Intex Bar Replacements - Now or in the Spring?

[JannaLeAnn]

I have a 26x52 Intex, and I have 2 top rails and one upright that will need to be replaced, in the same area (near where I had the dang-blasted fountain mounted). I have drained about 1/3 of the water to close it. Do I leave "as is" and finish draining in the spring to replace the pcs? Let it sit through the winter (usually fairly mild with only a couple of incidents of hard freezing in NE Oklahoma)?
I would rather let it sit, but one of the top rails, as I flaked away the rust, exposed the plastic button on the t-piece. I just think it would be easier to do in the spring prior to a major cleaning anyway. But, I don't want to risk losing the whole thing by letting the problem sit for a few months. BTW, I have the replacement pieces, got them in a "curb alert". I don't have a replacement liner, and the one I have is still decent, only 2 patches which were done summer of 2017, no leaks this summer.

Thank you!

 

[bse53]

It's pretty hard to say, without seeing how much of the bar is rusted. Most of the weight acting on a round pool is outward, rather than down. Either the top rail or vertical support or T-bar might buckle (bend out) if the rust is severe enough.