Leaking soft top cylinder
 

I took my hard top off a couple of weeks ago. I noticed that when I put the soft top up it gets to the point where it's latching the rear part and it just stops with the rear part sticking up and the pump motor running. If I let go of the switch and then hit it again, the back part then latches and everything is OK. It seemed to me to be low on fluid and I planned on checking the level the next weekend. Then a couple of days ago, I noticed fluid leaking from the front left hand cylinder in the windshield frame. Obviously it needs to be fixed.

Does anyone know of a place that has a rebuild kit or do I have to spring for the whole cylinder? It's around $125.00 but I'd much rather buy a rebuild kit if it's available?

Thank you all in advance!!

I read that it is possible to dissect it, and fix it by replacing all of the rubbe rings. I actually just had both go bad (at different times), and I just replaced them with new ones. I think that thev12pwr has a set of extra latches for around $125.00... That may be another good route to look at. And do not take it to the dealer. Highway robbery!!! They want 250 for each part (they do them in pairs) and to top it off, they wantover 600 for just labor alone...

Anyways, good luck in your quest. Keep a towel with you. Those latches love to leak fluid all over the place when they are leaky.

Justin.

No way would I go to the stealer for this. If I can get the parts, it's supposed to be a piece of cake to replace. I think I'll take it apart tomorrow to see if they're rebuildable.

rebuilding cylinders
 

the right part (u-cup seal) is almost,if not, impossible, to find. i had a very large seal distributer look at the part and could not match it. i tried an o-ring that he thought might work but it did not. also, you almost have to have a machine shop to disassemble the old one(you have to drill through to the retaining ring and then pry it out). not immpossible- i had a guy at our machine shop do it, but not easy. after several hours and several tries i bought a new one. they just dont want u to rebuild although it is easy with right stuff. this is my experience,anyway.

I knew I was going to buy my 380 SL the moment I looked at it and the salesman demonstrated the manual top. The power top on my 86 Mustang Convertible I waited for to fail every time I used it. No help I know but I love a well engineered manual top.

cyl repair
 

One by one all of my cyl failed. I dis-assembled some and inspected what was failing and noticed that some sort of phenolic material on the plungers was being eaten away causing blo-by. The parts inside these things seem to be proprietary and are inmho not rebuildable. I almost think someone has added the wrong fluid to the system. OEM Fluid is critical. I changed the ones down in the well and accidently dropped the lower bolt into oblivion. Don't make that mistake! It cannot be retrieved.