Hi Does any one know if the top has to peeled back or removed to replace the top latch? My latch on the passenger side is broken and needs repaired. Thanks
I did this repair this fall and have some photos. My plan was to write up a tutorial and post but did I do that nooooo.....I didn't. Just a quick summary:
I sent you a PM with my number to explain what I did. I didn't need to peel back much of roof maybe 8 or 10 inches.
1. Remove the rubber strip near the handle. Think it has 3 or 4 screws and removed staples.
2. Pulled staples along the front of handle. Basically front section of roof. Think I needed to lift roof fabric to expose staples.
3. I undid the wire cable and keeper holding roof tight just above the passenger door glass. It fits into a little slot on the cert frame This relieves the tension of the canvas.
4. Also need to removed the rear holding metal strip at the back of the roof just below the rear glass. Metal band goes along the entire back of the car. About 10 screws. Once I removed that I undid about 8 inches of those staples along the passenger side. This loosen the roof more.
5. Needed to fight with the bolt holding the handle that looks like big torx but really isn't exactly. Think it was called posi-drive (someone on this site provided info) but ended up using a #3 or #4 phillips drive on a racket.
6. You'll need to remove rivets holding the handle and replace with a new rivets (I used something called a sex bolt or barrel bolt.)
7. Bought handle from and sprayed before installing. Using some aluminum etch spray before painting black. Again guidance from this forum.
8. A bought some cork strips to fill back with old rotten material that the stables get driven into. I borrowed an electric staple gun to replace. Mine were rusted and used very pointy needle nose pliers to get stables.
9. I used a glue to hold down new cork strips and roof fabric and then stabled.
I'm no pro here but it worked and not having a roof handle sucks!!!