I'm not sure whether to call it a clip or what, but it's the piece where you would slide the soft top in on the bow. It is the second bow (middle) where the flap for the window clips into. There are multiple metal pieces where the clip was connected but I don't think they were rivets. Can anyone tell me if this be fixed or not? If so, how would one go about fixing it?

 

That piece is spot welded in multiple locations. The only safe way to fix it without worrying about burning through your top is to undo that bow from the top, have it re-welded and then reinstalled.

 

Yeah I realized that too after looking at it again. Looking at that bow, I don't think it can be removed without removing the soft top first. I was told it may be anywhere from 200-300 just to do remove the top to re-weld it. I think I'll give JB Weld a try and use zip ties to hold it up. What do you think about that?

 

I'd say it's only worth the spot weld if you were going to replace the top. Otherwise JB weld and zip ties sounds like the right way to go for a temporary fix.

 

Yeah I got the same recommendation, but the top was replaced about 2yrs ago so no need to take it off now.

Unfortunately, the JB Weld and zip ties method didn't work, not because the adhesive couldn't hold but because the metal clip that broke off was bent in multiple places and wouldn't sit flush against the frame. I tried bending it with pliers but no luck, I need to take some heat to it but I lack access to that equipment.

My next plan is to take some 3M acrylic foam tape and bond the metal frame with the plastic part that connects the soft top materials together with Velcro. I may also put a piece of tape between the plastic piece and the cloth to keep them tight and together.

I called 3M to see what they recommended and they suggested to use 3M Automotive Acrylic Plus Attachment Tape 06397, 1/2"x 10yds x .060in thick, along with Adhesion Promoter 06396 for the plastic. I found a part (06384) that's similar but instead of 10yds its 5yds long, and instead of .060in it's .045in thick, and it is half the price.

Any thoughts on using that? Do you think it could be harmful/damage the soft top material, say if I ever needed to remove and replace the tape with new tape? I know it's temporary or it may create a permanent seal but I don't think I'll be removing the top for a few years.

 

I had an afterthought after my recommendation to you. Why not drill through the spot welds and pop-rivet the rib onto the bow in all the same areas as the spot welds? Theoretically it will be just as strong as the original welds. I would use the larger 3/16" diameter aluminum rivets though as 1/8" rivets probably won't have enough clamping force to hold up over time. It may not look pretty, but you could always paint the tops of the rivets with some black nail polish or touch up paint to disguise them.

I believe this is the method I would use, as the rib needs to be able to bend and flex in order to lock in the listing of the top itself. Good luck!

 

Strange you couldn't bend the clip back with pliers, it's soft metal. Try using a rubber mallet to hammer it back straight; it's what you're supposed to use when installing a new top (i just installed my top last week). Bring the top down some so you have room to work with, you should be able to hammer it straight and then zip tie or maybe use some sort of clamp? A small c-clamp might fit. The tape seems like it'd be a hassle to work with when you'll need to replace the top in the future. I'd also be worried about a gooey mess the tape could make on a hot day.

 

I did try bending it with pliers but because the metal was bent and twisted in multiple places, when I bent one part back into shape the rest of it shifted. The rubber mallet is a good idea, but I'll use it in conjunction with a block of wood to flatten it out. I also found out there was a brass torch kit in the house, so I'll use that to soften the metal to make it easier to shape.

The rivets sound like a good idea. I've never done rivets before but there's a first for everything...or I can find someone to do it for me so I don't mess it up lol.

I'm not concerned about the tape too much, the top is only 2yrs old and I have no intention of replacing it anytime soon. All I ask is that the tape doesn't ruin the top. The tape is used to hold up automotive trim pieces, I figure if it can hold up in extreme temperatures where the sun is beating down on it, then it should be good enough for my use. Hopefully, I won't have to use it, it's really just a last resort.