Preventing holes in soft top - my solution
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 669
Likes: 16
From: Burbs of Philly, PA
I got my black hole patch yesterday. I like the material it made out of . And how it match the color of the top. I put it on the inside of my top and you almost cannot tell there is a patch there unless you really look for it.
My only concern is I hope it will stay on the top and not unglued from the Floride heat during the summer months.
My only concern is I hope it will stay on the top and not unglued from the Floride heat during the summer months.
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 1,370
Likes: 138
From: Cali
Took your awesome idea one step further: All the way from under the top latches and looping around the last bar. 
Look at how the rubber gets rubbed on ^
I used the thinnest/most flexible cove base you can get ($2.5x per 3 foot(ish) piece at Home Depot). It works like a charm. It's flexible when cold and super flexible when it's hot outside. No one other than an avid S2 enthusiast would know it didn't come from Honda this way. I attached mine under the top latches with the screws running through the front edge. No more latch assemblies rubbing the inside of the cloth when it's down. And since it's black you don't notice it when the top's down at all. The rubber takes the brunt of contact from the top mechanism. I just replaced my top with a stay-fast cloth version and want it to last at least the next 8-10 years..
Look at how the rubber gets rubbed on ^
I used the thinnest/most flexible cove base you can get ($2.5x per 3 foot(ish) piece at Home Depot). It works like a charm. It's flexible when cold and super flexible when it's hot outside. No one other than an avid S2 enthusiast would know it didn't come from Honda this way. I attached mine under the top latches with the screws running through the front edge. No more latch assemblies rubbing the inside of the cloth when it's down. And since it's black you don't notice it when the top's down at all. The rubber takes the brunt of contact from the top mechanism. I just replaced my top with a stay-fast cloth version and want it to last at least the next 8-10 years..
But, instead of using that "rubber base cove," can I just use a long strip of ballistic fabric instead? Or, does it really need to be flexible rubber?
I have black ballistic fabric coming in the mail soon (because I am planning to patch a tear with it); but, I was thinking ballistic fabric might work great too for your idea, after reading about it.. especially since it would blend in very nicely with the soft-top's fabric, since the two fabrics look very similar.
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 1,370
Likes: 138
From: Cali
Took your awesome idea one step further: All the way from under the top latches and looping around the last bar.
Look at how the rubber gets rubbed on ^
I used the thinnest/most flexible cove base you can get ($2.5x per 3 foot(ish) piece at Home Depot). It works like a charm. It's flexible when cold and super flexible when it's hot outside. No one other than an avid S2 enthusiast would know it didn't come from Honda this way. I attached mine under the top latches with the screws running through the front edge. No more latch assemblies rubbing the inside of the cloth when it's down. And since it's black you don't notice it when the top's down at all. The rubber takes the brunt of contact from the top mechanism. I just replaced my top with a stay-fast cloth version and want it to last at least the next 8-10 years..
Look at how the rubber gets rubbed on ^
I used the thinnest/most flexible cove base you can get ($2.5x per 3 foot(ish) piece at Home Depot). It works like a charm. It's flexible when cold and super flexible when it's hot outside. No one other than an avid S2 enthusiast would know it didn't come from Honda this way. I attached mine under the top latches with the screws running through the front edge. No more latch assemblies rubbing the inside of the cloth when it's down. And since it's black you don't notice it when the top's down at all. The rubber takes the brunt of contact from the top mechanism. I just replaced my top with a stay-fast cloth version and want it to last at least the next 8-10 years..
No glue, no tape, no velcro nor anything else was involved. Just 2 strips cut-out of the fabric. I made 2 strips - 5”x36” each (though, I think a 4.5” wide piece would fit a tad better).
For the front-end, I simply shoved and wedged it neatly here, in-between the frame thingy and soft-top fabric. I opened&close the top a couple times, and it stays in place.
Here’s the front latch area when the top is down. The fabric is still in place and also blends in nicely.
Here’s the fabric-strip over the 3 bars.
For the rear, I simply looped it around the 3rd bar, then back on top of the 2nd bar to wedge it in place. It too hold in place after a couple open&close tests. And, no glue/tape/velcro involved at all. There is enough friction/force in-between the 2nd bar and soft-top to keep it in place.
The other side (passenger-side).
Pretty easy mod and it appears it would help a lot in preventing holes and rips, by taking all of the friction, rubbing and wear from the damaging 1st bar's tip and the 2nd bar's corner (instead of those bars rubbing onto the soft-top directly). And, it seems like it holds in place quite well (so far) without any glue/tape/velcro/sewing involved at all.
If anything, you can probably use 3M double-sided tape to keep the front-end of the strip better in place (eg: 3M tape placed b/n the front frame-thingy and the ballistic fabric strip - outta hold it well). But, the rear, seems to hold in place very well when it's looped then re-lodged/wedged on top of the 2nd bar.
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Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by AP1Driver' timestamp='1366261336' post='22481754
Took your awesome idea one step further: All the way from under the top latches and looping around the last bar.
