The 'E' Type Forum

Hi all

I'm having a little trouble with closing my soft top centre latch. No matter what I do at the moment with the hook (loosen / tighten), the centre latch is springing open again. I also notice that the notch V doesn't seem to fully go down into the receiving hole.

When it is being closed, the panel does seem to bow a little with the pressure of closing, but the latch just springs open again on most occasions. Should it remain closed, it only takes a bump in the road to pop it open again.

I've been searching around but can't see a good guide or tips for adjusting the soft top. Has anyone got any pointers or write ups they know about?

You need to adjust the mounting of your catch to achieve a more positive 'over-centre' effect. Usually it means putting a washer or two under the front/lower pair of mounting screws to tip the catch back on itself a little.

Thanks Peter.

There are already a couple of nuts spacing the foremost screws to align the catch better "over centre" and tip it back a little. Still popping open though

The catch is designed to work when both halves are aligned. They are aligned when the pin and receiver are fully engaged. If you are way off then you need to adjust things until the two parts align and the rest will follow. Nothing more I can really do from 3500 miles away.

I changed the hooks as the previous ones had become a little bent over time. That has helped a little.

With further testing today, I found that it is the pressure on the windscreen at higher speeds (100 km/h and above) that seems to be pushing the windscreen back and then causing the latch to pop.

With the car at a standstill, and the latches closed, if I push on the windscreen a little, slightly off centre, off-side, three quarters of the way up, sure enough, it pops straight away.

Further thoughts and pointers very, very welcome. I'm a bit frustrated with it.