Sorry if this appears to be a redundant question. I did search, but it yielded poor results. My proplem is that the rear of the top pops/becomes unlatched while driving. I attempted to lube it as described in other posts. It has not worked. I think, realy I'm not sure, it has more to do with the slide on the drive side of the car. Correct me if I'm wrong, once the top male portion is snapped into the female area, the slide is intended to be pulled towards the front. In this motion the male portion is pulled down and latched more securely. Right?? If that's the case, mine will not slide and pull down and latch. The slide are is a little damaged and it is very hard to move forward. It almost feels like I'm doing something wrong. The linkage moves fine when the tonneau is raised. I'm not sure what to do. Help!!!!

 

Slide the handle on the drivers side towards the front of the car and then push down on the back of the top and it will snap into place.

 

Wrong. The pin just pops into place when you slam the #5 bow down onto the tonneau. It is held in place by the spring tempered wire clip that slips into a groove on the pin. You only pull the handle forward to release the tonneau pin. Pulling the handle pulls a lever which opens the clip which releases the pin. With the tonneau in the up position slide the handle forward to see the action of it.

Lon

 

Lonsal mostly answered your question above. The only thing I might add is that you are probably right in your assessment that the problem resides with the cable release on the side.

When it functions properly the release only functions to release the top. Normally it resides in the fartherest back postion when the top is closed. When you decide to release the back of the top so you can go topless you pull the slide forward. Sometimes when you do this it won't slide all the way back like it should. A squirt of WD40 in the right places will likely solve the problem. When you notice the top flying up pull over make sure the slide is in the position fartherest toward the rear of the car in it's "track" and then drop the rear of the top into place. You should be READY TO RIDE!

Speedy

 

Thak you to all who replied. I went home last night after reading the first two posts. I was more certain of the operation of lever but I was still a little confused. Speedgrapic cleared it all up for me. I now understand the operation and the problem I was having. The lever was not completly in the track. It appears to be ok now. Thanks again.

 

I bought lube for mine, but not aware of how you get it inside the shielded cable where I imagine mine to stick. The spring action is absent, once pulled, the cable stays and there is no latch at the rear. The manner I close mine is manually pull the metal latch closed and push on the rear pin to secure it, this also pulls the cable and side mount handle back into position.
This is basically a temp solution, but one I use to this day.... at some point to refurbish I guess... just got more pressing issues hehe
Bill

 

I've been looking at the latching mechanizm. If the slide behind the drivers seat is not meant to be slid forward after the top is latched, why have a 6 inch sliding area? I also noticed that in the cup where the tap is latched, the pin area is in an upside down "L" shape. It seems to me when I move the slide with out the top latch that the pin gets pulled down to the bottom of the upside down "L". This seems to make sense. Since if it is at the bottom or in the verticle part of the "L", it can't accidently pop like it can in the top horizontal part of the"L". Any thoughts??

 

The way I envision it is the front of your car is North, simplified, the lever pulls North to release the top latch, once you life your cover and are ready to latch the thing back in place, assuming it doesnt' pull back on it's own, I pull the metal latch directly center in the tonneau cover, this in turns pulls the handle back as the tension resets properly. You only pull the handle North to release the latch holding the top pin in.
Having said that, I just got my Topsonline/Vic's upholstery top, I think it's an EZ On brand? Anyway, I still need to be sure it right, the box says 50 inch, the smaller of the two sizes I was told. Anyone here got more info on installs of these? What's needed to do it yourself or cost of installs done. I need info on this currently as it snows RIGHT now as I type! hehehe...more towels in my back seat window! hehe
Bill

 

Got some pics, but it was tricky and one turned out too big. I put one up in another thread, showing the side panel pulled away, the speaker and handle, etc. Here's the rear latch of mine:

BILL

 

yep, blurs up nice upon uploading hehe
Take 1:
-B