PRE-RELEASE
Soft top mechanism
| Soft top mechanism |
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1 First bow with integrated front rail
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8 Wire
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2 Middle rail
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9 Base
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3 Rear rail
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10 Soft top mounting
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4 Second bow
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11 Latch handle
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5 Third bow
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12 Lock hooks
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6 Fourth bow
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13 Balance link
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7 Fifth bow
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The soft top mechanism consists of two parallel metal rails running along the side of the top. These are divided into three parts, a front rail, a middle rail and a rear rail. The three rails are hinged to each other. When the top is lowered, the mechanism folds at the hinges and at the main pivot point by the soft top mechanism body mounting.
Between the right and left rails there are five transverse bows. The bows are numbered from one to five, with number one at the front.
The first bow is manufactured in a single unit with integrated side rails. The second bow is fitted on a linkage, one on each side, and is controlled mechanically by the linkage, which is connected to the front, middle and rear rails. The third bow is bolted to the rear rails and is controlled mechanically by its movements. The fourth bow is fitted in the bow pivot point which is located by the soft top mechanism body mounting. A fabric band (base) on each side connects the fourth bow with the third bow and the fabric bands fixate the fourth bow when the soft top is raised. The fabric bands are fastened in the third and forth bow with pop rivets. Between the fourth and fifth bow, there is a cable with the function of guiding the fourth bow when the soft top is operated as well as to fixate the fourth bow when the soft top is raised.
The motion of the first, second, third and fourth bows is controlled by the main sequence hydraulic cylinders, one on each side.
The joint in the fifth bow is located where the soft top mechanism is mounted to the body and is controlled by two hydraulic cylinders, one on each side.
When in the raised position, the soft top is locked to the windscreen member on each side by swivelling lock hooks that are operated by a latch handle in the middle of the first bow. The soft top is secured to the soft top cover at the fifth bow with two securing plates.
