hard top removal 560 sl HELP

[bass]

need help. anyone out there with any information on my last post? if not the name of a shop who can help.

[bass]

if anyone is interested i found i solution brad and buds benz gave this solution. 3 people a small hook like device. release all lock downs have 2 people lift top with one in the back with the hook place along the right side of post in the back and release catch similar to a hood realease catch. adjust cable for no future problems.

[8092400e]

Not sure what you are asking for, sounds like top is stuck because secondary latch will not disengage. I had the same problem, I made a tool out of coathanger wire, bend a straight piece to a 90 with about 2" on one leg. The pin that goes into the body has a notch and the latch looks like an upside down "J". From the passenger side you need to insert the coathanger tool between the "J" and the notch in the top pin. You can hear when it is disengaged and then the top has to be pulled up. I was lucky my car came with an electric winch so I had it hauled up a bit.

The top has to be pulled straight up, not an an angle (i.e. front up first) or else it won't work. It took me an hour or so the first time, then I got it.

The Fix....
I found in my case that the cable has 2 plasitc adjustment "knobs" on the handle side. One was stripped (they are adjustable like screws on the cable jacket and sit inside a clip to keep the cable in place) I switched them and all is fine for now, but I kept the coathanger! The good news is the soft top gives you more room to work so the PO left a screwdriver in the glovebox for the soft top.

It takes a bit before you get it into the right spot!

John

88 560SL
01 ML320

[meltedpanda]

I had the same deal, unfortunately for me the struggle to remove it left the ol gal with a battle scar or two. My problem was a bent center hook, which I did not notice when I latched her down the first time. I thought a coat hanger might work but did not know where to use it and felt like I might get even more scars, so did not, too bad I did not see this post before I atempted my removal.
In any respect, when the rear hook releases, does it actually pull away from the J hook or just release it, I can't quite figure that out

[8092400e]

The J latch on the car always wants to grab the pin on the top (spring loaded), it does not stay "Open".

So all the coathanger is doing is separating the J latch from the top pin while you pull the top out. Only downward motion in the right spot is needed. My big mistake was angling the coathanger wire TOWARD the top pin, then you hear an encourging noise but the coathanger has bottomed out on the hardtop pin notch. Angle the coathanger AWAYfrom the top pin when inserting thats the key!

Recommend some serious looking when you do get it so you'll have a visual next time you have to do it! The good thing is that access in the softop cavity is great to do the repair and the cable is CHEAP!

Sorry these posts are so wordy, I should just take pictures if you need them!


John

[meltedpanda]

I think I understand, but a picture of the "tool" might be nice.

[nobby]

Get a straight 10" piece of metal coat hanger. Measure 1.5 inches from one end and put a 90 degree bend in the coat hanger. With the hard top unlocked and lifted as high and to the left as possible, place the 1.5 inch end of the coat hanger into the right side the center pin hole. Wiggle it around while pulling the coat hanger tool to the right.

[ScottinSoCal]

I just had this problem with my 75 and came up with a different solution that only needed one person to release the hook. I waited, of course, for someone else before I actually removed the top. I just bought the 75 and this is the first time I've had the hard top off. It turns out the small handle has both tabs broken off, so it just spins on the crank instead of doing anything. New handle on the way.

I popped the latches for the hard top and released the tension on the rear with the large window crank. That left me with a little bit of space, and I released the boot lid. It only came up a little bit, but that gave me room to get a very long screwdriver in to hold down one of the bows and let me look at the hook. Another long screwdriver to pull the hook back and the hard top was released. It took me longer to find the two screwdrivers I needed than it took to release it. Once the hook was released I cranked the handle down to lower the hook and keep it from latching onto the post again. Then I waited for my neighbor to come home so I could draft him to help me with the hard top.

[meltedpanda]

thanks again!

[djm419]

I have a 1983 380 SL just bought it, never had the hard top off. I released the two front top latches, and the side two releases, but, the back center is stuck. How do I get the back latch loose? I tried the coat hanger trick, to no success. The crank on the driver side back makes a crack noise when moved to proper position. Please help!! Thanks, DJM

[meltedpanda]

try the screwdriver trick from the front side, same idea but from the front

[djm419]

I think, I know what you said, but from the inside of the car, I can't get enough room to get anything under the rubber weather strip molding. Please explain? Also if any one has pix of the back latch, might help.

[meltedpanda]

ScottinSoCal, can you help out! I am just relayign what you said. If you soft top boot cover is not popping open then you can't use this way . Is yours opening? I do know the J latch has to move outward , and there can be little if any tension on it, but it needs to be lifted in order for this trick to work. To do it you need a few helpers or a hoist, lift straight up

[sokoloff]

Sometimes with a couple of helpers, you can get it to come off by lifting it and turning it at the same time.

[ScottinSoCal]

Originally Posted by sokoloff

Sometimes with a couple of helpers, you can get it to come off by lifting it and turning it at the same time.

But unless your helpers are careful the natural twist the hard top will do when you try to turn it will scrape the paint off your trunk lid.