Roof catches - make more secure?

[Enjay]

I have noticed that the catches in both of my 2s seem to close a little... lightly.  I mean, they really don't take much to pop them open.  One of the vertical ones on the hard top just kind of hangs there [breathe on it heavily and it will semi-open] and one of the soft top ones can pop if you give it a bit of a thump from the outside with your fist.

I've adjusted them as much as I can but that seems to affect the reach of the catch more than how securely they close.  I've had a good look at them (even taken one off) and I can't see any easy method for making them more secure.  I'm sure I'm not the first person to experience this but my searches haven't turned up any good solutions.  Anyone got something that can be done to address this?

[Topdownman]

I havent tried it myself but Dick Sloan told me that the catches can be dismantled and the long adjusting nut cut down to allow it to be tightened up more.

[Ardent]

+1

[StuC]

As @Topdownman says. You can remove, alter the thread length. Reassemble and have a go.

I was tempted to have a go on the black one I had, but chickened out when I had it in front of me. Lol.
I have a vague recollection of needing some circlip pliers, which I didn't have.

[Ardent]

Def circlip city

[Enjay]

Thanks for the replies.  The problem is (I think) it's not the reach of the catches so much as their ability to stay shut.

I know that the two might be related but, certainly, for the ones on the soft top, the reach is fine - if not borderline too short already. 

To get the roof shut, I have to pull forward strongly on the middle handle and persuade the catches to go over their hooks with my thumb.  It can take quite a bit of effort (not a ridiculous amount, but some).  When I tried adjusting the catches to make this process easier (i.e. make them longer) it did get easier but the catches popping open became far more likely.  If I make the catches much shorter, I'll not be able to get them on at all!

[Gaz mr-s]

Watching with interest.  Is the deterioration of them caused by wear..... if so, to what?

[Topdownman]

Some roofs seem to be better than others.

Mine used to pop open ocassionally at speed, very un-nerving!

Luckily never both together....

I tightened mine up as far as possible and this hasnt happened since. My roof is tight to close and I sometimes need to guide the clips on by hand so they will close.

The roof still doesnt close down as much as I  would like and I get a fair bit of wind noise from the front edge.

[Enjay]

That sounds like a fair description of what mine are like - except they haven't actually popped while moving (yet - perhaps worrying unnecessarily?).

I think it may be a wear-related thing.  However, I don't see any obviously problematic wearing.  I have had one off the car and I couldn't see a good way of making it stay shut more reliably.  I tried adding bits of glue/tape etc to bulk up the sort of (slightly) sticking out bit on the handle that sits near the release button but the shape of the catch handle meant I couldn't get anything on securely enough to do what I wanted (not even sure it would have done if I'd managed to get it on).

[PhilzMR2]

Mine are a bit tight if anything. Doesn't seem like a great design. I think the levers are OK but the mating brackets above the windscreen could do with a lot of improvement. They don't seem to latch into the levers securely enough.

[StuC]

I noticed on old one, IIRC, that there was some relative movement on the mechanism. I felt this was contributing.
Can you detect that on yours too?

[normanh]

I had to replace my passenger side catch a few years back as it was secure and kept opening. These a are a dam pain to replace as the screws are thread sealed in with a pre-applied thread lock on a Phillips screw usually means you chew up the head. I had to drill my 3 out. I have a spare drivers side catch in perfect condition as I had to buy the pair. You will need new screws of course if you drill them out.

Norman

[james_ly]

I don't do the catches up until the roof is sat perfectly. So sometimes I have to move the roof back and forth a bit holding the middle bit, so I never use the catches to pull the roof tight.

[Bossworld]

I thought I'd read before it was a soft metal, I don't know if it's physically possible for the mechanism to stretch but when I sold my hard top it was certainly already at the end of the available adjustment. Cutting the barrel adjuster down would make sense.

[normanh]

I think you will find that the catches are made of a pretty heavy type "pot metal" diecast, mine had worn pretty much allowing it to pop down and the safety lock not holding.

Norman