Reply To: correct strap

[Gregory Long]

Hi Jim,

The top bows and mechanism go ‘over center’ against the tension of the top material. If the top material is too large or stretched, then the top bow mechanism will sag.

The front of the top mechanism is pulled forward and clamped to the top of the windshield posts.

The pulling forward and down on the top stretches the top material against the top bows, the whole top is steel and wood mechanism under tension when trying to stretch the top material. There ARE two straps that are under the top material, and attached to the wood bows, these two straps do not stretch with changes in temperature like most top material, so those two straps are part of the tension along with the fabric..

Greg Long

David Coco might have a drawing of the way a top is tensioned and held rigid..

GL