Installing Tops

[Raeoflight]

Has anyone ever had problems feeding the round cord sewn into the Sunbrella "canvas" tops into the channel on the front or back of the arch? My front one goes in and slides easily all the way through the channel but the one on the back of the arch is a different story. I can only get about 7 or 8 feet of the top slid through before it binds up and will not slide at all. And I am working from both ends. Pulling the leading end and pushing the entry end. If I put any more force on the fabric pulling it through, it feels like my hands are going to go through the material.

 

[Lazy Daze]

I assume you checked for rips/tears of the cord part and dirt in the track...

Try brushing the cord off with a stiff nylon brush - there could be some embedded dirt in there.

Look for spots in the track where the cord may be slightly popping out a bit - it will essentially jamb up/pinch at that point. Push it back in (at that spot) as you go.

Try spraying 303 Protectant on both pieces - it won't harm anything (in fact, it will help to protect it) but it will help to make it a little slipperier.

 

[Raeoflight]

No dirt. Top just came out of washer. Tracks are clean. Nothing in them and no screw heads backing out to block cord's path. Coated top twice with 303 before putting it back on. Will try spraying some inside tracks. Cord is good and stiff, too. Not too flexible as if worn out. Tops are about 3yo. Stay in covered marina.

 

[Lazy Daze]

Maybe it's still a bit damp (slightly swollen)?

 

[Raeoflight]

Left it on the line overnight at 90 degrees before spraying it. No water moisture left and 303 dried rather quickly the next morning.

 

[Lazy Daze]

It does dry quickly. It leaves it slightly slipperier, but you might try spraying right before putting it in. It won't dry quite as quickly on the track. Don't forget to check for a spot where it's pulling/popping out of the track a bit.

 

[Skybolt]

This is going to sound a bit funny, but try pulling on the feeding side, instead of pushing, at the same time it's being pulled through. If you pull a little while the leading edge is being pulled it will "stretch" the bead and make it a little easier to pull it through. This will most likely take two people to perform this.

 

[Lazy Daze]

Adding to what Skybolt is saying, which is another good thought, is that if you end up pushing more than pulling, you can sometimes make it "fatter" in the middle. Sort of Chinese Finger Cuffs. So sometimes you need to pull it back out a few inches to thin it back out. Actually, I think I'm saying the same thing you are Skybolt... maybe just different words?

 

[Skybolt]

Adding to what Skybolt is saying, which is another good thought, is that if you end up pushing more than pulling, you can sometimes make it "fatter" in the middle. Sort of Chinese Finger Cuffs. So sometimes you need to pull it back out a few inches to thin it back out. Actually, I think I'm saying the same thing you are Skybolt... maybe just different words?

Yep, just keep applying friction on the "Feed" side while your pulling the top through. Just apply more pull then friction ...

 

[JV II]

Is there a zipper that you can unzip from the fabric and just slide the zipper through first?

 

[Raeoflight]

No zipper on my top where it meets the arch. Just the round cord to feed into the channel.