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<DIV>Gentlemen:</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I have just recently been fighting with this very problem on my freshly
restored BJ8.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>It seems that on most BJ7 / BJ8’s, in order to have a nice, relatively
wrinkle free soft top installation (when it’s up), it has to be installed
relatively tightly, and most are a bear to get latched. I’ve seen more BJ8
owners struggling with their soft tops recently – most of us are ageing (a
bit!), and don’t have the finger / hand strength that we once had.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>There are 2 components regarding this thing: getting the latch hook
to ‘snap’ over the fixed hook on the windshield frame, and then lifting the
‘tab’ 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 – that top frame applies a
lot of force!</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I have – 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’t yet tried it out. It may
need further work, so I can’t 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).</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>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 ‘tab’ for
additional leverage – thanks to John Wilson for that little tip. Haven’t
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
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!)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>PS – 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’m not all that tall.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial'; COLOR: #141100">Earl
Kagna<BR>Victoria, B.C.<BR>BJ8, BT7 tri-carb</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
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<DIV style="font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A title=phoenix722@comcast.net
href="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=insidedim@aol.com
href="mailto:insidedim@aol.com">insidedim@aol.com</A> ; <A
title=healeys@autox.team.net href="mailto:healeys@autox.team.net">Healey
List</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Subject:</B> Re: [Healeys] top frames</DIV></DIV></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV></DIV>
<DIV
style='FONT-SIZE: small; TEXT-DECORATION: none; FONT-FAMILY: "Calibri"; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; COLOR: #000000; FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline'>
<P><FONT face=Tahoma>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.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Tahoma>Mike</FONT><BR></P><BR>
<DIV class=moz-cite-prefix>On 8/27/2016 4:30 PM, <A
class=moz-txt-link-abbreviated
href="mailto:insidedim@aol.com">insidedim@aol.com</A> wrote:<BR></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE cite=mid:156ce56b2d5-5622-a35b@webprd-m08.mail.aol.com
type="cite"><FONT color=black size=2 face=arial>Hey Mike,
<DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>The only easy adjustment is the bolts at the latch that you
describe. Have you run out of threads? </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>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. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>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. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>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. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>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. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>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!</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Bill</DIV>
<DIV>BJ8 <BR><BR><BR>
<DIV
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: helvetica,arial; COLOR: black">-----Original
Message-----<BR>From: Mike <A class=moz-txt-link-rfc2396E
href="mailto:phoenix722@comcast.net">mailto:phoenix722@comcast.net</A><BR>To:
Healey List <A class=moz-txt-link-rfc2396E
href="mailto:healeys@autox.team.net">mailto:healeys@autox.team.net</A><BR>Sent:
Sat, Aug 27, 2016 6:28 pm<BR>Subject: Re: [Healeys] top frames<BR><BR>
<DIV id=AOLMsgPart_1.2_e8ca01b8-52aa-437a-8e19-e850e1a2a70b>
<DIV class=aolReplacedBody text="#000000" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<DIV>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?</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Mike</DIV>
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