Gahh soft top installation instructions

[Jordan]

Good idea Gary about keeping the window covered.  It has tissue covering it now so I'll just tape it down.

Pinder, the two straps I have do have elastics under the middle part of the strap.  You can't see it in the pics but that is why they looked buckled.

I will also order new rubber for the front, back and windows since it looks like, from the video, they will get beat up removing them.

[Pinder]

Yes I did order new rubber for front and back. and side windows. worth doing it.

[GM]

Recommend getting MB rubber - others have poorer fit

[cfm65@me.com]

Well done, Pinder

[Jordan]

So today I removed my old soft top and I have a question already.  My gasket on the sides that sit next to the wind up window was in 3 pieces, one on the side and 2 along the top; the separation being at the hinge across the top.  The MB replacement I got is a single piece.  I assume I will need to cut this into 3 pieces?  If so do I do this before installing it or maybe after so I can get the cuts in exactly the correct location?  Thanks.

Lots of old glue to remove before moving forward.

[Lorsar]

Cut first, then install - much easier.

 https://youtu.be/l_e3BSRZTAY

[Jonny B]

Excellent link! I need to replace those seals on my 250 SL. I have the items, just have not taken the time to do the cuts and fits. Good visuals.

[Jordan]

Cut first, then install - much easier.

 https://youtu.be/l_e3BSRZTAY

Perfect.  Thanks.

[GM]

You also want to be sure to have these "clips" in the channel, which prevents the rubber from sliding. A couple were missing during my install.

[Jordan]

I found two behind the rubber on the centre window gasket but nothing under the other two sections.

[Jordan]

One of the first tasks given in the tech manual is to secure the inner cloth strips.  Unfortunately I forgot to measure the rear frame bar from the one in front.  Does it make sense to secure the strip to the front and first 2 frame bars and leave the last one until the front of the soft top has been glued and secured in place.  I figure I could then get a better placement of the rear bar with the inner fabric strips before screwing the cloth strip to the bar.  Does that make sense?

[Jordan]

Two more questions.

I received two pieces of rubber with the soft top when I ordered it.  What are they for (see first pic below)?

As you can see in the second pic, the inner cloth strip is about the same length as the old one, without the new one being stretched to take up the slack in the elastic.  When I extend the strip to its full length it is about 10cm (4") longer than the old one.  Do I extend it to its full length when I screw it to the frame bars?

[Pinder]

those rubber strips are to seal the gap between the top of the soft top and the top of the frame along passenger and driver windows.

[rwmastel]

Not between glass and frame, but between frame and cloth?  Just making sure I understand.  (I may undertake this job next year.)

[Pinder]

Correct. Between the frame and the top.

[Jordan]

Correct. Between the frame and the top.

Sorry Pinder, I am still not understanding where exactly this should go.  I did not find these when I removed my old top.  They are indented at one end and curved at the other end so they must fit in a particular place, I am just not finding where.  Do you have a pic where you could point to it.

Thanks for confirming that the strap is installed stretched, makes sense.  I did find that the when stretched, the stitching at the ends of the elastic part line up exactly with the 2nd and 3rd frame bar, (see pic) provided I sit the front a little more forward than the old one.

[BobH]

Have a look on here, there's an album of pictures for the whole process, it may help

https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=12179.0

[Jordan]

Have a look on here, there's an album of pictures for the whole process, it may help

https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=12179.0

Thanks Bob.  Yes that helped somewhat.  Hopefully it is OK I borrowed some of the pics.  I assume the first pic is the rubber strip, where it starts at the A pillar.  The second pic shows that it bends with the canvas top so I assume it is glued in place(?).  The last pic I think shows the back end tucked behind the top of the window trim/gasket rail?  The pictures suggest that these strips are installed at the end of the soft top installation, just prior to installing the window gaskets.  Is that correct?  Hopefully all my inane questions will help others in the future.

[BobH]

Not inane questions at all if you've never done it before.  I've never tried this myself, so i can't answer your questions.  I may have tackled a job like this a few years ago, but i would leave it to the professionals now if i needed a new top

[Jordan]

So have progressed to actually installing the top.  Strips are in place. 

When I drape the new top on the frame I notice there is considerably more material under the front lip (pic 1).  So much so that it covers the holes for the front handles.  The old cover ended pretty much at the edge of the rail that holds the front gasket (pic 2 and 3).  If I glue all this down it will cover a good part of the beige vinyl.  Just wondering what it should actually look like and should I just glue down the portion under the rail to the front edge and then trim off the excess?  Appreciate any thoughts on this and perhaps what others looks like along the edge of the rail (like my old one?).  Is it trimmed back or does the fabric extend beyond it?  Thanks.

[BobH]

If you look at pictures 31,36,95,97, 108, 173 and 174 they show the finished look, same as your old soft top pictures, looks like the excess fabric is trimmed so you don't see any hood fabric once the metal channel and new rubber seal is fitted

[GM]

Make sure the "bead" on the edge of the canvas front "stands" on the edge of the metal frame (dry fit)
Then dry fit the metal channel that is screwed on (that holds the front rubber gasket), mark the location of the rear edge of the metal channel on the canvas (chalk or dressmaker crayon works).
Disassemble and trim the canvas at the mark.
Then re-assemble with glue.

[Jordan]

Perfect, thanks Gary.  That is what I was thinking and it is nice to get confirmation before "cutting". 

[GM]

Most importantly - mark the center of the canvas and make sure when re-assembling that it's lined up with the center of the frame

[Jordan]

So getting back at it after taking a few days off while our daughter gave birth to another beautiful grand child.

Two questions:

What is the purpose of having two flaps of material along the vertical sides (see pic below)?  The inner one is about double the width of the outer one.  This was not on my old top so trying to understand why there are two flaps.  I assume both go under the gasket rails?  Or maybe the thinner one doesn't get glued or go under the gasket rail?

Second question.  The side wire cables are quite a bit longer than the ones I removed.  So much so that they bottom out on the sides (once through the bolt and into the hole) before laying flat.  If I cut it I'm concerned it will unravel as it looks to be a wound cable.  Anyone else come across this?  And what did you do?

Thanks for the continued assistance.