Author Topic: Soft Top Over Window Seals (Read 3491 times)

Pawel66 · « **on:** October 04, 2020, 15:37:59 »

I have been fighting with them for 4 years now. Those from MB are the best. But any supplier I tried and any glue I tried - they either fall apart or detach from fabric or both when you fold the top many times.

Today I read a post where a Member talked about just cutting them after gluing above the hinge of the top window frame.

Is this what we generally do? Just cut them to reduce their stress? Or are there any other ways to keep those seals alive?

Peter · « **Reply #1 on:** October 04, 2020, 17:33:09 »

Hi Pawel,

this is what I did.
If this is the way it should be done, I don’t know, bit otherwise it is impossible and this words.
They stay in place and glued, the fit with the window is good, not too much ail leaks and storing the softtop is much easier.

^Peter

Pawel66 · « **Reply #2 on:** October 04, 2020, 17:41:02 »

I know it was you who did that, I found your post!

I think I will do the same if not advised otherwise..

mrfatboy · « **Reply #3 on:** October 04, 2020, 21:48:22 »

I cut my new soft top window seals in two places. Top center hinge & the corner. That’s how my old seals were cut also. I have always thought and told that was the correct way.

Pawel66 · « **Reply #4 on:** October 04, 2020, 21:49:47 »

I did not know that...

Which corner? Center hinge I know - not sure about the other place...

Thank you for help!

mrfatboy · « **Reply #5 on:** October 05, 2020, 00:40:39 »

Here is a picture of my old top.

Seals are cut at marked circles.

Pawel66 · « **Reply #6 on:** October 05, 2020, 04:49:55 »

Thank you, all clear!

Pawel66 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 24, 2021, 19:20:43 »

I am about to get these rubbers done and wanted to ask about one thing to be sure: the rear cuts - are they just done the same way the front ones are done?

I mean: in case of the front ones (I think a bit more forward vs. the red circle) canvas is folded up and the cut naturally reduces the stress on the rubber. But in case of the rear cuts, the canvas folds down - rubber gets squeezed rather than stretched - ands I fail to understand how this cut helps...

I just do not want to do anything wrong with these rubbers again...

114015 · « **Reply #8 on:** January 25, 2021, 20:58:08 »

Pawel,

The was mrfatboy describes that cannot be improved any further. Because his were the original factory rubbers on his (1st) softtop.
The rubber for the sorttop around the door window is exactly identical for softtop and hardtop. Only in case of the softtop the rubber is two-fold cut. One cut above the hinge (as you already know), the other one exactly there where the horizontal and vertical piece are glued together.
That's also how they did that at the factory.

And ah no. No glue. There are clamps/clips which help that the rubber stays in place and doesn't slide.
Pic 288 under Group 72 (doors),
part no. A113 988 0278.

Good luck
& best,

Achim

Pawel66 · « **Reply #9 on:** January 25, 2021, 21:39:04 »

Achim, thank you! That I know.

I was after the rubbers that are glued to the soft top fabric and provide seal between fabric and frame.

One cut I understand - the front one. The rear one - I wanted to make sure I understand mrfatboy instructions. Intuitively - cut there does not help as fabric bends down and the cut is not releasing any stress...

mrfatboy · « **Reply #10 on:** January 25, 2021, 21:49:05 »

Are you talking about these? I did not cut them. However, I did not fully glue them either. I seem to remember that I left the part that gets folded unglued to provide more movement/fold ability. I can always apply more glue but never needed to.

Pawel66 · « **Reply #11 on:** January 25, 2021, 22:21:14 »

Yes, these, thank you!

So you left unglued lengths to relax the tensions...

And they do not crack? I had mine from MB and a couple of other sources - they crack...

I should try to leave some parts without glue then...

mrfatboy · « **Reply #12 on:** January 25, 2021, 22:27:09 »

I bought the buffers from German Auto Tops. They have not cracked so far. I never use my soft top. I maybe put it up once a year to stretch and breath but that’s it. I think it’s two years old now.

I did not glue about 2” from hinges on either side.

mrfatboy · « **Reply #13 on:** January 25, 2021, 22:52:29 »

Here are some close ups of the rubber. Special bonus points for guessing whose fingers those are. 🤣🤣🤣🤣. Hint: they are not mine😀

Pawel66 · « **Reply #14 on:** January 28, 2021, 22:14:44 »

Thank you! I also bought these rubbers form them and they cracked. I will try to left some length without glue, as you say...

Whose fingers could those be??? Your wife's?

mrfatboy · « **Reply #15 on:** January 28, 2021, 22:20:59 »

I did glue the ends. I didn’t glue sections that got folded.

Hint 2: The color “Blue” is important for the identity 🤣

DavidAPease · « **Reply #16 on:** January 28, 2021, 22:37:48 »

Alfred?

mrfatboy · « **Reply #17 on:** January 28, 2021, 22:40:02 »

Winner. Winner. Chicken Dinner🤣👍

Now we can all return to our regularly scheduled programming 🤪

Cees Klumper · « **Reply #18 on:** January 29, 2021, 05:43:29 »

Hey, David is back!

News:

Author Topic: Soft Top Over Window Seals (Read 3491 times)