I don’t know about the bar bending, but it can certainly wear out at the “joint.” I think pushing the entire top is best, putting as little pressure on the joint as possible. 
Jeff

Sent from my iPhone

> On Jul 18, 2022, at 9:58 PM, David McNeely <davmcneely40@gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Eric, how does one use the side bars to raise the top?  I have never heard
> of that.  I am vertically challenged, being only 5'6".  I use a step stool
> to help with that when raising and lowering the top.  I have never had a
> problem with the bar bending, or the top showing enough resistance to being
> pushed up to think that the bar could bend.  Maybe someone had put a heavy
> load on top, like a canoe or something, and tried to raise the top.
> 
>> On Mon, Jul 18, 2022 at 7:54 PM Eric Caron <ericcaron96@comcast.net> wrote:
>> 
>> Wow!  I do appreciate getting a bit of help from my friends.
>> 
>> At the West River Westies event we had the 84.  I recently noticed the
>> bolt was missing on the right side of the pop top bar that goes left to
>> right.  I put it in with difficulty and the top was a bit challenging to
>> close.
>> 
>> At the event I asked a Vw experienced friend to look at the bar and see if
>> there was something I was missing.  I was…. The bar was bent in a partial
>> curve.
>> 
>>        Two men got in the van and together bent it back.  It was much
>> improved and suddenly the pop top was working smoothly.
>> 
>>        I put a Buese Shelf on the bar and it was a good fit.  Tom told me
>> it would only fit if the bar was very straight and he felt it would help
>> keep it straight.  It will as I always lower and raise from the side bars.
>> 
>> So, that bar can bend!  And I am a believer in using the sides to open and
>> close.
>> 
>> And, I get by with a little help from my friends!
>> 
>> Eric Caron
>> 84 Westy with a much straighter pop top bar.
>>