Duetto/Round-Tail 'floating bow'

Biba69 · #1 (**permalink**) 03-21-2008, 03:10 PM

What is the consensus as to how best deal with what I term the top's floating bow - the one directly over the seats?

I've installed a handful of tops on these cars and have never had the floating bow come up and pop into place. It is my understanding there is supposed to be a rounded plastic piece for the bottoms of the bow to rest on. I use acorn nuts.

I'm quite sure wide elastic straps are supposed to be used for this application - though most I've seen have the non stretch woven straps.

Then there is the problem of what to do with this bow when it is down.

To repeat, is there anyone out there who is Very happy with the way the bow fits on their top, I'd love to see a photo. Yes, they can be pushed into place and possibly had to be even from new.

One additional question, is there a source for the single (middle) rubber retainer strap when the top is down?

Biba

johnnym · #2 (**permalink**) 03-21-2008, 03:31 PM

The bow does what it says- floats about- until the top is clipped in place. Then you will not get the correct profile unless you have the rubber bit on the end, which presses the end of the bow against the square section of frame at the top of the window. These are always lost. This rubber is screwed to the sqare section, and not attached to the bow itself.

However, there are easy to find replacements. Go to your local hardware store and buy two black rubber doorstops (they are cylindrical and about 1" in diameter. With a bit of fiddling, these can be bolted to the frame and work perfectly. they should have a hole through- glue a nut into this, then bolt through the frame to keep in place. You will have to unscrew the rubber channel trim from the alu frame to get to the hole.

Unfortunately I don't have access to my photos at the moment, so I cant describe it better than that.

John

Alfajay · #3 (**permalink**) 03-21-2008, 04:27 PM

Yea, that's exactly how I fixed my Duetto top's "floating bow". What I bought are what I call "rubber feet" - the cylindrical thingies with a through hole that used to be bolted to the bottoms of electrical equipment, back when the cases were steel, and desks were wood (which could be scratched). Of course, no one has built electronic devices like that for decades, but my TruValue hardware store still carries the feet.

**ossodiseppia** · #4 (**permalink**) 03-22-2008, 12:43 PM

I've only seen a few cars with the two ribbons or straps attached to the floating bow. I never paid any attention to what they were made of. Something elastic-like would certainly not last very long.

The stops for the floating bow were addressed in this thread:

69 Duetto top parts

Biba69 · #5 (**permalink**) 03-22-2008, 01:24 PM

What I'm hearing is that there is no way for the bow to 'slide' into place on its own? Also neither of you mentioned whether your bow is held by elastic straps or by non-elastic ones. It crossed my mind that if the elastic was screwed to the floating bow such that it was under fairly heavy tension as the top comes up, it might actually slide into place. If it is actually able to do this I believe my acorn nut would work better for being slid on. However, I do appreciate the idea of using rubber pieces.

The top is going to be replaced and right now I'm thinking of getting the Sun-Fast fabric Robbins top and have a local upholstery shop intall it. Any recommendations from either of you two?

Since this shop works primarially on older US cars, I'll have to guide them through some of the eccentricties of these tops. I spend many, many days installing them and they can do it in a day or two. Meaning I can't afford to do it myself. I'd bet that mine would come out better but since the client claims the top will never be up except in the garage, it's really not worth my going the extra mile which I normally do.

Biba

**ossodiseppia** · #6 (**permalink**) 03-23-2008, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biba69

What I'm hearing is that there is no way for the bow to 'slide' into place on its own? Also neither of you mentioned whether your bow is held by elastic straps or by non-elastic ones. It crossed my mind that if the elastic was screwed to the floating bow such that it was under fairly heavy tension as the top comes up, it might actually slide into place. If it is actually able to do this I believe my acorn nut would work better for being slid on. However, I do appreciate the idea of using rubber pieces.

Biba69 · #7 (**permalink**) 03-23-2008, 11:17 AM

Osso, you also bring up another 'question' in that all of the tops I've installed on Round-Tails have the 'inserts' for wrapping the bows. I'm not sure that the floating bow was ever meant to be held in place with the wrap. Unfortunately this is a photo of my own '69 and you can see the strap I'm referring to attached to the floating bow and also that it had ripped out of the wrap.

That said, the current client's '69 Spider's floating bow is wrapped and having just checked, it actually does 'fall into place' without help. Note, the top is one of the first things I remove on Spiders and the last thing I install so this top is rather 'new' to me. It also has only one strap attached on the passenger side (the other is torn) and goes from the middle bow, attaches to the floating bow, then attaches to the header. That said, I want to instruct the upholsterer as to how to attach it and guess this is as good as any way. Also, he'll seldom be opening and closing it.

**Anfanuts** · #8 (**permalink**) 03-23-2008, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnnym

The bow does what it says- floats about- until the top is clipped in place. Then you will not get the correct profile unless you have the rubber bit on the end, which presses the end of the bow against the square section of frame at the top of the window. These are always lost. This rubber is screwed to the sqare section, and not attached to the bow itself.

