SL300 middle pin at back of hard top wont release. help!!!

[smart]

hi,

my mates just bought an SL300, but we cant remove the hardtop.

Firstly, we turn the catches either side of the front windscreen with the removable lever.

Next, we push the larger of the 2 levers in the back passenger side interior, fully towards the rear of the car, which seems to release the back two catches that are on either side of the rear windscreen.

However, the middle catch seems stuck.

weve wobbled the hardtop from left to right & up/down, but it will only lift about 1cm on the middle catch.

Tried removing the plate in the boot to get at it, but the catch was covered in a 2nd non removable metal box. Tried removing the interior panel that covers the 2 levers as mentioned above, but the large chrome casting at the top obstructs it & there doesnt seem a way of taking it off first.

Are we missing something here????

any help would be appreciated.

 

[DWB!]

it is a two man job, release all catches as you mention, and ensure the rear catch handle is also released.
once you have done this you must both stand either side of the car and roll the top off (lift the front and and roll it back and up and off) do not just lift it straight up
i hope this helps
good luck
dwb!

 

[32718]

Try unlocking/locking the rear release handle repeatedly as you lift of the hardtop-thats how I got mine off!

Regards

Sam

 

[vmixa]

Did rolling the hardtop up and backwards work? Am about to give mine a go...

 

[43722]

middle pin

if it is really stuck you have to remove petrol tank and push plastic plug out in bottom of hood well so you can get to mechanism or take to MB

 

[vmixa]

It IS really stuck!

Three of us were heaving and ho'ing yesterday evening and it wouldn't budge.

Removal of fuel tank sounds like a nightmare, so I may have to contact my mechanic.

By the way, once the fuel tank is removed and the plastic plug is pushed, will the hardtop then be able to go back on (so i can drive home) and then come off again easily?

Phil

 

[43722]

hard top

it may be that you can get your hand above fuel tank just take cover of inside boot to see gap, you should be able to to put top back on, as once released you can see problem. probably split pin has fell of that holds the levers toghether as this happened to me when cover was open.

 

[vmixa]

still no joy

I took off the metal cover, exposing the fuel tank, but there is no way i can get my hand in anywhere - besides, it is a sealed unit under there

Please, can anybody offer any more practical advice - I don't want to take it to a mechanic just yet, if it is possible to do it myself.

TIA

Phil

 

[43722]

sorry wasted your time, must of changed on face lift,

 

[merc300e]

Hello - I have got exactly the same problem on my 1984 SL380 - did you find a solution to this problem? Incidently the lever on the nearside of the rear seat/shelf area - looks like a window winder handle - also has a second lever behind it. On my car this seems to do nothing, just goes round. What does this smaller lever do? Turning the 'winder' handle does pull down the centre of the hardtop in one direction but does not release top in the other. Thanks.

 

[Alex Crow]

the handle with the knob releases the tension from the rear catch, as you have found. turning the little lever releases the latch fully, when it works. if it does not you have to release the latch hook with a bent wire through the latch hole in the chrome trim. the hook must be pushed sideways towards the drivers side (if in the uk!!). not too tricky when you know how.

 

[Weather Man]

Follow the procedure EXACTLY as outlined in the manual. On my 380SL I have to release the catch -- large handle -- slowly. If I go too fast it doesn't work. In addition to the bent wire trick, you and your helper can rotate the top 90 degrees which will turn the notch away from the safety catch, freeing it. Either way, once you are sorted, get in there and clean & lube the mechanism. Follow the cables and make sure all is as it should be.

 

[Alex Crow]

In addition to the bent wire trick, you and your helper can rotate the top 90 degrees which will turn the notch away from the safety catch, freeing it..

good thinking there, bit cumbersome but with some cardboard pieces placed between the roof and body 'just in case', it would work very well i am sure. when you have the roof off check the cable adjustment of the small lever, it is easy to adjust.

 

[merc300e]

Hardtop centre rear fixing release.

Hi - I sorted this. The smaller lever - behind the handle that pulls down the hard/soft top centre rear mounting has two 'lugs' on mine these had broken off so the lever was spinning freely and doing nothing. The two levers are completely non-connected. The 'handle' simply pulls down the hood/hardtop onto the rear deck. The smaller lever behind it releases the catch for removal. I had to get two strong men to raise the hardtop as far as it would go without damaging the top of the rear deck and then move it about. As the 'hook' that hold it down comes from the offside the aim is to lean it as far to the left as possible. ie largest gap at the drivers side. Retrospectively it might have been possible to insert an 'L' shaped rod down the drivers side of the 'hole' to try to move the catch away ( towards the offside) or even insert a hooked strong rod nder the soft-top cover to hook onto the release cable and by pulling the whole cable trip the catch. I am now looking for a new inner hadle if anyone has one. Regards.

 

[Alex Crow]

yes, the L shaped rod was my suggestion too (as above), it works well for me and can be done by one person.

 

[Marmight]

Hi Julian, had huge problems with mine as well - how stupid of a manufacturer to produce a convertable with a very complex release mechanism that you can't get to when the mechanism fails!!!! GRRRRR!

Anyway, rant over. On mine the "c" plate or soft top cover had corroded badly during the two years the car has been away having major engine work done - long story but keeping it out of doors does no good at all. I eventually got my c panel moving and released by pushing the larger of the two levers fully downwards and waggling it bit by bit until it went and released itself. Two of us were tugging upwards at either side of the C panel at the same time. The smaller of the levers appears to be a quick release for the rear soft top/hard top. When the rearmost release hook is at the top of the aperture above the boot lid, moving the smaller lever will move the hook to the O/S releasing the hood. It seems that it locks the hook in position so it can't move sidewards and release the hood as the car is moving.
If yours is not doing anything, you need to check to cables for wear and especially the nylon/plastic securing thingy that's on the O/S inside the hood well that holds the cable and the rods for the release mechanism. This seems to be glued in place and can work loose.

Hope this helps

Cheers

Martin