Thanks xviper. Look forward to the pics. Where did you get the hooks?

 

I use 2 different kinds of hooks. The 1st ones I took off an old roof top ski rack -- these I use to hook the sides of the top (you may find these at a place that sells roof top carriers or an outdoor camping type store). The second hooks I got from a 'super' hardware store like homehardware, home depot. Both types are covered with a plastic layer to avoid scratching. I could have used the 1st type of hook all around but I wanted the ones for the corners of the rear glass to have a little more "bite". When hooked on they do NOT touch the rubber seal in such a way as to deform them.

 

As promised, I have posted a bunch of pics of my homemade HT winch and storage system. I started a new post under: Photo Gallery. It's entitled -- Hardtop winch and storage....
Hope this is of some help.

 

The July issue of 'european car' has an ad on pages 96 and 97 for aa company called Performance Products (800) 789-1963, http://www.performanceproducts.com. They show a mechanical winch hoist for hardtops for $169.95 (#883164) and electrical for $495.95 (#883165). In addition the have a hardtop storage cart for $$169.95 (#883166) which includes a cover. The cart folds when not in use. I cannot vouch for the products or the company as I have no experience with them. (nor any affiliation whatsoever I've tried to look at these items on their website but it's incomplete. The company caters to porsches and mercedes, or so it seems from the ad, but there's no reason that these 2 wouldn't work for the honda hardtop.

 

I just found a GREAT hoist system. Check http://www.GadgetUniverse.com Search for TH245

It's a four-point rope hoist/pulley system that resembles climbing gear. This thing even has a cam-lock rope keeper in case you let go of the rope. It won't accidently let you top drop. Maybe the best news of all... $119.95

I saw one in a neighbor's garage used for lifting a small boat. (it handles up to 145 lbs)

Ordered mine today.

 

Duffer, I would be VERY leery of that hoist. Forst I receive their catalog on a reg. basis but have never bought from them as many claims about their products are bogus.

More importantly is the design of the hoist. Your Stook hardtop is rear heavy, will it accomodate that. And most important of all is will it lift the top without touching the rubber seals? If not, it will put a permanent "set" in the seals and you will have air/water leaks when you reinstall the hardtop.

 

Thanks for the heads-up Andrew. My intention is to check the weight distribution handling capabilities and attachment point issue VERY carefully befor trusting this thing. If it don't work, back it goes!

 

thank you very much xviper! that was a pretty good visualization that you painted. i cant wait to see the pics. thanks again for the info.

brian

 

oops...i just read over the thread again and noticed that you put the pics in the photo gallery. thanks again

brian

 

Did you notice that the blurb says that all four supporting lines lift at the same rate of speed, no matter how much weight is applied to a single line.

I'm guessing that if the basic design utilizes straps which go underneath (for support), then it won't work with the hardtop without deforming the rubber seals. You may need to adapt the lines to attach hooks or grabber devices.