Fitting the Premium RodTop to the Roadster

[R. Button]

Maybe it me (suspect it's age) but getting the tensioner rod on each side in the rear of the top installed into place, can be - sometimes - a challenge! So for me I made a simple tool to get the job done.
I had a piece of PVC plumbing pipe, 3/4" that I sliced off part of it. I just cut - not in half but lengthwise but about 1/2 inch in on the tube.

153575

Now I can place the round end of the tensioner rod in the new tool, one end of my new tool in the frame where the tensioner rod is suppose to be, leverage it up, and slide it in the PVC tube till it snaps in place.
It's the little stuff that makes me keep working with this ol'Mark I.

I was installing the top as I have a trip to make tomorrow, when I gave up trying to struggle with the tensioner rod. Over a cup of coffee came up with this new tool idea that actually worked :) .

[GWL]

I had no problem with mine but to know this tool is out there is good to know. :D

You do know those rods are adjustable and can be shortened a lot to fit in and then opened up (lengthened) to tighten it up.

George

[Avalanche325]

Don't lock the front parts of the main frames until you are way into the installation. (The little knobs that are at the first joint back from the windshield.) You can lock those after you have the canvas on. The tensioners can even fall out of the holders until this is done.

[R. Button]

I have the tensioners threaded all the way down before I put the top on. And also I install them into position last. I had not considered keeping the main frames unlocked till after. I may try that!
I have about a 1/2 inch that I need to either push down on the tensioners to let them pop into place. Trying to get them in place after the top is on was not working well so I made this cut PVC pipe that works fast and easy to get them in place. Then I tighten up the tensioners as close to the same number of turns on each side.

[mburger]

What avalanche said. Everything really needs to stay loose until most of the frame is together. Especially the wood header over the windscreen. Really nice tool by the way. What I find difficult, is re-tightening those rods after the install two keep the top tight. I’d love to see a tool for that! LOL