When the soft top is in good condition, it comes out of the storage compartment with a modest lift of the top bow...the rest of the top follows in good order.
But when the top frame is broken or when one or both of the springs are missing, it is not as easy to retrieve the top.
The top bow comes up OK but as it is pulled up, the rearmost bow moves back and will not clear the hinges.
The usual way to work around this is to stick a hand deep under the last bow before pulling on the top bow...then while opening the top, the deep hand is pressed against and lifts the bottom bow to guide it up while not letting it move backward.
This two hand trick can be awkward and especially annoying when done in a sudden downpour.
Perhaps this simple idea may help. Make pull cord to use instead of your hand.
Take a length of cloth strap, denim or other strong material...maybe an old military belt or perhaps the strap from a shoulder bag...anything as long as it is cloth, strong, and relatively thin.
Cut the strap to a length about one foot.
While the top is out of the compartment, remove one of the screws in the last bow...maybe a screw about a foot or two from one end...the end you pull the top up from.
Place the strap against the screw hole with about 1 inch below and the long end above. Replace the screw tightly as this is the pulling point. To make the strap less obvious when the top is on the car, keep the short end about even with the end of the bow and chose a strap near the same color as the top.
The strap will store nicely when the storage compartment is closed.
When lifting the top out, while pulling on the top bow with one hand, pull the strap up with the other hand.
This will prevent the last bow from moving back and will guide it past and clear of the hinges as the top comes up.
Once the last bow is past the hinges, pull up in the normal way.
The strap can be stowed under the rear of the top inside the car when the top is locked in place.
Might be help to use this strap when putting the top back to get more control over the fall of the top into the compartment.
Photos here show the strap just before being pulled...and showing the strap screwed to the last bow. To confirm the correct way to pull the top up, the original instructions are also here. Shows how to lift a good working top.
Thanks to Gernold of Maine for telling me about this simple idea.
Usual cautions and disclaimers.
Richard M, NYC
