Author Topic: Soft top maintenance  (Read 3325 times)

tempur

  • Guest
Soft top maintenance
« on: June 04, 2009, 15:48:58 »
Dear all,

Can anyone point me to some useful information on how to properly maintain the ragtops on our beloved cars?  When I bought my Pagoda, the soft top had barely been used (owner had a sensitive skin and pretty much always drove with the hard top installed).
Since I've owned the car, I've been driving 'top down' much more frequently but start seeing some impacts from the regular stowing and unfolding of the soft top.
I've seen and very much appreciated the advice on this Forum regarding avoiding the curling-up of the corners but would have some silly questions such as: is it OK to wash the top with regular car shampoo (Meguiar)?  Does it matter if not all the soap is rinsed (it seems to keep coming back...).  How do I make sure the window doesn't get cracked or become opaque?  Is there a product I can use to keep the material transparent and free of blemishes?

Many thanks and greeting from a (sometimes) sunny Belgium,
Tempur

thelews

  • Associate Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, WI, Mequon
  • Posts: 1954
Re: Soft top maintenance
« Reply #1 on: June 04, 2009, 15:52:47 »
Enjoy some pictures at this link:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8292359@N06/sets/72157603240571101/show/

John - Wisconsin
1967 Early 250 SL Red/Caviar, Manual #1543
1961 190 SL 23K miles
1964 Porsche 356
1970 Porsche 911E
1991 BMW 318is
1966 Jaguar XKE
1971 Alfa Romeo GTV 1750

Cees Klumper

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, CA, Fallbrook
  • Posts: 5700
    • http://SL113.org
Re: Soft top maintenance
« Reply #2 on: June 12, 2009, 19:03:50 »
For the rear window, I use two Meguiair's products that work beautifully, 'Clear plastic cleaner' no. 17 and another one, a polish, which I don't happen to have handy here. But if you search older posts, I think the number must be there somewhere.

I use the high-pressure 'thing' at the car wash to clean out the tops on both my Volvo C70 convertible as well as the Pagoda. This seems to clean the canvas very well and for sure will remove residual soap.
Cees Klumper
1969 Mercedes 280 SL automatic
1968 Ford Mustang 302 V8
1961 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Coupe 1600
1962 FIAT 1500S OSCA convertible
1972 Lancia Fulvia Coupe 1.3
1983 Porsche 944 2.5
1990 Ford Bronco II