Lotus Elise S2 soft top safe removal
Discussion
Morning all
I've recently bought an S2 and already have been using this forum so much. I apologies if this has already been covered, I have tried searching.
I have a long tail version soft top, 2002. I'm wondering how others safely remove/re-fit the 'top bars'. I'll try to describe. After rolling up the canvass soft roof itself I am left with the bars. Now when I bought it the guy I bought it from said try to apply pressure on the front and 'work' out each bar from the front/middle in order to get it out. I've found that putting some pressure/flexing upwards on the middle of the bar works best and loosens tension allowing you to remove the front end first (as the back end is tucked in).
Putting each bar back in (when putting the roof on) seems even more tortuous. You are forced to put each bar in back end first and then bend the middle front end to eventually prize the front end back into it's slot (all be it a very tight fit). However what I noticed last night is that it's very easy to possibly break some of the body at the back of the bar due to the pressure you apply.
I'm wondering how others experience and deal with this - perhaps everyone has their own method - I'm more worried about breaking the back end fitment/body work that I noticed flexing last time I put them back in - I found that you can remove a lot of tension by straining the middle part of the bar upwards with 1 hand as you work it back into the front with the other - essentially bending it up (luckily they look about £30 each to replace in case ever broken)
Sorry for the long post - hoping it all makes sense as really don't want to damage the car! I can see why they brought out the shorter tail version now!
Thanks in advance
Mike
I've recently bought an S2 and already have been using this forum so much. I apologies if this has already been covered, I have tried searching.
I have a long tail version soft top, 2002. I'm wondering how others safely remove/re-fit the 'top bars'. I'll try to describe. After rolling up the canvass soft roof itself I am left with the bars. Now when I bought it the guy I bought it from said try to apply pressure on the front and 'work' out each bar from the front/middle in order to get it out. I've found that putting some pressure/flexing upwards on the middle of the bar works best and loosens tension allowing you to remove the front end first (as the back end is tucked in).
Putting each bar back in (when putting the roof on) seems even more tortuous. You are forced to put each bar in back end first and then bend the middle front end to eventually prize the front end back into it's slot (all be it a very tight fit). However what I noticed last night is that it's very easy to possibly break some of the body at the back of the bar due to the pressure you apply.
I'm wondering how others experience and deal with this - perhaps everyone has their own method - I'm more worried about breaking the back end fitment/body work that I noticed flexing last time I put them back in - I found that you can remove a lot of tension by straining the middle part of the bar upwards with 1 hand as you work it back into the front with the other - essentially bending it up (luckily they look about £30 each to replace in case ever broken)
Sorry for the long post - hoping it all makes sense as really don't want to damage the car! I can see why they brought out the shorter tail version now!
Thanks in advance
Mike
The process you describe seems to make sense. However, I would never describe this as a tortuous process and I have never had any concern regarding damage to the bodywork or the rails in my 12 years of ownership.
This makes me wonder about your experience on 3 levels:
1) Are you just being too precious about the forces involved. A simple lift in the middle of the bar while guiding the front stepped lip front the windscreen surround should allow the bar to be slid out of the back locator, while the exact opposite process should put it back.
2) Have I understood your technique correctly. When you describe bending the bar, are bending in a slight upward arc rather than downwards. It shouldn't take much of a bend to allow the bars easy entry and exit.
3) Is there something preventing full insertion of the bar. The fact you are asking the question and appear to be having some difficulty, I am wondering if the bar is not fully engaging in the slots, hence the need for more force. The rear slots are are simply covers held in by a small allen bolt. When tightened, the bar should slot in fully very easily, check that there is nothing preveting this, you could allows slacken these are very slightly to give some flex in the slot, reducing the bending stresses on the bar. Note that this should only be done very slightly just so the cover can move a tiny amount. Also check the front slots are clear and there is nothing preventing full engagement at the front.
As a final point, all the above is irrelevant, the Elise was originally concieved as a car without a roof. Personally I believe in respecting the designer's wishes and leave the roof in the boot! If you are getting wet when driving in the rain, you're not going fast enough.
Regards, Neil
This makes me wonder about your experience on 3 levels:
1) Are you just being too precious about the forces involved. A simple lift in the middle of the bar while guiding the front stepped lip front the windscreen surround should allow the bar to be slid out of the back locator, while the exact opposite process should put it back.
2) Have I understood your technique correctly. When you describe bending the bar, are bending in a slight upward arc rather than downwards. It shouldn't take much of a bend to allow the bars easy entry and exit.
3) Is there something preventing full insertion of the bar. The fact you are asking the question and appear to be having some difficulty, I am wondering if the bar is not fully engaging in the slots, hence the need for more force. The rear slots are are simply covers held in by a small allen bolt. When tightened, the bar should slot in fully very easily, check that there is nothing preveting this, you could allows slacken these are very slightly to give some flex in the slot, reducing the bending stresses on the bar. Note that this should only be done very slightly just so the cover can move a tiny amount. Also check the front slots are clear and there is nothing preventing full engagement at the front.
As a final point, all the above is irrelevant, the Elise was originally concieved as a car without a roof. Personally I believe in respecting the designer's wishes and leave the roof in the boot! If you are getting wet when driving in the rain, you're not going fast enough.
Regards, Neil
Not a question I'd ever even considered. I just grab the bar near the front and push backwards towards the rollbar until it bows enough to disengage, then lift it up. It should require no force to get the bar actually into the sockets - it should be a fairly loose fit. Edited by kambites on Saturday 14th June 08:58
NJS25 said:
As a final point, all the above is irrelevant, the Elise was originally concieved as a car without a roof. Personally I believe in respecting the designer's wishes and leave the roof in the boot! If you are getting wet when driving in the rain, you're not going fast enough.
Not quite so handy when parked, though. 
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