I finally got it on using a method much like what you just said -- pressing
on one side at a time.

When I was talking about my soft-top being tought to clamp on, I was
referring to the step of "closing" the latches that hook into the
windshield. It's not THAT hard, just takes a bit of effort. And
considering you have leverage with those big handles, I was concerned about
how much downward force it would take to get those bolts on without the
leverage advantage.

My TJ was bought used in December 02. It's a 99 and only had 25k miles on
it when I bought it. :-)
Eric
"ki7hy" <ki7hy@***.net> wrote in message news:6S9Ra.764$ff.476@fed1read01...
> I have a 97 and I use my channel all the time. It takes a bit of working
on
> but it goes. I take the pie shaped pieces off and lay the channel across
the
> windshield then I push on one side and get the bolt in a few turns. After
> that just jump over to the other side and push down. It's tight but works
> better than I thought it would.
> Also, I have a question about your top. When you are buckling your soft
top
> to the windshield and you say you have to push a little are you using the
> latches right? There is a flat piece and a skinny piece with the hook that
> goes into the windshield. If you lift the flat piece all the way up and
> leave the skinny piece pointing to the floor then it will have it's
maximum
> reach. That's only if you point the flat piece to the sky. Mine just
slides
> in when I separate them all the way, It is perfectly lined up. If you have
> to push down on your top to get it on and you just can't get the channel
on
> then maybe someone put a piece of aftermarket weather striping on your
> windshield. Have you owned it from the get go or did you pick it up used.
> Mine was used and it seems to be in awesome shape. 97 63,000 miles and
runs
> perfect, I hope I didn't jinx it.
>
> Good Luck
> Dave
> "Eric" <gymrat@***.net> wrote in message
> news:3Z1Ra.47655$o86.43000@news1.central.***.net.. .
> > I'm trying to install my no-drill Bestop windshield channel for my
safari
> > top, and it just won't fit over the seal on top of the windshield frame.
> I
> > have the instructions (thanks to quadratec.com), but it doesn't make any
> > sense. All I've accomplished is chewing up my seal. This thing just
> > doesn't look like it was meant to fit.
> >
> > I know when I put my top on, it take a good push to get the hinges down
in
> > the front... maybe my seal is still too new (although it is a '99).
> >
> > Any thoughts?!? Thanks!
> >
> > Eric
> >
> >
>
>

 

Awesome Eric I like that no drill channel. It's very impressive and works
like a champ. Be careful unbolting them. They are on pretty tight. If you
unscrew the first side all the way parts will go flying. It's a tight fit
lots of pressure on those pie shaped pieces.
Dave
"Eric" <gymrat@***.net> wrote in message
news:FloRa.52606$o86.15445@news1.central.***.net.. .
> I finally got it on using a method much like what you just said --
pressing
> on one side at a time.
>
> When I was talking about my soft-top being tought to clamp on, I was
> referring to the step of "closing" the latches that hook into the
> windshield. It's not THAT hard, just takes a bit of effort. And
> considering you have leverage with those big handles, I was concerned
about
> how much downward force it would take to get those bolts on without the
> leverage advantage.
>
> My TJ was bought used in December 02. It's a 99 and only had 25k miles on
> it when I bought it. :-)
> Eric
> "ki7hy" <ki7hy@***.net> wrote in message
news:6S9Ra.764$ff.476@fed1read01...
> > I have a 97 and I use my channel all the time. It takes a bit of working
> on
> > but it goes. I take the pie shaped pieces off and lay the channel across
> the
> > windshield then I push on one side and get the bolt in a few turns.
After
> > that just jump over to the other side and push down. It's tight but
works
> > better than I thought it would.
> > Also, I have a question about your top. When you are buckling your soft
> top
> > to the windshield and you say you have to push a little are you using
the
> > latches right? There is a flat piece and a skinny piece with the hook
that
> > goes into the windshield. If you lift the flat piece all the way up and
> > leave the skinny piece pointing to the floor then it will have it's
> maximum
> > reach. That's only if you point the flat piece to the sky. Mine just
> slides
> > in when I separate them all the way, It is perfectly lined up. If you
have
> > to push down on your top to get it on and you just can't get the channel
> on
> > then maybe someone put a piece of aftermarket weather striping on your
> > windshield. Have you owned it from the get go or did you pick it up
used.
> > Mine was used and it seems to be in awesome shape. 97 63,000 miles and
> runs
> > perfect, I hope I didn't jinx it.
> >
> > Good Luck
> > Dave
> > "Eric" <gymrat@***.net> wrote in message
> > news:3Z1Ra.47655$o86.43000@news1.central.***.net.. .
> > > I'm trying to install my no-drill Bestop windshield channel for my
> safari
> > > top, and it just won't fit over the seal on top of the windshield
frame.
> > I
> > > have the instructions (thanks to quadratec.com), but it doesn't make
any
> > > sense. All I've accomplished is chewing up my seal. This thing just
> > > doesn't look like it was meant to fit.
> > >
> > > I know when I put my top on, it take a good push to get the hinges
down
> in
> > > the front... maybe my seal is still too new (although it is a '99).
> > >
> > > Any thoughts?!? Thanks!
> > >
> > > Eric
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>