1974 450SL - lady needs help getting her top off

[SuziD]

Please can someone help????
I have a 1974 Mercedes 450SL with the removable hard and soft tops and I can't get the hard top off.

The 2nd lever will not release the bowlock. I have attempted to get to the lock through the boot but am blocked by some sort of catch-tank.

Please can anyone give me any pointers to a way of releasing the back bowlock manually? The sun is shining and I still have a roof on.

 

[Malcolm Brown]

I think the smaller lever needs to be pointing downwards.

Is the symptom that you can lift the top half an inch, but the rear lock will not let go completely?

If so, it is a three person job. First release the front and side locks. Then get two people to lift the back edge of the hard top as far as they can while you are inside the car armed with a long thin flat-bladed screwdriver. Poke the screwdriver into the hole, sliding the tip down the left-hand side of the peg on the hard top. This should push the catch out of the way sufficiently to release the peg, and your helpers should be able to lift the top clear.