[borg4life]

so I am just about to pick up my car from the pre - sale inspection that resulted in a fixed auxiliary fan and a new timing chain, guides and tensioner.

as disclosed to me by the little old lady that sold the car - "I never used the soft top". This was apparent as the hard top needed to be adjusted to even come off and now, the mechanic is telling me that the soft top has shrunk and can not be closed (unless brutally forced).

Please let me know how to fix this - I dearly hope I don't need a new top.

 

[reno4u2]

If it has never been used I doubt if it would shrink. More like extremely stiff. If you can get the top up leave it up for a week or so to see what happens. However if it is the original one I probably would start budgeting for a new one.

 

[borg4life]

If it has never been used I doubt if it would shrink. More like extremely stiff. If you can get the top up leave it up for a week or so to see what happens. However if it is the original one I probably would start budgeting for a new one.

it's definitely the original one - and it has definitely not been used more than a few times. when you say up - just out - or actually anchored to front?

 

[dugald]

You may have to use brute force to get it up and locked. Latch the front pins first, then stand on a stool or such to allow you to slam the rear pin hard into its latch. (Be careful not to damage the paintwork by missing the hole). Once it catches, rotate the large crank rearwards to snug it down completely.
Once up, give it a good soaking with water and leave it up for a few days. this should loosen things up a bit.
There is a very small amount of adjustment available on the rear frame.

 

[nathanso]

The soft top on my '85 380SL was very tight, most likely due to shrinkage. The only way I could close it on some occasions was to latch the front pins fully; then I'd climb on the car's rear deck, standing on the stout area in front of the leading edge of the trunk lid (never on the trunk lid itself) and I'd step down with all my weight on the rear bow to force the center pin to engage. Then I'd keep my fingers crossed while cranking the crank that seated that rear pin. Thankfully, nothing ever snapped.

It's far easier to raise and secure the top when it's warm outside. Given a warm sunny day, raise it in stages to allow the sun to warm the fabric and rear windows for a while before attempting to latch anything.

Also, my 380SL had flat U-shaped spacer shims under where the top frame itself bolts to the car's chassis. It's quite easy to remove these tops from the car frame-and-all using common tools, but it's a two person job to lift it out of the top well once the four lag bolts are out. If yours has these spacer shims and you remove them you may get back some of the slack you need.

 

[MBGraham]

Even new soft tops are hard to latch at first.

I would partially latch the front (don't fully turn the catches), then try and get the rear pin to just catch. If not try the reverse - back first, then pull down on frame and see if you can get front latches to just catch. If you can get both ends just holding, try turning the crank a bit and see how far it will go. Try rotating front catches a little (with back just into catch) and get a feel of how far you are from being able to fully get both ends latched.

Sponging the top down with warm water may soften and expand fibres a little and let it stretch? If you can get top partially latched, just leave it like that for a while under tension and then try again.

This is more or less what I did after first installing my top (which is made from kind of heavy duty cloth)

 

[borg4life]

nice - I like the ideas - and I too will hope to hear nothing snap.

 

[rowdie]

Year and model?

 

[nobby]

What year is the car and where is Newport?

The top does get stiffer with the cold.

I would try to attempt what Dugald suggested. Get it up and latched in a warm environment and soak it. Let it dry, soak it again.

 

[cushjbc]

I had this problem. Different from above, I latched the rear and put weights on the front while I was away on a trip. When I got home, I took advantage of a sunny day which I think helped with the plastic windows.

Over time, the soft top loosened up and became easier to operate.

 

[rewillia]

when installing new soft tops it is recommended to close them and leave them in position for a min. of 2 weeks to allow the fabrics to set and stretch properly. since your top is as you state, the OEM top, and has practically never been used, I'd recommend (as another did) that you wet it, i.e. use a spray bottle to saturate the fabric, then work to get it up and installed in place and leave it in place for a 2-week period to allow it to form fit again. I'ts likely dried out such that the fabric has shrunk in place so that might work. Better to have some help doing it too to avoid putting too much pressure in one spot/section.

Good luck.

 

[borg4life]

when installing new soft tops it is recommended to close them and leave them in position for a min. of 2 weeks to allow the fabrics to set and stretch properly. since your top is as you state, the OEM top, and has practically never been used, I'd recommend (as another did) that you wet it, i.e. use a spray bottle to saturate the fabric, then work to get it up and installed in place and leave it in place for a 2-week period to allow it to form fit again. I'ts likely dried out such that the fabric has shrunk in place so that might work. Better to have some help doing it too to avoid putting too much pressure in one spot/section.

Good luck.

you got it....now I just have to wait for a 2 week stretch where I don't want to take the top down. almost got in place last night - and the good news is that the top really is like new. plastic window and fabric look amazing. like Austin Powers said - Tight like a tiger - very tight.