23-25 Touring Top bow questions

[JRSpada4]

I should be getting my top kit from Classtique at the end of this month and it’s time to start preparing the irons for that project. I’ve already installed a kit for a 24 roadster and feel very confident in the project, overall. After reading as many old discussions as I can, I still have a few questions... (For reference, I’m numbering the bows 1-4 starting at the front)

1. Should the center sections of wood on bows #2, 3 and 4 have any arc to them, or are they flat?

2. I only saw one mention of it, but I saw a reference to a thin strip of felt (like the hogs head gasket) being placed across the length of the rear bows, outside of the drill, to cushion the top material. Has anyone seen this before?

3. In the installation videos, Elizabeth tacks the pad covers and burlap straps to #3 but doesn’t attach them to #2. Do the pads just lay loose over #2?

4. Does the top deck get attached at the edges at all to the curved sections of the #2 and #3 bows?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[JRSpada4]

One more question...

5. Is there a way to loosen the pivots on the irons without resetting the rivets? Mine are awfully tight.

[jsaylor]

Just finished a 2 man top from Classtique on my 21 Touring.
#1. My bows were flat across the top
#3. Mike's instructions sometimes contradict the videos. I called Mike on this and he said to tack that bow also to keep the pads from shifting around. The video has them just stitched together and no tacks. I tacked mine down as the old top was.
#4. I secured the edges at each bow with a large head finish tack. Helps keep it tight.

[JRSpada4]

Thanks, John.