Soft top: Forgot to latch and flew open.

[hoch]

I did a dumb thing over the weekend. I closed the soft top and thought I’d remember to latch it before taking off. Got distracted with the kids. Then pulled onto the main road at 40mph.
KaBOOOM!!

The thing flies open, kids are screaming, I’m trying to figure out what happened….???

After kicking my own behind mentally for a few moments, I pulled over and tried to close it back up. It closed up ok but there was a visible gap now between the front of the top and the windshield. The latch barely reached and I was able to close it. But obviously, something is broke.

I can’t figure out what that is. All parts seem like they’re in tact. When I open up the top (just folded back, not fully open), the driver’s side is definitely loose. Much looser than the passenger side.

Any idea what I should look at?

Driver’s side. The passenger’s side is solid.

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[Jank4AU]

I hope you're top ends up being okay. Have you tried putting it all the way down and unhooking the two front rollers from the track to inspect them?

I have done the same thing twice, once on my last Jeep and again on my current one. I'm a little luckier in that it probably happened to me at 30mph or so. With my current one, it actually ended up fixing a squeak it had when it was in sunrider position!

 

[hoch]

I hope you're top ends up being okay. Have you tried putting it all the way down and unhooking the two front rollers from the track to inspect them?

I have done the same thing twice, once on my last Jeep and again on my current one. I'm a little luckier in that it probably happened to me at 30mph or so. With my current one, it actually ended up fixing a squeak it had when it was in sunrider position!

Thanks. I did pull it all the way down but haven’t unhooked the rollers. I’ll try it tomorrow.

 

[Tar Heel Wrangler]

Had that happen twice in my old JLU exactly at 45 mph. Luckily I didn't have any issues. Did it once in my JT at a slower speed. It scared the shit out of me every time. Good luck.

 

[Jiggs1960]

reminds me of a time about 40 years ago, I had a Triumph TR-6. driving down the road with my girl friend, the top was down, hit about 65, and her top flew open...........fond memories..........the car, and the girl.

 

[Heimkehr]

I can still remember the violent《whoomp》when I unlatched the soft top on my MG at 25 mph. Lord knows how much worse that would be at 40+ mph...

 

[Jiggs1960]

I can still remember the violent《whoomp》when I unlatched the soft top on my MG at 25 mph. Lord knows how much worse that would be at 40+ mph...

who needs a "drag-chute" when you have a soft top.............

 

[hoch]

? I’m glad I’m not the only doofus. Thanks for the input and laughs.

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