hard top removal 560 sl HELP - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

bass · #1 09-04-2007, 09:16 AM

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

bass · #2 09-04-2007, 11:11 AM

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 · #3 09-04-2007, 09:31 PM

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 · #4 09-05-2007, 09:28 AM

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 · #5 09-05-2007, 09:55 AM

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 · #6 09-05-2007, 02:36 PM

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

nobby · #7 09-05-2007, 11:54 PM

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.

djm419 · #8 09-07-2007, 10:53 AM

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 · #9 09-07-2007, 10:57 AM

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

djm419 · #10 09-07-2007, 03:25 PM

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 · #11 09-07-2007, 03:49 PM

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 · #12 09-07-2007, 07:29 PM

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

ScottinSoCal · #13 09-07-2007, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

You're not trying to get anything under the weatherstrip on the hard top, you're trying to get under the soft top lid.

If you pop the latches at the windshield and on the sides, then use the large crank handle (it looks like a window handle on a car without power windows) to release the soft top lid, you'll get about 1 1/2" of space at the front of the soft top lid to work in. That's enough to get a large screwdriver (or something else long and stiff) in to hold down the soft top bows so you can see the hook and center post. Then come in with something else - I used another long screwdriver - to pull the hook out away from the center post.

If you just let it go at this point, it'll snap back and relatch the hard top. While you're pulling the hook away from the center post, use the window handle crank again and that lowers it. When you're putting the hard top on, this is what pulls the hard top tight against the rear of your car. For this purpose, it pulls the hook too low to catch on the center post. Then, at your convenience, have someone help you take the hard top off the car.

nobby · #14 09-07-2007, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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

What do you mean by "stuck"?
Is the release handle working at all? When it is in release position, can you lift the back of the hard top at all?

GSMITH · #15 09-08-2007, 10:01 AM

If the cable is out of adjustment or the pin sticks to the latch this can be a real pain to get unlatched. The previous posts explain how to get it to release. The latch is spring loaded and requires the top to pop up during the release or it will recatch.

I have had some luck with just reactiving the latch with the crank handle several times from lock to open postion to get past a sticky pin.

If the cable does not work your only choice is to either poke it from the top or if the soft top cover opens enough and you have a long enough screw driver it can be released that way but the lever takes a lot of force. It would be best to try to get between the pin and the latch. It the soft top is down that would be your only choice.

Once you get it open look at the plastic ends of the cable if there is any slack that you cannot adjust out replace it. It is pretty cheap and not hard to replace.