355 Spider Roof Tension Cables - Replacement

Just sharing a replacement roof side tension cable I made for my spider to help others in the future.

Symptoms are that with the roof up the fabric doesn't hold tight to the side next to the window and flaps around, to the point you could put your hand through. Normally there is a steel tension cable/rope which connects to the top of the roof, through the fabric and then to a spring at the bottom, holding the fabric tight against the frame when the roof is up.

Issue is that overtime these cables rub against the metal and snap, as had mine on one side. You can make your own replacements.

You'll need to pull back the rubber at the bottom of the roof to find the screw which holds the spring (screw hole circled below). Then drill out the rivet at the top which is the securing point for the cable that goes down the side and another which goes across the top.

The replacement cable is 1.5mm diameter, the replacement rivet is a 4.8mm with large flange head and you'll need a couple of double hold 1.5mm aluminium ferrules.

• Cut the cable to 38mm, which should give a 32mm length once you'd looped them with the ferrules
• Make the loop around the spring first and fit the ferrule and feed the other open end up through fabric channel to the top. The channel is too tight to take the ferrule and loop
• Feed the spring down through the hold in the frame and secure on the screw
• With the roof top partially open it naturally releases the tension on the side fabric, therefore make the second loop around the rivet and adjust until it feels tight'ish when the rivet is inserted into the hole
• Clamp the top ferrule and pop the rivet (ensuring that both cables are on the rivet!)
• Close the roof and the side panel should be tight against the frame again.

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