Struggling with new soft top

[AndyA]

75F today and partially cloudy so decided to install a new soft top. Now quite frustrated.

On the back of the side windows the zipper is so far apart on each side. I know the fabric has to stretch but it seems quite a way off. Also the zipper on the window side seems to get closer to the window on the side than on the top. Hard to explain but I drew some lines. Is that normal?

At the top right corner of the rear window the zipper on the top side seems like it is buggered. It won't go past that spot. Looks like the cincing of the fabric causes the teeth to group too closely together. I loosened the other side oif the window and took the back of the top off the corner to no avail. I tried respacing the teeth with a dental pick but didn't work. Any tricks or tips?

Thanks, Andy

 

[TJ Jim]

Zip as far as it’ll go and go about your day. It’ll stretch and conform as time passes. Bouncing around and flapping in the breeze it’ll adjust to the tension.

 

[97JadeTJ]

The last soft top that I put on my wrecked T.J. I did it in March and it was like 60° outside… I turned the heater on in the jeep and left it on the whole time and every so often I would come back and zip it a little bit more… took a while, but it stretched…

 

[Danarch]

They are pain sometimes, mine are still hard around the rear top corners. For the long haul get some zipper pulls, they make it easier.

 

[psrivats]

Any tricks or tips?

Not warm enough. Really.

 

[RINC]

Not warm enough. Really.

June July August will do it.

 

[macleanflood]

Small heater inside the Jeep as you're working helps.

I have a canvas shell for the back of my 2002 F250 - soft topper. Takes a Big Buddy heater to get it warm enough to button down the sides.

-Mac

 

[AndyA]

OK, good advice - heater, zipper pulls and patience! Thanks. Andy

 

[Jerry Bransford]

OK, good advice - heater, zipper pulls and patience! Thanks. Andy

Whatever you do don't get too aggressive trying to close the zippers until the top has stretched out a bit and is warm, that rarely ends well if it's not.

 

[SSTJ]

In addition to what's already mentioned above (temperature, etc.), have a look at your soft top frame's rear 'bow'. Right in the middle of the rear side-windows (eye-level for a passenger looking out their side window). Be sure that the frame hasn't partially separated at the overlap connection point, and thereby expanded. This happened to me once, adding about an inch to the soft-top frame and causing lots of tension.

 

[P man]

Whatever you do don't get too aggressive trying to close the zippers until the top has stretched out a bit and is warm, that rarely ends well if it's not.

I'm the guy that gets frustrated and brings the pliers out to get leverage on the zipper pulls..dont be like me

 

[TJ Jim]

Pliers and zipper tags is kinda like using your 1/2” ratchet on your 1/4-20 bolt. Should’ve used a 1/4” ratchet at least.

 

[P man]

Pliers and zipper tags is kinda like using your 1/2” ratchet on your 1/4-20 bolt. Should’ve used a 1/4” ratchet at least.

If I have ever given you the impression that I am smart or in the least bit intelligent I have mislead you and I apologize

 

[AndyA]

I looked at the rear bow attachment points and they are fine. I have the quick-release attachments.

I took some more pictures. Despite heating up the interior and driving around not even a mm of progress made today.

Is the arm for the rear bow supposed to bend outwards? See pic at the bottom. Thanks, Andy

 

[Danarch]

I think mine is straight up. At least I don’t recall a bend like that.

 

[TJ Jim]

If I have ever given you the impression that I am smart or in the least bit intelligent I have mislead you and I apologize

But…..I believed you!

 

[Jamison C]

dont be like me

Don’t worry, we weren’t trying to.

 

[psrivats]

I looked at the rear bow attachment points and they are fine. I have the quick-release attachments.

I took some more pictures. Despite heating up the interior and driving around not even a mm of progress made today.

Is the arm for the rear bow supposed to bend outwards? See pic at the bottom. Thanks, Andy

View attachment 495484


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Make sure you aren't doing something dumb like I did years ago.

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/soft-top-installation-im-going-crazy-someone-please-help.11654/

 

[AndyA]

Make sure you aren't doing something dumb like I did years ago.

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/soft-top-installation-im-going-crazy-someone-please-help.11654/

Thanks - I will read through that! I'm sure I am making a stupid mistake. Andy

 

[AndyA]

Here is an experiment I just tried.

I removed the driver's side window from the bottom and front so it was only attached by the zipper across the top.
I unhooked the driver's side back corner of the top so it was loose.
I pushed up on the rear (3rd?) bow so the top was loose.
I still couldn't zip up the window around the corner even though there was no tension on either side of the zipper.

Is this normal or not normal for a new top?

Thanks, Andy