Hi,
I've had my '88 560sl for long time, since 2000. I used to be on Peachparts. I have a strange issue with the soft top cover I hope someone can help me with.
I was in there yesterday spraying some wd40 on the various linkages and adjusted the white plastic nut on the safety lever cable a bit. I haven't used the hard top in many years, but the last time I did, I barely got it off because of the middle rear pin and I'm hoping to make that better. I haven't tried out the hard top since yesterday's adjustment.
The soft top rear pin engaged and released fairly well, as well as since I've had the car. I left the soft top up and out of the storage area and the soft top cover open as well over night. I wanted the wd40 fumes to dissipate. Today I checked everything and it is still the same, but here is the issue. With the soft top out of the storage area and the soft top cover closed, I can't open the soft top cover. The driver and passenger latches release and I can open the cover an inch or two, but then it gets stuck and doesn't go any further. I tried all manner of pushing and pulling and it seems to be stuck near the soft top (or hard top) rear pin latch.
I figured out that if I latch the soft top rear pin and pull it down with the handle, I can then release the soft top cover and the the lid pops open as well. I have no idea why this should work. If I do it in kind of two steps, first turn the handle to release the soft top, then turn the handle further to release the cover latches, it gets stuck again and I can only open it an inch or two. I figured, OK, whatever. Then I realized if I store the soft top, I probably won't be able to do that, and I'll never get it open.
Any insight is greatly appreciated.
Regards, David
I've had my '88 560sl for long time, since 2000. I used to be on Peachparts. I have a strange issue with the soft top cover I hope someone can help me with.
I was in there yesterday spraying some wd40 on the various linkages and adjusted the white plastic nut on the safety lever cable a bit. I haven't used the hard top in many years, but the last time I did, I barely got it off because of the middle rear pin and I'm hoping to make that better. I haven't tried out the hard top since yesterday's adjustment.
The soft top rear pin engaged and released fairly well, as well as since I've had the car. I left the soft top up and out of the storage area and the soft top cover open as well over night. I wanted the wd40 fumes to dissipate. Today I checked everything and it is still the same, but here is the issue. With the soft top out of the storage area and the soft top cover closed, I can't open the soft top cover. The driver and passenger latches release and I can open the cover an inch or two, but then it gets stuck and doesn't go any further. I tried all manner of pushing and pulling and it seems to be stuck near the soft top (or hard top) rear pin latch.
I figured out that if I latch the soft top rear pin and pull it down with the handle, I can then release the soft top cover and the the lid pops open as well. I have no idea why this should work. If I do it in kind of two steps, first turn the handle to release the soft top, then turn the handle further to release the cover latches, it gets stuck again and I can only open it an inch or two. I figured, OK, whatever. Then I realized if I store the soft top, I probably won't be able to do that, and I'll never get it open.
Any insight is greatly appreciated.
Regards, David
