLOR: #000000; FONT-STYLE: normal; =
DISPLAY: inline'>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt tahoma">
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV style=3D"BACKGROUND: #f5f5f5">
<DIV style=3D"font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A =
title=3Dphoenix722@comcast.net=20
href=3D"mailto:phoenix722@comcast.net";>Mike</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, August 27, 2016 4:45 PM</DIV>
<DIV><B>To:</B> <A title=3Dinsidedim@aol.com=20
href=3D"mailto:insidedim@aol.com";>insidedim@aol.com</A> ; <A=20
title=3Dhealeys@autox.team.net =
href=3D"mailto:healeys@autox.team.net";>Healey=20
List</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Subject:</B> Re: [Healeys] top frames</DIV></DIV></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV></DIV>
<DIV=20
style=3D'FONT-SIZE: small; TEXT-DECORATION: none; FONT-FAMILY: =
"Calibri"; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; COLOR: #000000; FONT-STYLE: normal; =
DISPLAY: inline'>
<P><FONT face=3DTahoma>Thanks, Bill. I was hoping for something =
easy, as=20
usual. I am able to get it together, but it takes a lot of =
effort. I=20
don't like to drive it with the top up, anyway, as the vision is =
terrible. =20
I do have a mirror on both fenders, which helps, but don't feel =
comfortable with=20
the top up. I'm too tall for LBCs, anyway. I can't put the =
seat all=20
the way back and still work the clutch properly, and so I stick up with =
my eyes=20
level with the top of the windscreen. Wish the seatback would =
recline=20
further. Complain, complain! My third AH, you would think I =
like=20
them.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=3DTahoma>Mike</FONT><BR></P><BR>
<DIV class=3Dmoz-cite-prefix>On 8/27/2016 4:30 PM, <A=20
class=3Dmoz-txt-link-abbreviated=20
href=3D"mailto:insidedim@aol.com";>insidedim@aol.com</A> wrote:<BR></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE cite=3Dmid:156ce56b2d5-5622-a35b@webprd-m08.mail.aol.com=20
type=3D"cite"><FONT color=3Dblack size=3D2 face=3Darial>Hey Mike,=20
<DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>The only easy adjustment is the bolts at the latch that you=20
describe. Have you run out of threads? </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>The convertible top frame is bolted to the body just behind the =
seats=20
with 3 bolts on each side. You could eke out a little adjustment =
by=20
loosening the 3 bolts and move the entire top frame forward a tad if =
it will=20
go. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Another point of adjustment is the windscreen itself which can be =
moved=20
forward or backward a little and even tilted a bit. Too much =
adjustment=20
here and your windscreen could hit the chrome vent window on the =
door=20
glass frame. Follow the windscreen frame down into the door jamb =
and=20
you'll see 2 bolts there. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>A third way is to undo the vinyl at the rear where it's attached =
by=20
little spring clips. This will involve removing the entire seat =
back=20
assembly from the deck to get to the u shaped metal that is screwed to =
the=20
rain gutter. Not a fun job. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>A 4th way is to remove the hidem strip across the front of the =
top where=20
the front wood bow is attached to the aluminum piece that rests on the =
top of=20
the windscreen, then loosen the vinyl and move it back a tad. =
</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Be forewarned that any or all of these adjustments can get you =
into a lot=20
of hot water if not done incrementally and with a lot of =
forethought. =20
Ask me how I know!</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Bill</DIV>
<DIV>BJ8 <BR><BR><BR>
<DIV=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: helvetica,arial; COLOR: =
black">-----Original=20
Message-----<BR>From: Mike <A class=3Dmoz-txt-link-rfc2396E=20
=
href=3D"mailto:phoenix722@comcast.net";>mailto:phoenix722@comcast.net</A><=
BR>To:=20
Healey List <A class=3Dmoz-txt-link-rfc2396E=20
=
href=3D"mailto:healeys@autox.team.net";>mailto:healeys@autox.team.net</A><=
BR>Sent:=20
Sat, Aug 27, 2016 6:28 pm<BR>Subject: Re: [Healeys] top frames<BR><BR>
<DIV id=3DAOLMsgPart_1.2_e8ca01b8-52aa-437a-8e19-e850e1a2a70b>
<DIV class=3DaolReplacedBody text=3D"#000000" bgcolor=3D"#FFFFFF">
<DIV>While we're on the subject, my BJ8 top is extremely hard to latch =
onto=20
the windscreen. Is there an adjustment other than the little =
bolts at=20
the latch?</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Mike</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE cite=3Dabout:blank>
<DIV id=3Ddivtagdefaultwrapper=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: =
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