installation of soft top instructions?

[recordsj]

Has anyone come across a good website with instruction in installing a new soft top? Bought a new Robbins soft top for my '74 MG Midget.

 

[Jim_Gruber]

Installing a Convertible Top - Steve Byers
NOTE: This procedure was written specifically while installing a top on a '73 Midget, but they can be adapted to other models.
1. Fold the top in half along a line from front to back. This locates the centerline. Mark the location of the centerline at the front and rear of the top with chalk.
2. Put the top in place over the rear fastener locations with the chalk mark lined up with the center hole in the cockpit pinch weld. Place the rear retainer bar in place with its lower edge lined up with the upper edge of the binding material on the top. It helps to have an assistant or two to keep the top properly stretched from side to side and located while you punch the holes for the fasteners in the top material.
3. From the cockpit side, using an awl or icepick through the center fastener hole in the rear cockpit pinch weld, punch through the top material to locate the fastener hole. Ensure that the awl comes out through the center hole in the retainer bar.
4. Install the center snap fastener through the retainer bar, top material, the outer lip of the cockpit rubber seal, and the cockpit pinch weld.
5. Alternating from one side to the other, repeat steps 3 and 4 to install the remaining six snap fasteners along the rear edge of the top, working your way out from the center. Be sure to check that the lower edge of the retainer bar stays aligned with the upper edge of the top binding, as in step 2, before punching the hole for each snap fastener.
6. Position the top material tightly around the curves at the rear corners of the cockpit. Use the Tenax stud holes in the pinch weld to locate the holes in the top for the Tenax fasteners. I preferred to do these one at a time, and alternate from side to side to make sure the top stayed even. The lower edge of the top should be almost touching the little ledge on the body as it goes around the corners. Punch the holes with the awl. Install the Tenax fasteners on the top, and the studs in the cockpit pinch weld, then fasten the top using the Tenax fasteners
7. When all the fasteners are installed at the rear, latch the top frame header rail to the windshield.
8. Determine the center point of the top frame header rail, and mark it with chalk. I used the windshield center rod as a guide.
9. Pull the top tight over the frame and down against the header rail over the windshield, lining up the chalk mark on the top (step 1) with the chalk mark on the header rail (step 8). Have a couple assistants keep the top tight from side to side over the frame. While keeping the top material stretched over the header rail, and feeling the edge of the header rail through the top material, mark a line on the top across its whole width indicating where the edge of the header rail is. Now mark a parallel line 1/2 inch back from the first. At this point, you can erase the first line. (NOTE: what you have just done is allow for 1/2 inch of stretch to make sure the top is tight when finally attached to the header rail and the top is latched)
10. Unlatch the top frame and partially fold it back. Apply contact cement to the outer surface of the header rail and the inner surface of the top material back to the chalk line.
11. After the contact cement sets up, attach the top to the header rail, aligning the chalk line with the edge of the rail. The remaining top material should be folded over the rail and secured with contact cement, trimming any excess as necessary. I preferred to let the material overlap the holes for the seal channel.
12. Now you are ready to install the seal channel and seal. I used self-tapping screws for the seal channel instead of rivets. Probe with the awl through the top material to find the rivet holes in the header rail. This will properly locate the seal channel. The seal has a foot that is stuffed into the channel with a screwdriver (or similar tool).
13. The various snap fasteners for the interior can be located by rubbing chalk on the mating male part on the windshield posts and top frame, stretching the material over the male fastener, and rubbing it to transfer the chalk. Use an awl to punch the holes in the center of the chalk marks. It takes a special tool to install the snap fastener female halves, but they are available and not expensive.

 

[JPSmit]

wiki please

 

[recordsj]

what do you mean "wiki please"?

 

[JPSmit]

sorry - should have been clearer - recently Basil the magnificant put up a WIKI board (like a BCF Wikipedia) it here https://www.britishcarforum.com/tikiwiki/tiki-index.php and is (should be) the repository for information deemed "keepers." Those instructions were keepers and I think should be posted over at the WIKI site /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/thumbsup.gif

thanks for them

 

[Daveseagles]

Anyone have a video to put up soft top on MG midget 1979 having a hard time getting last step over wideshielf to latch

 

[JPSmit]

Anyone have a video to put up soft top on MG midget 1979 having a hard time getting last step over wideshielf to latch

How long has it been down? assuming it is vinyl, they tend to shrink - so, if this is the case. put it as up as you can get it and park it in the sun for a couple of hours, then try.