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Recently I read, with great amusement, the process of being cool when you got out of your speedster. It was mentioned that with the top up it was impossible.

Well I had not ever had my top up in the month that I have owned it and so I thought I would try it out and see what problems there were in getting in and out.

As usual the caviat emptor monster struck again. I found that the front left clip device had been torn loose from the bow at some point in the past and had been epoxied back. The epoxy had, over time, separated and cracked loose.

So, what is the best way to tackle this problem. Replace the bow? Re-epoxy it? Get a new top with hardware?

Your suggestions please.
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Recently I read, with great amusement, the process of being cool when you got out of your speedster. It was mentioned that with the top up it was impossible.

Well I had not ever had my top up in the month that I have owned it and so I thought I would try it out and see what problems there were in getting in and out.

As usual the caviat emptor monster struck again. I found that the front left clip device had been torn loose from the bow at some point in the past and had been epoxied back. The epoxy had, over time, separated and cracked loose.

So, what is the best way to tackle this problem. Replace the bow? Re-epoxy it? Get a new top with hardware?

Your suggestions please.
Epoxy will only come loose again due to the pressure applied to the repaired latch to bow area.
Vintage uses a female threaded fitting that has a ID threaded insert to accept a machine screw thread.
The bow is drilled to accept this fitting, is pressed into into the top of the bow and is seated flush as to not rub against the top material.
It has a collar similar to a rivet that keeps it from pulling through the bow.
A small diameter machine screw secures the latch to the bow.
Al has it right... but since you are close enough to VS/JPS I would suggest that you call Kirk at VS or John at JPS and have them send you a new bow with clips installed. I had one pull loose soon after I bought my VS in 01. Kirk had improved how he secured the clip about that time (I think it was due to a number of failures) and sent me the new bow and clips. It will require re-gluing your front seam... something you can do, or do as I did and have a top shop install it for $20 while you have lunch nearby. I doubt if Kirk or John will charge you much for the new bow and clips.

Jim
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