Pagoda Roof Operation/Demonstration

[gullwing71]

Great video by Brabus...

https://youtu.be/dcvG2HfMat4

Why do they use the 2 separate clear plastic sheets for the rear sides?  Protection for

[Peter]

To make the fabric go easier in and to protect the paint.

[georgem]

hat makes me shake my head is the ease with which the two guys casually lift the hard top on and off - have they been taking strength tablets?. although I did notice when they were putting it back on that the guy on the far side was going red and blowing a bit.

Same same for the original Pagoda promotional video - but I figured those guys were from the German weight lifting team

[specracer]

Also protects the gasket that is there

To make the fabric go easier in and to protect the paint.

[thelews]

more the gasket than the paint (a non-issue IMO).  The gasket will be destroyed over time.

[pj]

Ah, the topic that keeps on giving :-)

We had quite a little discussion about this at Dan's event on Saturday. Someone -- perhaps it was Denny (pagoden) -- had some difficulty getting the various interlocks to go in the correct order. It was fun watching a few of the guys struggling with it. I hope it got resolved.

In this video (that gullwing71 linked), you can see the infamous "Stoffabweiser" at 2m00sec, on the inside of the canvas, on the right side. Alfred has used the translation "fabric deflector" but it's called a "hold-off wire" in English on the SLS page
https://www.sls-hh-shop.de/main/en/77-79-softtop-hardtop-77-a-softtop-frame-and-equipment-c-3_2345_93
where it's index number 26. It's 17 Euros for a piece of wire! Couldn't someone with a machine shop whip these up for a nickel each?

Also, at 3m30sec, what's this about "Turn the fastening bolts in the outer position"? I'd never heard that before.

[dpreston Virginia]

RE: Video showing two Clear Plastic Sheets used in closing (storing) the convertible top down.
I was using drop cloth plastic to accomplish the same thing as the thick 40ml clear plastic. The problem was any wind and the plastic blew off or out of position.
I ordered the thick clear plastic from Amazon see link for a little over $12. Much better and stays in place for one person operation.
Makes about 6 pair of the gasket protectors. So you can share with your friends

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FF7M8KT/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[teahead]

I did my own rendition of this to help w/the seal/top corners issue:

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de_DE&tl=en_US&prev=_dd&u=http://w113.eu/geschlossen/Optimierungen/schliessungshilfe_fuer_das_softtop.htm

[neelyrc]

At PUB Virginia Gernold did a soft top demonstration on Hauser’s car.  Gernold indicated he cuts the plastic guards from antifreeze containers.

[49er]

 I use a couple 1 gal Ziplock freezer bags. I also have a large microfiber towel that I "stick" to canvas over the window and drape it down over the window before folding the rear of the top.  Then I place a very soft 3ft x 2ft cotton cloth down in the well and drape over the front before lowering the top to avoid scratches on the window. I fasten the back latch first then secure the windshield latches.

John

[Cees Klumper]

Wow John, meticulous!

Just for those who don't know, various detailing products are very effective at making the rear window as-new again, for example Maguires makes polishes (coarse and fine) that do a super-duper job at removing very fine scratches and 'haze' from my Pagoda's convertible window. I apply and buff it every 5 or so years.

[49er]

Wow John, meticulous!

Yea, I guess so. I have done it that way ever since I got the car. No Micro Fiber or Zp Lock bags back in '68 though. I used a couple pieces of leatherette and another piece of cotton cloth then. The top/window are original and the window is still clear and scratch free.

John