Date:         Fri, 3 Jun 2011 19:38:55 -0400
Reply-To:     David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Subject:      Re: Pop top issue
Comments: To: Rocket J Squirrel <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <1307140544.9085.652.camel@TheJackUbuntuNetbook>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

At 06:35 PM 6/3/2011, Rocket J Squirrel wrote:
>I can't tell if mine is undergoing the same failure. The poptop has
>gotten harder to move.
>
>Here are shots of mine:
><https://picasaweb.google.com/j.michael.elliott/PoptopHinges?authkey=Gv1sRgCKXnpcK_gtDDuAE&feat=directlink>

Ok, took a look at my own pics.  Compare my photo 1, after repair so
in new condition, with your photo 2.  The internal arc should be
entirely contained within the edges of the flange.

Based on the photo time stamps, my failing example is of the other
joint (not so badly failed as the tube sample I show), after
repairing the worse one.  I *think* the displacement will be roughly
45 degrees forward and down, so the vertical displacement will be
only about 0.7 of the actual tube wear.

Assuming all that, you're clearly not in even close to desperate
shape.  However once it cuts through the tube wall thickness it will
saw its way down fairly quickly.  I didn't catch on when the geometry
changed enough to poke a hole in the roof.  What clued me in
literally just in time was when the folded arm suddenly stopped lying
down on its rest on that side.  I suspect I was within one or two
raisings of total collapse.

Yrs,
David