Airbagit Ratical Tops - Manual (Page 3)

RATICAL HARD TOP INSTALL
20. PRE-FITTING FEMALE BOW:
REMOVE WOOD SPACERS FROM FEMALE ABS BOW. DO NOT DISCARD! THEY
SERVE AN IMPORTANT ROLE KEEPING SPACE TO PREVENT GAP BETWEEN FEMALE
BOW AND ROOF ON TOP SIDE OF VEHICLE. SHIM THESE SPACERS AS NECESSARY
TO ELIMINATE ANY GAP. THEY WILL BE EPOXIED IN PLACE WHEN BONDING ROOF.
21. USING AN ASSISTANT, START AT EITHER END OF ROOF AND FIT FEMALE BOW TO
TOP, FITTING LEADING EDGE OF ROOF UNDER UPPER PORTION OF FEMALE BOW.
TEMPORARILY TAPE IN PLACE.
22. TEMPORARILY TAPE IN PLACE MALE PILLAR POST CAPS, MAKING SURE THEY
FIT PROPERLY. LEAVE UPPER CAB WALL COVER UNTIL BONDING PARTS ON.
YOU ARE NOW READY TO MAKE A FIT CHECK OF YOUR ROOF
NOTE: DO NOT EPOXY PARTS ON UNTIL YOU HAVE INSTALLED AND SECURED
LATCHES AND ARE SATISFIED WITH FIT.
23. PLACE ROOF ON TRUCK INSERTING FEMALE BOW OVER MALE BOW, THEN,
SETTING ROOF IN POSITION BY INTERLOCKING REAR PILLAR POST CAPS. GET
INSIDE VEHICLE AND HOLD LATCHES IN POSITION ON ROOF BEHIND FEMALE BOW.
YOU WILL ATTACH LATCH THROUGH HEADLINER AND PLASTIC TRIM, EXTEND
UPPER LATCH 3/4 OUT, WITH LATCH CLOSED, MAKE SURE LATCH HOOK REACHES
INTO WINDSHIELD HEADER AREA. MARK BOLT HOLE WITH MARKER.
24. REMOVE ROOF AND FEMALE BOW, DRILL 1/4" LATCH BOLT HOLE WHERE
MARKED ON ROOF. INSTALL LATCH USING WASHERS AND BOLT IN EXACTLY SAME
WAY AS ILLUSTRATION.
25. PLACE ROOF IN PLACE AGAIN, THIS TIME TO INSTALL REAR LOWER LATCH.
INSTALL KEEPER FIRST, BUTTING UP TO ABS PLASTIC LOWER PILLAR CAP. THEN
INSTALL LATCH PORTION APPROXIMATELY 1 1/2" UP FROM UPPER ABS PILLAR CAP.
IF KEEPER PUSHES IN DURING ATTACHMENT, USE CLAW HAMMER TO LEVERAGE
OUT FOR ALIGNMENT. EXTEND UPPER LATCH 3/4 OUT, WITH LATCH CLOSED, PLACE
KEEPER IN APPROXIMATE LOCATION ON HEADER FOR LATCHING. TO MOUNT IN
PLACE, USE 3/16" RIVETS, THEN LATCH AND ADJUST. (DO NOT OVER TIGHTEN!!)
26. AT THIS TIME INSERT WOOD BLOCK UNDER FEMALE BOW AND SHIM TIGHTLY,
THIS WILL ELIMINATE SPACE BETWEEN ROOF AND FEMALE BOW. TAPE AROUND
ALL PLASTIC CAPS AND BOWS ONCE YOU ARE SATISFIED WITH FIT. THIS WILL BE
PERMANENT LOCATION OF ALL PARTS ONCE YOU PERMANENTLY INSTALL THEM.
27. YOU CAN NOW PERMANENTLY INSTALL PLASTIC PARTS. FIRST LAY DOWN A
STRIP OF TAPE NEXT TO PARTS INDICATING FINISHED FIT LINE. DO NOT REMOVE
TAPE UNTIL AFTER BONDING PART ON!! THIS WILL PROTECT PAINT FROM EPOXY
AND GIVE CLEAN FINISHED LOOK. REMOVE ALL ABS PLASTIC FROM TRUCK AND
ROOF. SCUFF AND PREPARE SURFACES, ESPECIALLY IN BOW AREAS. USE A DIE
GRINDER TO SCORE METAL, THIS PROMOTES GOOD ADHESION.
NOTE: READ INSTRUCTIONS ON EPOXY AN ALLOW AMPLE WORKING AND CURING
TIME BEFORE PROCEEDING. USING MORE CATALYST WILL SPEED CURE TIME IF
NEEDED. DO NOT USE RIVETS, URETHANE OR SILICONE TO ATTACH, THIS WILL
VOID WARRANTY.
28. PREPARE ALL SURFACES TO BE BONDED, INCLUDING ABS PLASTIC. MIX AMPLE
AMOUNT OF EPOXY TO COMPLETE JOB. WORK WITH AN ASSISTANT AND APPLY
EPOXY TO PART AND BODY.
a) 4 PILLAR POST CAPS
b) MALE AND FEMALE BOWS
c) UPPER AND LOWER REAR CAB WALL COVERS
DO WINDOW FRAME END CAPS LAST, AFTER COMPLETING INSTALL.
