CabrioArtie

Mounted my recently acquired hardtop tonight and I have 2 questions.

First, according to the manual when locking the rear of the hardtop in place you should feel it and hear it. Well, on the passenger side both items occur, on the drivers side I feel it, but it doesn't make any sound. Is there something wrong? Is it locked down? Is there something I need to look at?

Second question, how large a gap should there be between the hardtop and rear of the car? I seem to have a gap of about .75 of an inch, it seems pretty wide, is this normal?

Thanks

RF5BPilot

The rear gap on mine is about 3/8".

When I put my HT on, it can seem to hang or stop above the point where the threads of the clamps really engage.

Consider releasing the front clamp & backing off your rear fasteners, then pushing down on the rear of the HT until it seats better. As you turn the handle of the allen key, (alternating travel on each side) you should see it really draw down the top. Mine has a very positive sound and tactile response when it locks in.

wyovino

It sometime takes me a few times to get the rear points set properly. You should hear and feel it click in. There is a significant gap, though I've never measured it.

One Nut

does the car handle any different with the hard top on

CabrioArtie

Thanks, I will try relocking the top. Does anyone know what makes the locking noise (click)?

CabrioArtie

I couldn't say, I haven't driven the car yet with the top on. I will know after this weekend.

frisbee91

Assuming you have the "old" or previous style locking mechanism, the locking noise is made by a notch in the spiral-shaped recepticle in the car. A t-shaped pin on the hardtop fits into this spiral, and clicks into place at the bottom of the spiral.

Mine makes a decent "clunk" instead of a click. The gap between the hardtop and the car is adjustable by loosening the two hex bolts on the t-pin. The gap should be enough to compress the gasket for a watertight seal, but not so small that the hardtop metal rubs on the paint of the car with road vibrations or body flex (this would be bad).

I haven't measured mine, but the tips of my fingers can just fit in the gap a bit, so it's maybe 3/8" to 1/2". I would think that is erring on the side of caution.

Speedyellow993

Yes much nicer. It really tightens up the car. Transforms it into a coupe and much less road noise.

Speedyellow993

No click.... More like a clunk..

Edgy01

Some time back on the 997 forum I measured the gaps for someone else. Try and do a search for that and you can see the numbers--and some pics I took to better show the gap.

TomF

Setting the top correctly takes a little time to get used to. If it is not set properly, it creaks and rattles. If it is set properly, it is nice and quiet. I rushed to drop the hardtop on a couple of days ago and it really is noisy. I am going to loosen everything up, gently lift it up in the rear and re-engage the pins and then tighten them down. I would strongly recommend updating the locking mechanism to the newer version shown above- it makes a huge difference.

Barn996

Mounting hardtop...don't let your wife catch you.

wyovino

Reminds me of a very old joke:

A hunter brings a couple of squirrels into a taxidermy shop. The proprietor asks "Do you want them mounted?" The hunter replies "No, just holding hands. They were only friends."

k9cbw

By the way, does anyone know the part number for the plastic cover for the front hardtop lock.? Mine seems to have been lost by the previous owner. Grrr.

Also, my roof only makes the odd creak at the front , over the windscreen/ windshield (delete as applicable) is there a tip for making this quieter or tighter? The back of the roof seems perfectly adjusted.

finbarr

996.563.551.00.01C

I bought a new one this year as most of the pins had broken off the old one. Can't remember the exact price but it wasn't cheap!