Convertible Top Help!!!

[donaldii]

Hey Everyone,
Just installed a new top on my Metro. Now I can't get it closed. Any Suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

[shagpal]

First, check the inside frame. There's a rear support that should go right over the top of the clear rear window. If it's not in that postion, open and close the top to try and position that piece right above the rear window manually. There's usually a strap attached to that piece.

If it's not closing because you took too much slack outa the top, you may need to peel back the front and re-glue the top back down with more slack.

[donaldii]

Okay I tried your suggestion and it still doesn't close. Do you think I need to stretch the vinyl? If so do you know what I could use to do it. BTW this is a OEM Suzuki top I purchased on Ebay so I would think it would be an exact fit. Thanks for anymore suggestions

[shagpal]

Stretching may help, but you may have to give it more slack in the front. If you glued the front down, you may have to pull it up to give it more slack, or just undo the screws and reposition that front so there's more slack to the vinyl top.

Originally Posted by donaldii

Okay I tried your suggestion and it still doesn't close. Do you think I need to stretch the vinyl? If so do you know what I could use to do it. BTW this is a OEM Suzuki top I purchased on Ebay so I would think it would be an exact fit. Thanks for anymore suggestions

[donaldii]

I gave as much slack in the front that I could. If I would have left more out I would have seen the seam. I did however loosen the screws around the back. That finally allowed me to close the top. I think I had to much pulled in the back. Thanks for your suggestion. I'm sure redoing the front helped also.

[shagpal]

Depends which brand of top you purchased. There are two companies that make tops for our metros. EZ-On and Acme. EZ-On tops require less adjustment, especially at the back where the plastic edging has a channel that will grip the retainer piece.

Acme tops only have a bead, so not as clear how much gather behind that retaining piece. The bead tend to also slip under the retaining peice around the curves.

If you loosened the bolts, that will only lift up the back a bit. You might need adjust the back of the top and let out some slack there and bolt it back down properly.

Originally Posted by donaldii

I gave as much slack in the front that I could. If I would have left more out I would have seen the seam. I did however loosen the screws around the back. That finally allowed me to close the top. I think I had to much pulled in the back. Thanks for your suggestion. I'm sure redoing the front helped also.

[Geo Hunter]

Do you know the website address for EZ-On?

Originally Posted by shagpal

Depends which brand of top you purchased. There are two companies that make tops for our metros. EZ-On and Acme. EZ-On tops require less adjustment, especially at the back where the plastic edging has a channel that will grip the retainer piece.

Acme tops only have a bead, so not as clear how much gather behind that retaining piece. The bead tend to also slip under the retaining peice around the curves.

If you loosened the bolts, that will only lift up the back a bit. You might need adjust the back of the top and let out some slack there and bolt it back down properly.

[geozukigti]

In the back, you can line the window up with the trunk lid also. I've seen people install those tops so the window goes below the trunk lid . I dunno what they were thinking. But replacing the top is no fun. Glad to see you got it fixed.