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  #1  
Old 05-16-2008, 02:50 AM
mister bill's Avatar
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Location: suburbs of Vancouver British Columbia Canada
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HELP Sweltering in Canada with a Convertible top that won`t go down

The catch at the back window won`t release to let me get the convertible top down. I`ve moved both levers in all positions.what else can I try.

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Old 05-16-2008, 10:56 AM
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Get a helper...

... while one of you holds the release lever as far as it will go, the 2nd person, from opposite side of car, can push down slightly at the center (right above the pin) and tug the bottom "rail" of the soft top away from center (towards passenger side).

If that works, then you can get at the release cable and adjust it to get back to a one man operation.

Regards,
Kevin
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"Dangerous with a wrench...and not smart enough to know it"

Stable (in order of acqusition):
'84 500SL, 280SEL (Euros)
'77 280SE. '90 560SEL
'79 450SEL 6.9,
'95 C280 (totalled by daughter 8/07)
'81 280SL (rescued) '88 300CE
'86 560SEC '95 C36
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Old 05-16-2008, 07:19 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by halman2228 View Post
tug the bottom "rail" of the soft top away from center (towards passenger side).
Reverse that. Pulling it toward the passenger side will make it lock tighter with the catch. Pulling it to the driver side moves it away from the latch.
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Old 05-16-2008, 08:18 PM
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Thank you gentleman . I looped a length of insulated wire around the latch and pulled towards the drivers side and it popped free. How can one adjust that small black cable that operates the the small lever not the big one that looks like a window crank.Pictures are wort a 1000 words with me .any online as to how one might do this? I just finished work and I`m going for my first spin with the top down. This is a 1985 Euro Mercedes manual transmission 280 sl . I have some pics of it in the Shop Forum Gallery if anyone is interested in looking. Thanks again gentleman....Regards Bill
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Old 05-16-2008, 09:49 PM
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Here is how I fixed the the cable release problem. The cable is held by a nylon insert inside the spring like clip ( see yellow arrow ). The cable tends to slip in this nylon after so many years and loses its adjustment. I fixed this by slipping the inside brass tightener of an electrical Marr connector on the cable ( see green arrow ).
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HELP Sweltering in Canada with a Convertible top that won`t go down-cable.jpg  
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  #6  
Old 05-17-2008, 05:45 AM
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Does that mar connector have a screw to tighten down over the cable. It must be able to slip over the cable as you havn`t mentioned anything about unding the cable.If so what size would I buy I havn`t seen a mar connector quite like that. Would a very close up shot of said mar connector be tooooo much to ask?
Thats aboluety brilliant.. are you guys angels from heaven who just swoop down and cater to all our needs. We don`t get a lot of convertible wether in Vancouver British Columbia Canada . So I `m anxious to take advantage of any chance I can get to boogy on down the road with the top down. God Bless Bill
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Old 05-17-2008, 10:24 PM
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I have found with the correct adjustment that cable has very little force on it and will not slip. The problem I ran into was after I replace the cables to the cover latches I had over adjusted everything. When the large handle was activated to pull the pin down it would stress the other cable and make it slip making the little lever useless. I never found an offical proceedure but finally got it working. What I learned was the little handle only pulls the safety catch to the side the big handle pulls the pin down. When all of it works it works very easily. When it does not you need special tools or extra hands.

Words of Caution:
If you are going to try to adjust things make sure everything works several times before you close the cover or snap the pin in.
If you are going to lube the latch use very little or it will get on the soft top.
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  #8  
Old 05-18-2008, 09:44 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mister bill View Post
Does that mar connector have a screw to tighten down over the cable. It must be able to slip over the cable as you havn`t mentioned anything about unding the cable.If so what size would I buy I havn`t seen a mar connector quite like that. Would a very close up shot of said mar connector be tooooo much to ask?
Thats aboluety brilliant.. are you guys angels from heaven who just swoop down and cater to all our needs. We don`t get a lot of convertible wether in Vancouver British Columbia Canada . So I `m anxious to take advantage of any chance I can get to boogy on down the road with the top down. God Bless Bill
There are two types of Marr connectors. Ones with a helical coil in it and this one which has a brass sleeve with a screw tightener in it. Yes, I unhooked the cable and slipped the brass sleeve over it. Cdn Tire or Home Depot should have this kind of connector. Look for the large size of electrical connector.

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