Look at how the rubber gets rubbed on ^
I used the thinnest/most flexible cove base you can get ($2.5x per 3 foot(ish) piece at Home Depot). It works like a charm. It's flexible when cold and super flexible when it's hot outside. No one other than an avid S2 enthusiast would know it didn't come from Honda this way. I attached mine under the top latches with the screws running through the front edge. No more latch assemblies rubbing the inside of the cloth when it's down. And since it's black you don't notice it when the top's down at all. The rubber takes the brunt of contact from the top mechanism. I just replaced my top with a stay-fast cloth version and want it to last at least the next 8-10 years..
Look at how the rubber gets rubbed on ^
I used the thinnest/most flexible cove base you can get ($2.5x per 3 foot(ish) piece at Home Depot). It works like a charm. It's flexible when cold and super flexible when it's hot outside. No one other than an avid S2 enthusiast would know it didn't come from Honda this way. I attached mine under the top latches with the screws running through the front edge. No more latch assemblies rubbing the inside of the cloth when it's down. And since it's black you don't notice it when the top's down at all. The rubber takes the brunt of contact from the top mechanism. I just replaced my top with a stay-fast cloth version and want it to last at least the next 8-10 years..
No glue, no tape, no velcro nor anything else was involved. Just 2 strips cut-out of the fabric. I made 2 strips - 5”x36” each (though, I think a 4.5” wide piece would fit a tad better).
For the front-end, I simply shoved and wedged it neatly here, in-between the frame thingy and soft-top fabric. I opened&close the top a couple times, and it stays in place.
Here’s the front latch area when the top is down. The fabric is still in place and also blends in nicely.
Here’s the fabric-strip over the 3 bars.
For the rear, I simply looped it around the 3rd bar, then back on top of the 2nd bar to wedge it in place. It too hold in place after a couple open&close tests. And, no glue/tape/velcro involved at all. There is enough friction/force in-between the 2nd bar and soft-top to keep it in place.
The other side (passenger-side).
Pretty easy mod and it appears it would help a lot in preventing holes and rips, by taking all of the friction, rubbing and wear from the damaging 1st bar's tip and the 2nd bar's corner (instead of those bars rubbing onto the soft-top directly). And, it seems like it holds in place quite well (so far) without any glue/tape/velcro/sewing involved at all.
If anything, you can probably use 3M double-sided tape to keep the front-end of the strip better in place (eg: 3M tape placed b/n the front frame-thingy and the ballistic fabric strip - outta hold it well). But, the rear, seems to hold in place very well when it's looped then re-lodged/wedged on top of the 2nd bar.
Any comments on what's better, the rubber cove molding or ballistic fabric? What to make sure the material is flexible and allows the base softtop mechanical movement without causing any binding or extra stress?
I just bought a 2002 s2k 6months ago still on original top and there are no tears yet, so I am doing this purely for prevention and reinforcement. I also ordered new modifry straps and may add some tape/lizard skins to the elbows also after sanding. Thanks!!
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Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Also is their any thoughts that softtop needs to breath a little, in which case maybe1680d fabric would make a better solution. As the rubber is totally impervious to airflow , is there any thought that the rubber could cause the softtop to hold moisture if used and/or cause this area to wear and look differently overtime? I think my top pick is to use the 1680d ballistics fabric , in approximately a 5"x36" size... But I could be wrong?
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 36
Likes: 3
man mind making a quick video on how u made and installed this
as well as a link to the materials used?
that would be great to have in helping n00bs like me understand the problem areas and how and why to address it early.
as well as a link to the materials used?
that would be great to have in helping n00bs like me understand the problem areas and how and why to address it early.
Took your awesome idea one step further: All the way from under the top latches and looping around the last bar.
Look at how the rubber gets rubbed on ^
I used the thinnest/most flexible cove base you can get ($2.5x per 3 foot(ish) piece at Home Depot). It works like a charm. It's flexible when cold and super flexible when it's hot outside. No one other than an avid S2 enthusiast would know it didn't come from Honda this way. I attached mine under the top latches with the screws running through the front edge. No more latch assemblies rubbing the inside of the cloth when it's down. And since it's black you don't notice it when the top's down at all. The rubber takes the brunt of contact from the top mechanism. I just replaced my top with a stay-fast cloth version and want it to last at least the next 8-10 years..
Look at how the rubber gets rubbed on ^
I used the thinnest/most flexible cove base you can get ($2.5x per 3 foot(ish) piece at Home Depot). It works like a charm. It's flexible when cold and super flexible when it's hot outside. No one other than an avid S2 enthusiast would know it didn't come from Honda this way. I attached mine under the top latches with the screws running through the front edge. No more latch assemblies rubbing the inside of the cloth when it's down. And since it's black you don't notice it when the top's down at all. The rubber takes the brunt of contact from the top mechanism. I just replaced my top with a stay-fast cloth version and want it to last at least the next 8-10 years..