Date:         Fri, 25 Apr 2014 17:09:27 -0700
Reply-To:     Neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Question about westy poptop crossbar
Comments: To: Jim Felder <jim.felder@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <8379A7AE-428E-4C72-9E07-500EE9C6C7C3@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

Well I guess I should have included the usual disclaimer. Hopefully I
wasn't misleading in what I wrote.    :)

I guess it was inferred that if the weight of the top was supported
properly, one take the arms apart. Or, remove the lower arms from the
body and work from there.

Sounds like it all worked out?

On a side note, i was surprised at how strong my super old likely
original canvas felt once removed.  Image: http://tinyurl.com/katf9c3

But then YMMV.   ;)

Neil.

On 4/25/14, Jim Felder <jim.felder@gmail.com> wrote:
> ***BAD ADVICE ADVISORY***
>
> DONT use any of the advice associated with this thread, including mine.
> Failure to do so could result in the loss of a canvas top or your life!
>
> The crossbar, contrary to conventional Vanagon wisdom, IS integral to the
> rest of the top mechanism. The crossbar is the axle around which the spring
> mechanism pivots. Failure to align the inner and outer parts of the
> mechanism without all weight of the fiberglass top perfectly will result in
> a reassembly time for this task of about ten to the twelfth years. Think
> custom cut lumber shaped to fit the upper hing plate, scissors jack and step
> ladders not to mention brass hammers, drifts reamer and die for the deformed
> threads.
>
> I was busier than a pair of jumper cables at an Alabama funeral trying to
> keep my canvas intact, which I miraculously managed to do.
>
> I got the thing resprayed with silver anyway, but that's another story.
>
> Jim


--
Neil n

Blog: tubaneil.blogspot.ca

'88 Westy http://tinyurl.com/c8rlw6p

'81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco"  http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/

Vanagon VAG *Gas* inline-VR Engine Swap Group:

http://tinyurl.com/d7gd5ej