Thank you Klaus for the much valuable information.

It has been linked in the stickies for future reference and for all to benefit from.

Cheers!

 

Great instructions thanks so much

 

yeah, Klaus is THE man for rebuilding convertible top hydraulics... fast service, excellent results, very reasonable price.

 

my hydraulics work fine but who knows..
want to purchase a spare set and have them rebuilt
I have a spare pump

how often do you change the hydraulic oil? every other year?

 

rebuild your cylinders when one starts to leak. first one that leaks is usually the bow latch thats on the bottom side of the tonneau cover.. I pulled mine off the car in a day, shipped them off to Klaus, he had them rebuilt and back in my hands inside a week. I've got a spare car, so no biggie.

(if you rely on a 25 year old car as your daily driver, you had BETTER have backup, hahahaahah).

 

yup these parts are getting harder to find..

 

Klaus
Do you sell the seals. I've removed my cylinders and took them out and need seals
TIA

 

Here is the link to the removal instructions: http://tophydraulicsinc.com/E320 Hydraulic Cylinder Removal Manual.pdf

Thanks for sharing this information. The PDF mentions a 5mm Allen wrench that holds the bottom part of the bow cylinder. In your youtube video, you mention a T30 Torx. I believe they changed this to to T30 at some point?

 

Hello,

I have ordered the Bow Lock cylinder to replace, as that is the one leaking badly. I can't find anything in the instructions about battery disconnect, or any steps to avoid major spillage. If I take off the bow lock cylinder, won't it drain all the fluid since it is under pressure? Do i just open the cap of the hydraulic tank in the trunk section? Do I disconnect battery?

 

Replacing 1 cylinder at a time is futile. Doing so will almost always cause a new leak in the next weakest cylinder.

Just like headlight or brske bulbs, slways replace as a set

 

I agree! Just really strapped for funds here, and the bow lock needs to be in its best shape so that I can do the rest, and hopefully soon. I Won't be using the convertible top after replacing the bow lock cylinder, before replacing the rest of the cylinders, it being a california winter and all.

 

I can answer your question.

1) No, if you disconnect one cylinder, it wont spray all the fluid out everywhere. It is surprising that this does not happen - the system isn’t really under pressure until it’s activated. Kind of cool actually. So - yes, disconnect away.

2) No, you do not need to disconnect the battery. But use caution. Make sure key is off and you cannot in any way activate the top switch. (kids horsing around, etc)

3) I agree. Replacing one is not the way to go. You will be doing them all in the next year or so. When I bought mine, a few years ago, it had full service history from M-B of Greenwich CT. It’s why I bought my car. There were entries from 4 different cylinders being replaced over the past couple years. Apparently the dealer just replaced one when it leaked, instead of recommending to the (very wealthy) prior owner that all of them should be replaced... I can only imagine how annoyed he must have been taking it in every spring and fall for a new leaking cylinder. I have no idea why they did this - the person spent a ton of money on the car, cost no object, but, it’s what they did.