Preventative Maintenance for soft top
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Joined: Dec 2009
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From: Yorktown, VA
Preventative Maintenance for soft top
I'm sure some of you have taken preventative measures to prolong the life of your soft top, so I was wondering if you could give me some advice on what to do. Are adhesive patches the way to go? I don't have any rips or tears yet but I do see spots on the driver and passenger sides that are wearing down and may tear or rip this summer. I'd appreciate it if you can point me in the right direction. Thanks!
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,315
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From: North SF Bay, CA
There is a place here in the forums where the Honda Technical Service Bulletins are posted. You can find the one related to the typical soft top tears on the sides. You want TSB 09-033, issued May 21, 2009, revised August 1, 2009.
The trick is to take a metal file or Dremel tool and smooth down the edges of the frame rails that cause the tear in the first place. Easy to do, and the TSB shows exactly how/where to do this. I fixed mine this way, and I was amazed at how jagged and rough the edges were before I filed them down. Mine had the typical 1/2" tear on the passenger side. I had a small patch put on the inside by a professional auto upholstery place. Looks great inside and you can't even notice it from the outside. Seems to be holding up just fine.
Otherwise, gently was the outside of the soft top with car wash soap along with the rest of the car. Keep it protected with a vinyl protectant like 303 or Raggtopp.
The trick is to take a metal file or Dremel tool and smooth down the edges of the frame rails that cause the tear in the first place. Easy to do, and the TSB shows exactly how/where to do this. I fixed mine this way, and I was amazed at how jagged and rough the edges were before I filed them down. Mine had the typical 1/2" tear on the passenger side. I had a small patch put on the inside by a professional auto upholstery place. Looks great inside and you can't even notice it from the outside. Seems to be holding up just fine.
Otherwise, gently was the outside of the soft top with car wash soap along with the rest of the car. Keep it protected with a vinyl protectant like 303 or Raggtopp.
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Oregon
There is a product called Gorilla tape. Cut a couple of pieces and put them on the inside of the top before wear shows up. Check it every so often and you should be good to go. Easy to remove if you needed to also.
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Joined: Jun 2006
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From: Littleton, CO
Over time, these seem to be the biggest friction threats. Pictures are crap, they should illustrate.
The elbow is the biggest offender. Either wrap it or put a patch on the roof itself. I took a piece of aquarium tubing a few inches long, sliced the side and put it over the elbow (think of the edge guards people put on the trailing edge of their doors and you get the picture), then wrapped with electrical tape. Not the prettiest, but it gets the job done. When the roof is up it is too dark to see and when down, not at all of course.
The second spot is the white fuzzy velcro you see. I think early on Honda had a problem with the fabric getting chewed up on the side from contact with the mechanism. After a year, and a few holes, they put a plastic shield in that stood between the hinge and the fabric. This prevented the fabric from getting caught up in all the metal, but the shield itself has a rather sharp edge to it. The velcro is just stuck to the outside between the shield and the fabric with some overlap to keep the edge away from the top. It used to be wrapped over to the inside but the adhesive has let go. It still does its job as is, admittedly black would be better.
The latches have caused problems also. This rubber is cut from some cove base, about 2x3 inches. Remove the latches and 2-way tape it to the back of them. It keeps the edge of the latches, which are surprisingly sharp, off the fabric. This really does not cause a huge problem until the elastic straps start to give out on the cross-member.
http://www.modifry.com/products/ctf/details.htm
Then the fabric really gets pulled against them till they rip thru. Keep your straps in good shape and help that bar back every time you put the top down.
Other than that, warm weather is better, don't throw the top down until the sun warms it up a bit or the ambient is decent. Use a good protectant with UV, 303, Vinylex.
The elbow is the biggest offender. Either wrap it or put a patch on the roof itself. I took a piece of aquarium tubing a few inches long, sliced the side and put it over the elbow (think of the edge guards people put on the trailing edge of their doors and you get the picture), then wrapped with electrical tape. Not the prettiest, but it gets the job done. When the roof is up it is too dark to see and when down, not at all of course.
The second spot is the white fuzzy velcro you see. I think early on Honda had a problem with the fabric getting chewed up on the side from contact with the mechanism. After a year, and a few holes, they put a plastic shield in that stood between the hinge and the fabric. This prevented the fabric from getting caught up in all the metal, but the shield itself has a rather sharp edge to it. The velcro is just stuck to the outside between the shield and the fabric with some overlap to keep the edge away from the top. It used to be wrapped over to the inside but the adhesive has let go. It still does its job as is, admittedly black would be better.
The latches have caused problems also. This rubber is cut from some cove base, about 2x3 inches. Remove the latches and 2-way tape it to the back of them. It keeps the edge of the latches, which are surprisingly sharp, off the fabric. This really does not cause a huge problem until the elastic straps start to give out on the cross-member.
http://www.modifry.com/products/ctf/details.htm
Then the fabric really gets pulled against them till they rip thru. Keep your straps in good shape and help that bar back every time you put the top down.
Other than that, warm weather is better, don't throw the top down until the sun warms it up a bit or the ambient is decent. Use a good protectant with UV, 303, Vinylex.
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 4,616
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From: Lompoc CA
that elbow is what sliced mine, but that's what i get for going topdown 75% of the time, the top has been up/down thousands of time, i got my money's worth out of the top. mostly my top is up just for parking anyways (minor theft deterrent work/shopping and big pigeon poop deterrent) and i park in a garage at home anyways, i should go out there and wrap that elbow or something....
