Thanks guys!
MN 986: Really appreciate the help. I've never looked at the design of the mechanics of the top, so i'm a little scared going into this blind. To help paint a picture in my minds eye- with the rods disconnected, the transmissions should turn in unison "up" and "down", correct...wont hurt anything, right? This makes me think that if they do perform correctly that the issue could be the rods, binding? Or possibly that when i installed the new top, the transmissions were not lined up perfectly, making the moving of the top (unaligned) bind in the "up" position...this would then mean that i need to adjust the cables? Thanks for your input.