conv. top help

[ipbs2128]

I can't get my top to unscrew. Any ideas? Thanks, John

The gear in the motor that pulls the screw pin down is very fragile. Take the hex screws out of the T shaped worm screw pin on the inside of the rear window. This will release the convertible top from the pin and the relieve the stress on the motor. Raise the back portion of convertible top, that is now free, and manually unscrew the t-shaped hold down pin. Now press the release button to see if the motor turns. I've had to take mine out and take the motor apart to get to the gear. The material the plastic gear is made from will actually swell over time and bind the motor. I had to take the gear out of the motor and sand the sides of the gear so it would fit back into the motor housing and turn freely. Don't sand the teeth only the part of the gear that that does not have teeth.

[Sandy]

Yes, it needs ,more volts - but in many cases, it just needs a surge !
Man #1 stations self by the top switch, with finger on posistion to send screw upward & outta hole.
Man # 2 disconnects battery under hood. On count of 3 man connects battery WHILE man #1 pushes the button. VIOLA up she goes, 80% of the time.

[RareFox]

Yep, it needs more volts and a surge... which is exactly what the technique I've outlined achieved. Unfortunately none of these recommendations fixes the root problem, just gets you out of a temporary jam. Pun intended. Now a bit more on that...

Great post by IPBS... he's right on the money, except I couldn't get the hex screws out because the top was sucked down so tightly there was almost no clearance at all between the tonneau and the screws... so I improvised... and it worked very well.

Further disassembly confirms his findings. The hard nylon gear somehow DOES swell over time and jammed it to the aluminum body of the gear housing. Took a lot of measuring to figure out exactly where it was binding up and by how much. Clearances in almost every dimension are pretty tight in there.

Some careful machining later by a machinist on a lathe and all was well again and should stay that way. Everything was then cleaned and reassembled with a synthetic grease and it now works like new in both directions. Ahhh, nothing like the school of hard knocks... and this car sure is teaching me a lot along the way! Hopefully the next lucky owner will be appreciative.

I suspect this gear scenario is likely the culprit behind almost ALL of the failures and jamming. I honestly cringe at how many perfectly good motor assemblies have probably been chucked out over the years as a result. As long as the gear isn't stripped yet it can be repaired. If anyone experiences the same problem and wants theirs fixed at substantial cost savings over a replacement, let me know and I can have it done.