I CANT PUT MY TOP DOWN!!!! It wont fold all the way down under the tonneau. It looks like these little bars that run along each side above my shoulder bent. It looks like they should slide either back or foward a little while folding down. I'll take pictures when I get a chance. Any else ever have this problem? When the top is up the bar looks like a very wide angle "v". Should it be straight? Can I just take them out and straighten them? Thanks for any feedback.

Nick

 

Sounds like your flip rods are bent. The same thing happened to mine. They truly need replacing, but I've been able to squeeze a little more life out of mine by gently bending them back straight.... I kick the top about halfway back, then with one hand on the windsheild edge of the top and one hand on the bent angle of the flip rod, I GENTLY apply pressure. Best bet, though, is to replace them..... I believe TDS here on the board has the replacement part at a very good price.

 

Thats them, thanks

 

The Flip Rods are spring-tempered, so it is a major PITA to re-bend them back to shape. I had a friend show up with his Flip Rods folded in half like a horseshoe. I had to over-bend them in a vise multiple times until I got them back into shape. I had took mine out of my car as a sample of what they needed to look like. I'm sure his were a lot weaker than they were before being bent in half, but it got him a functioning top again.

It was after this experience that I decided to fabricate new rods and make them available as product of Top-Down Solutions. Be sure to lower the side windows at least a couple of inches before you try lowering the top. That is the #1 reason why these rods bend or break. The rods are listed under the Body & Interior Category as TDS p/n 104121.

Lon Salgren
Top-Down Solutions

 

I had no flip rods for months after I bought my car. I just pushed up on the number 1 bow to get it moving in the right direction and it fold perfectly every time. I eventually ordered the flip rods but the bolts and stuff didn't work so I had to reuse the old ones. It's still habit to lift there though. Those things seem so flimsy.

 

The other day I requested money I gave my friend if he did do the gasket work on my engine, which it turns out is too involved for his time, so I suggested he could do my new top for a good $100 at least. Right now, it's rained for 24 to 36 hours for every good 12 hours of dry weather in the Midwest, including the Dakotas. It's terrible fall like weather that seems to echo the Farmer's almanac predictions for wet and cold summer

 

I always do, I have no idea what happened.

 

Can't help but wonder WTF this has to do with bent flip rods?

 

Dude, chill, I'm referring to the weather in the topic header!
Bill

 

My Flip rods were bent so I replaced them.

The replacements lasted about a year then I noticed wind noise and noted a bent flip rod holding the second(bow) up when the top was in the closed position.

I finally did away with the flip rods and as the top folds back I push upward on that same bow. The top always just drops in place.

I think the flip rods were a poor execution of a great idea.

Speedy

 

Yeah, I took them out and bent them back into place, but the 2nd time i tested them they bent again. Took them out...viola, no problems.