Date:         Sun, 5 May 2002 20:18:44 -0700
Reply-To:     Karl Wolz <wolzphoto@WORLDNET.ATT.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Karl Wolz <wolzphoto@WORLDNET.ATT.NET>
Subject:      Re: Pop Top Heart Stopper
Comments: To: 80 Westy Pokey <pokey@VANAGON.ORG>

Normal.

You can verify that your poptop is fully closed and latched by visually
examining the latch.  There is a little tit that comes out of the hole (5mm,
perhaps?) in the center of the latch (rear face) when it is actually
engaged.

Karl Wolz

----- Original Message -----
From: "80 Westy Pokey" <pokey@VANAGON.ORG>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, May 05, 2002 3:54 PM
Subject: Re: Pop Top Heart Stopper


> Now this has got me paranoid. I just noticed today that my
> pop top moves when I close the sliding door. Is this normal
> or a warning sign?
>
> Thanks,
> Chris
>
> ---- Original message ----
> >Date: Sun, 5 May 2002 10:56:03 -0400
> >From: Craig Rogers <rogers23@OPTONLINE.NET>
> >Subject: Re: Pop Top Heart Stopper
> >To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> >
> >That happened to me once after being stuck in an ice storm
> with the top up.
> >I guess it didn't latch correctly due to all the ice.  It
> was interesting
> >that the wind in the canvas made the top not fully erected,
> even at highway
> >speed.  I don't think you could rip the top off, whereas if
> the canvas
> >wasn't there you would surely end up with a convertible.
> >
> >Sincerely,
> >
> >Craig Rogers
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: "Alan Pickersgill" <alanpick@MAGMA.CA>
> >To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> >Sent: Sunday, May 05, 2002 9:21 AM
> >Subject: Pop Top Heart Stopper
> >
> >
> >> On recent trip was camping in South Carolina. In the
> morning I closed the
> >roof in the same, very careful way I have for years -
> hundreds of times.
> >Have had a vision of what would happen if it came open at
> speed - took air
> >and opened. So I always listen the click from the latch.
> Always check to
> >make sure no canvas trapped by the top. All seemed normal.
> >>
> >> Got onto the freeway - heard a funny howling . Just as I
> was coming up
> >level with an 18 wheeler I decided that I'd better trust my
> intuition and
> >stop to check. When level with 18 wheeler - Huge noise and
> up popped the
> >roof. Looked in the mirror nobody in sight, so I just
> slowed , let the 18
> >wheeler go well ahead to avoid buffeting, pulled to right
> lane and off onto
> >the shoulder - roof settled down in place below about 2Okmh.
> >>
> >> Absolutely no damage to any part of the system that I
> could find. The
> >support struts appear to be undamaged, the canvas didn't
> tear or pull
> >loose - nothing I could find. I always imagined it would
> come off.
> >>
> >> Anyone else had this happen. Any hidden damage I might
> check for?
> >>
> >> Anybody got a really simple safety device to ensure this
> couldn't happen -
> >the latch is designed to be such a device but it failed! I
> swear it sounded
> >exactly the same as every other time when it was really
> closed.
> >>
> >> Alan Pickersgill
> >> 85 Transporter converted to Westfalia
> >>