29. TAPE MALE BOW IN PLACE, MAKING SURE IT IS FULLY SEATED. WE SUGGEST
YOU USE DUCT TAPE AND DRAW A PIECE OVER FRONT WINDSHIELD AND ADHERE
IT TO MIDDLE OF WINDSHIELD INSIDE. FIT FEMALE BOW TO ROOF SECTION AND
WITH AN ASSISTANT, REPLACE AND LATCH ROOF IN PLACE, ON TRUCK. MAKE
SPECIAL ATTENTION TO REINSTALL WOOD BLOCKS AND SHIM TIGHTLY IN FEMALE
BOW. THIS WILL DRAW BOW DOWN TIGHTLY TO ROOF SKIN, USE EPOXY TO
SECURE AND TIGHTLY LOCK IN PLACE.
30. REMOVE ALL TAPE, PULLING TOWARD YOU AND ACROSS PART. THIS GIVES A
CRISP LINE. VERIFY THAT ALL PARTS ARE IN PROPER POSITIONS AND PUT TRUCK
IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT FOR FASTER CURE TIME. DO NOT REMOVE TOP EARLY!!
REMOVE ALL EXCESS EPOXY AND ALL TAPE BEFORE EPOXY SETS UP.
31. YOU NOW MUST SEAL EVERYTHING WITH BLACK SILICONE. PUT STRIP OF DUCT
TAPE DOWN ADJACENT TO ALL ABS PARTS YOU INSTALLED. DRAW A STRIP OF
BLACK SILICONE DOWN ENTIRE SEAM AREA. USE FINGER TO COMPRESS SILICONE
INTO CREVICE TO MAKE SMOOTH SEAM. (WET FINGER FOR SMOOTH FINISH.)
32. REMOVE TAPE IMMEDIATELY, PULLING TAPE TOWARD YOU (NOT AWAY) FROM
ABS PART. THIS WILL BE FOR CLEAN CRISP EDGE. PUT SILICONE ON BACK SIDE OF
MALE BOW ENDS AT LEAK POINT. USE SILICONE AT END OF RAIN GUTTER WHERE IT
MEETS MALE BOW.
NOTE: OPTIONAL, BUT TO FINISH MALE BOW WITH PROFESSIONAL LOOK YOU CAN
BACK-FILL CORNERS WITH BONDO. THIS WILL ALSO CREATE GOD INNER SEAL,
DEPENDING ON YOUR ABILITY TO WORK IT. WINDOW END CAP AND BACK OF MALE
BOW SHOULD BE AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE WITHOUT INTERFERING WITH OPENING
AND CLOSING OF DOOR. FINISH OFF AND USE FLAT BLACK PAINT TO TOUCH UP.
YOU CAN ALSO CREATE YOUR OWN WATER SEAL AT BACK OF MALE BOW WHERE
END CAPS SEAT BY FILLING BACK OF BOW WITH RTV SILICONE THEN COATING END
CAP WITH GREASE SO PREVENT ITS ADHESION. GENTLY CLOSE DOOR AND LET
SET FOR SEVERAL HOURS, THEN FINISH TRIM.
WINDOW TRIM INSTALLATION
1. INSTALL TRIANGULAR SEAL INSIDE YOUR WINDOW CHANNEL, CUTTING
CORNERS TO 45 DEGREES FOR BEST FIT AND APPEARANCE.
2. REINSTALL ALL ORIGINAL TRIM AROUND INSIDE DOOR AREAS.
NOTE: FOAM TRIM SUPPLIED IS FOR USE AT YOUR BEST DISCRETION TO
INSURE LEAKPROOF SEAL. PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION AT BOTTOM REAR OF
WINDOWS TO TRIM OR SUPER GLUE AS NEEDED TO AVOID WINDOW FROM
TEARING TRIM WHEN ROLLING UP. MAKE CORRECTIONS AS NECESSARY
FOR BEST FIT.
SEAL KIT INSTALLATION
(FOR FEMALE BOW)
1. MAKE SURE SURFACE IS FREE FROM ALL DIRT AND GREASE. INSTALL TOP
RUBBER SEAL FIRST, CONFORMING TO CURVATURE OF BOW AS
ILLUSTRATED. LEAVE APPROXIMATELY 1/3" HANGING OVER ENDS SO WATER
DOESN'T DRIP INTO CAP AT TOP OF WINDOW.
2. USE SUPER GLUE OR LOCKTITE TO GLUE IN POSITION. DO NOT USE ANY
OTHER TYPE OF ADHESIVE. NOTE THAT BOTTOM SEAL DOES NOT CONFORM
TO CURVATURE FOR EASE OF INSTALLATION.
3. MAKE SURE TOP SEAL EXTENDS PAST END OF FEMALE BOW
APPROXIMATELY 1/3" SO WATER WILL FOR A DRIP POINT AT END RATHER
THAN INTO TRUCK.
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