CJ 5 Soft Top Problems

[Morphious]

Don't know if here or the 4x4 forum would be better for this, but I'm having problems with my soft top on my 78 CJ 5, the wind keeps poping it out of the front window channel, does anyone know of a way to fix this problem, it's gradually gotten worse over the last year or so, where now it will come out within a few miles of driving it on the highway. I don't want to buy a replacement top for it at the moment, but would like to find a temp fix so I can drive it some this winter. I've gone through and put a new snap kit on it and repaired all the broken snaps that it had, including the ones on the front windshield that were missing. The way it fits on the front windshields is that it has a channel that you hook the folded part into and then it snaps on each end. Thanks for any help.



Morph.

 

[jeepit]

Is the channel opening up too much? You may want to try lightly hammering on it with a piece of wood and a hammer to try and close the channel a bit.

 

[Morphious]

I've tried that, what happens is in the center of the channel, the wind gets under it and forces the lip out of the channel, then I'm stuck holding the top on till I can get stopped. What I was thinking of was some kind of external piece of plastic or something to put over that material and channel to help clamp it down. Just can't think of anything that would work or find someone that makes it.



Morph.

 

[Boomer II]

Good ol duct tape maybe? If looks don't matter to ya.

 

[Morphious]

HAHA, looks and this jeep don't go hand in hand. It's called the heap for a good reason, it's full of rust holes, peeled paint, leans to the drivers side, etc... I'm going to eventually rebuild it, but it will be atleast 6 months before I can start on that major undertaking as it needs a complete new tub, frame rust fixed, new springs, motor rebuilt, etc... .



I didn't really want to do duct tape, I just figured there would be some kind of solution knowing how many of these things are out on the road and all. But if nothing else can be thought of, I might go that route till spring.



Morph.

 

[rwitt]

If you're not worried about the looks and are going to replace the top anyways try running a bead of silicone into the channel and then reinstall the top. Let the silicone set up for a day and see if it will hold. Do you have the bows adjusted tight? Those tops do stretch when they warm up and you can tighten the bow even more.

Rich

 

[Morphious]

This top doesn't have any bows, it has two steel rods on each side that form the door frame, and two hoops that cross the jeep to support the top and give the back it's shape. The top is on there tight, and I've cinched up the rear adjustment straps as tight as they will go. I'll probably goto the hardware store this weekend and see what I can figure out browsing the ilse, there has to be some kind of object that will slide over the channel and top to help hold it on.



Morph.

 

[Hammer]

Morph. .

With the older CJ's when the channel gets wore like that and the top pops out it is a PIA for sure. I had my 79 do that one time years ago in a snow strom coming home from deer camp and wasn't fast enough to grab it and save it tlak about a cold ride home with the snow in your face,LOL. One thing you can try is to add a small thin piece of twine run the length of the top as you slide the canvas into the channel to help tighten the fit. Another thing you could do is remove the side snaps on the windshield and move them a tad further down and warm the top to allow it to stretch tighter which will hold it in. What happens is as the top expands and contracts as they age the material stretches and you may need to adjust snap fit to hold it. Hope this helps... ..... Andy

 

[Morphious]

Hammer, I did that this summer when I put all new snaps on, there were only rusted out holes in the windshield where the snaps had been. I JB Welded the holds closed and then redrilled new holes further out to stretch the top. Right now the top is a witch to get stretched and snapped. I think I will try your suggestion of some twine to stuff in there this weekend and see if it helps, I think it's supposed to be another 70+ degree day tomorrow so will do another topless day.



Morph.