how to properly lower a soft top 1997 tj

jeep mechanic · #1 12-21-2005, 12:11 AM

ive owned a 95 yj previously, It finally died 375,989 miles on the original motor the crank broke at #3 journal. Im retiring it. went and bought a 97 tj. There was no owners manual. Can someone direct me to a link that can instruct me how to lower the top on a tj? I believe there differnt than that on a yj. Ive only had it 2 days and it 12 degrees here and dont want to experiment in the bitter cold, would like to read about it first...thanx

Ray H · #2 12-21-2005, 01:30 AM

I dont know of a writup but I can go through it here real quick. If I were you though, I wouldnt put it down. As cold as it is, it will be a PITA to get back up. Wait till spring to mess with it.

Unzip and roll up back window and secure it with snap straps, open doors and unzip and remove side windows, pull the tabs on top out of the grooves above door surrounds, unlatch the top (2 latches) above window frame, go to the back corners of top and remove the rear corners from the grooves on the body and flip them ontop of the roof out of the way, pull the top back trying to fold it so it stows neatly.
The only real differences between the TJ and YJ top are the window frame latches and above the doors.

jeep mechanic · #3 12-21-2005, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray H

I dont know of a writup but I can go through it here real quick. If I were you though, I wouldnt put it down. As cold as it is, it will be a PITA to get back up. Wait till spring to mess with it.

Unzip and roll up back window and secure it with snap straps, open doors and unzip and remove side windows, pull the tabs on top out of the grooves above door surrounds, unlatch the top (2 latches) above window frame, go to the back corners of top and remove the rear corners from the grooves on the body and flip them ontop of the roof out of the way, pull the top back trying to fold it so it stows neatly.
The only real differences between the TJ and YJ top are the window frame latches and above the doors.

ray,
Thanx for reply, i was just looking at how the roof connects to the area above the doors, what are the knobs above the doors that go thru the roll bars for? currently they are loose? should they be tight? once again its freezing here ive no intention of taking roof down or loosening it. Im just curious as to how it comes off...Tony

Ray H · #4 12-21-2005, 01:35 PM

You dont have to touch the finger knobs to lower or raise the top. Those knobs are there so you can remove the door surrounds. You never really need to do that unless youre putting a hardtop on. Go ahead and tighten them up. The top has two tabs, similar to the one around the bottom of the top and windows, that fit into two slots. When you take the top down, these tabs need to be removed from the slots before you unlatch the front.

jeep mechanic · #5 12-21-2005, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray H

You dont have to touch the finger knobs to lower or raise the top. Those knobs are there so you can remove the door surrounds. You never really need to do that unless youre putting a hardtop on. Go ahead and tighten them up. The top has two tabs, similar to the one around the bottom of the top and windows, that fit into two slots. When you take the top down, these tabs need to be removed from the slots before you unlatch the front.

do you have any tips for lubing or working the tight zippers? so i dont screw up zippers. im already planning to replace the top but would like to wait till spring. but i would also like to go thru drive thru restaurants and be able to unzip window without breaking the zipper

Ray H · #6 12-21-2005, 02:11 PM

I dont know what you should use for the zippers. The only thing that comes to mind is graphite but I think thats used for metal zippers only. My wifes TJ had a bad drivers door zipper for a long time. It kept getting caught and if you did get it zipped, it would pull apart. I never did get it fixed and we just had to put up with it until we got her a new top. Last year I found a set of hard doors, now we dont have to mess with the zppers anymore.

fredjacksonsan · #7 12-22-2005, 09:33 AM

On the zippers, start with a good mild soap washing and thorough rinse to remove and dirt/grit from them.

There are several lubricants recommended by Jeep, I've gone to the dealer and seen what they have then gotten it cheaper elsewhere.

JEEP1997 · #8 01-03-2006, 09:15 AM

I would put some silicone grease (GE) but make sure that both sides are ALIGNED as once the zipper gets hard to pull it's very easy to pull and you skip a tooth on one side or the other... Then you will have to take it the other way sometimes pulling the actual zipper pawls away while pulling the zipper housing in the opposite direction to get the sides aligned again.

jeep mechanic · #9 01-09-2006, 12:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray H

I dont know of a writup but I can go through it here real quick. If I were you though, I wouldnt put it down. As cold as it is, it will be a PITA to get back up. Wait till spring to mess with it.

Unzip and roll up back window and secure it with snap straps, open doors and unzip and remove side windows, pull the tabs on top out of the grooves above door surrounds, unlatch the top (2 latches) above window frame, go to the back corners of top and remove the rear corners from the grooves on the body and flip them ontop of the roof out of the way, pull the top back trying to fold it so it stows neatly.
The only real differences between the TJ and YJ top are the window frame latches and above the doors.

Hey Ray! i answered my own question about how to lower and stow the soft top.go to www.4wd.com and click on best tops and find install directions and they have a PDF file for each top and maint, and care directions and even how to repair zipper. i amaze myself every day. thanx tony

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