However, there are easy to find replacements. Go to your local hardware store and buy two black rubber doorstops (they are cylindrical and about 1" in diameter. With a bit of fiddling, these can be bolted to the frame and work perfectly. they should have a hole through- glue a nut into this, then bolt through the frame to keep in place. You will have to unscrew the rubber channel trim from the alu frame to get to the hole.

Unfortunately I don't have access to my photos at the moment, so I cant describe it better than that.

John

Wille R. · #9 (**permalink**) 03-23-2008, 02:01 PM

There are straps on both sides. You'll find straps at your local craftsman or shop. I'll take a pic and post tomorrow. I have replaced Duetto tops a few times, twice on my own Duetto and four times for friends. Not easy but not a problem. Don't overdo it.

**Anfanuts** · #10 (**permalink**) 03-23-2008, 05:42 PM

Biba, both my bows have attachment wraps on the top like Osso said. No straps needed. I am very happy with how it works going up. Putting it down you have to move the "floating" bow to ensure the top material is not pinched. When you fold it down you just fold the floating bow down like a fan and keep the top form getting pincued in the assembly.

I covered the rubber bumper repalcement, as have johnnym and Alfajay, above.

The middle rear retainer strap is nylon webbing with a hook that goes around the hook that sticks up from the body, with a Velcro attachment on the other side to cinch it when it secures the top down (thorugh the flat bracket on the top). I can take some snaps when I get back in town next Wednesday.

I just bought a Duettomotors.com Haartz Stayfast top with the zippered down (3 sides) rear window. I'm looking for better ventilation on hot sunny days. Texas is NOT coastal California (I used to live in Manhattan Beach). He's in LA near you and has had a dozen Alfas and is very knowledgeable on Alfas and tops. I'll be having it installed in the next two weeks.

Cheers, Bruce

Wille R. · #11 (**permalink**) 03-24-2008, 07:37 AM

Here we go. The photos show the strap, how they came in 1967. Only replaced by now, as the rubber wears out. The white paper is just to make it easier to see the strap, the next pic shows the strap making a loop over the bow.

The straps ensure that the moving bow does not interfear with the cloth. 100 percent original, yeah man! I'm that way. Less talk, more action.

Biba69 · #12 (**permalink**) 03-27-2008, 12:02 PM

Bruce, I would be very interested in how you like the DuettoMotors top once it is installed. Of course a lot of the 'fit and finish' is dependent on the top installer, but I'd be interested knowing if they feel it is a well designed top. My client is interested in the opening rear window and asked me to check in to it. So I guess I'm using you as sort of a guinea pig - no offense.

The more I think about the floating bow it seems to me all that is really needed is to make the bottom ends about a half inch longer. If the end is rounded, then it should pop right in the hole where the rubber/plastic/or? that is being used to hold it up higher would be. I feel making it stick up more is partially a visual thing and partly to keep tension on the top so it doesn't billow at speed.

I'm not asking any of you to agree, but I'll probably experiment with the client's old top and see how it works before making any final decisions.

Biba

**Anfanuts** · #13 (**permalink**) 03-27-2008, 12:57 PM

Biba, two detailed photos of the so-called "floating bow" end support. A couple of rubber feet bolted together and to the rail. This is all coming out next week to be refinished and the new top put on. Notice the bumper feet support on the lateral rail. The little rubber bumper on the end of the bow has fallen out (the right is in). Others make a zip down window but I wanted the Haartz Stayfast material and not a generic material. I thought this was the original top since I bought the car 6 years old, but many seem to insist the OE top was cloth while others say it was vinyl. As I said earlier, I do not see the purpose of the strap as the bow automatically comes up when you pull the top up as it is attached to the top. Going down it takes some finesse to keep the top material from getting pinched. You can see the damage to the padded quarter as a result of this pinching. I can see where the elastic strap helps this from occurring as it pulls the floating bow back automatically as long as the elastic is good. Might put some in after all to one hand it at a stoplight when putting it down. Just a thought. Bruce

PS: I'll do a post after install in another thread.

Biba69 · #14 (**permalink**) 03-27-2008, 01:09 PM

Bruce, I hate to be the bearer of bad tidings, but you have pretty serious wear in some if not all of your frame's fasteners openings. The giveaway is the sagging of the two cast pieces which hold the molded rubber pieces and are above the side glass. Not the current one, but the top I installed on the previous '69 Spider had to have virtually all of the fasteners removed, drilled out round, bushed, then fasteners reinstalled. A very time consuming job but the top was much sturdier afterwards. I have photos.

Biba

**ossodiseppia** · #15 (**permalink**) 03-27-2008, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biba69

Bruce, I hate to be the bearer of bad tidings, but you have pretty serious wear in some if not all of your frame's fasteners openings. The giveaway is the sagging of the two cast pieces which hold the molded rubber pieces and are above the side glass. Not the current one, but the top I installed on the previous '69 Spider had to have virtually all of the fasteners removed, drilled out round, bushed, then fasteners reinstalled. A very time consuming job but the top was much sturdier afterwards. I have photos.

Biba