Re: Bent bows & max penthouse weight
The U-tubes were made several ways throughout the years, early models used mild steel tubing, then DOM steel tubing. Once the electric top was incorporated, a piece of 3/4" O.D. chromoly steel tubing was inserted into the DOM steel tubing to increase the strength of the U-tubes.
While it is a chore to remove the U-tubes, you could strengthen your existing ones by inserting chromoly tubing into each "leg". The inserts were as long as possible, from the end of the "leg" to the radius. Using the existing 1/4" holes as a guide, new holes were drilled through the chromoly tube after it was inserted. SMB did increase the 1/4" bolt diameter to 5/16" in later years.
You could probably buy what you need from SMB.
John K.
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