Comments on: Removing the top on a Mercedes 380SL with a $25 Hoist http://halblog.com/wordpress/?p=86 Musings, thoughts, and experiences of Hal Vaughan Tue, 07 Sep 2010 23:41:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: hal http://halblog.com/wordpress/?p=86&cpage=1#comment-11484 hal Mon, 25 May 2009 01:22:17 +0000 http://halblog.com/wordpress/?p=86#comment-11484 Weather Man, Thanks for the info on that. I'll have to look into it. When I set it up, I just basically did a quick job so I could get the top off that evening -- and was just so excited to finally be able to drive out that night, in my OWN convertible, and drive through the cool night air. I got it up and it was working -- and one rule I've learned to follow from much grief in life is "if it ain't broke, don't fix it," so once I had it working, I left it as is. But you bring up two things that are VERY simple to add, so I'll probably go out and get the parts and fix it this fall, when it's time to use it again. I know of someone who leaves their soft top suspended all summer long and says he's seen no sign of warping or bending. That'd be a nice way to store it, if I could feel certain there would be no rubbing from the webbing or anything like that. Weather Man, Thanks for the info on that. I’ll have to look into it. When I set it up, I just basically did a quick job so I could get the top off that evening — and was just so excited to finally be able to drive out that night, in my OWN convertible, and drive through the cool night air. I got it up and it was working — and one rule I’ve learned to follow from much grief in life is “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” so once I had it working, I left it as is. But you bring up two things that are VERY simple to add, so I’ll probably go out and get the parts and fix it this fall, when it’s time to use it again.

I know of someone who leaves their soft top suspended all summer long and says he’s seen no sign of warping or bending. That’d be a nice way to store it, if I could feel certain there would be no rubbing from the webbing or anything like that.

]]> By: Weather Man http://halblog.com/wordpress/?p=86&cpage=1#comment-11472 Weather Man Sat, 23 May 2009 16:18:18 +0000 http://halblog.com/wordpress/?p=86#comment-11472 I'm one of those sailors you describe. You can avoid the "On mine, the rope tends to rub a bit against the sides of the blocks because of several angles and how things align..." by using a swivel block. Also I would run the tail at a right angle from the main eyebolt over to a single block or eye directly above your cleat. Have you thought of using a jam-cleat? It might make it simpler to do with one hand and is a quick release. I like your idea of webbing straps! Genius! Right now I'm looking for an old used ski rack to clamp to the gutters but if I can't find one, I'll make one from straps as you did. I'll get the stuff at Boater's World nearby which they're going out of business. I’m one of those sailors you describe.

You can avoid the “On mine, the rope tends to rub a bit against the sides of the blocks because of several angles and how things align…” by using a swivel block.

Also I would run the tail at a right angle from the main eyebolt over to a single block or eye directly above your cleat. Have you thought of using a jam-cleat? It might make it simpler to do with one hand and is a quick release.

I like your idea of webbing straps! Genius! Right now I’m looking for an old used ski rack to clamp to the gutters but if I can’t find one, I’ll make one from straps as you did.

I’ll get the stuff at Boater’s World nearby which they’re going out of business.

]]> By: Looking to buy a HardTop Hoist for my 1972 350SL - Benzworld.org - Mercedes Benz Discussion Forum http://halblog.com/wordpress/?p=86&cpage=1#comment-2721 Looking to buy a HardTop Hoist for my 1972 350SL - Benzworld.org - Mercedes Benz Discussion Forum Mon, 19 May 2008 22:04:38 +0000 http://halblog.com/wordpress/?p=86#comment-2721 [...] Originally Posted by isthisdave Sure you can suspend it from a hoist. My sister's has been suspended for but maybe a month or two for each of the last six years. I misread that sentence at first and wondered why Dave was suspending someone from the hoist! (I missed the "'s" on "sister's"!) It does give one ideas for how to handle misbehaving children. Once properly suspended, they can't reach out and do any harm. And since we're doing links, I probably should have included the link to mine when I mentioned it: Hal Blog » Blog Archive » Removing the top on a Mercedes 380SL with a $25 Hoist. [...] [...] Originally Posted by isthisdave Sure you can suspend it from a hoist. My sister’s has been suspended for but maybe a month or two for each of the last six years. I misread that sentence at first and wondered why Dave was suspending someone from the hoist! (I missed the "’s" on "sister’s"!) It does give one ideas for how to handle misbehaving children. Once properly suspended, they can’t reach out and do any harm. And since we’re doing links, I probably should have included the link to mine when I mentioned it: Hal Blog » Blog Archive » Removing the top on a Mercedes 380SL with a $25 Hoist. [...]

]]> By: Jim http://halblog.com/wordpress/?p=86&cpage=1#comment-100 Jim Fri, 25 May 2007 19:59:38 +0000 http://halblog.com/wordpress/?p=86#comment-100 Hal, Thanks for your tutorial on the construction of the pulley system. The instruction with the added photos are perfect. If you weren't a shop instruction in your past, you missed your calling. I've placed an on-line order at Harbor Freight for the 2 inch pulleys (very inexpensive) and will put it together when they arrive. Jim Hal,

Thanks for your tutorial on the construction of the pulley system. The instruction with the added photos are perfect. If you weren’t a shop instruction in your past, you missed your calling.

I’ve placed an on-line order at Harbor Freight for the 2 inch pulleys (very inexpensive) and will put it together when they arrive.

Jim

]]> By: hal http://halblog.com/wordpress/?p=86&cpage=1#comment-6 hal Sat, 07 Apr 2007 20:39:47 +0000 http://halblog.com/wordpress/?p=86#comment-6 Thank you for some good points. I didn't include the point about the smaller lever because, on my car, it doesn't. I think it worked that way on my 450SL, but for some reason, on my car, the lever stays mated to the crank handle. I tried positioning them at the same angles as in my 450SL, but it didn't work. I wonder if it's possible the mechanism was changed over the years. If you have links to the pictures of your hoist and how you've set it up, let me know. I'm sure that would help those reading these posts! Thank you for some good points. I didn’t include the point about the smaller lever because, on my car, it doesn’t. I think it worked that way on my 450SL, but for some reason, on my car, the lever stays mated to the crank handle. I tried positioning them at the same angles as in my 450SL, but it didn’t work. I wonder if it’s possible the mechanism was changed over the years.

If you have links to the pictures of your hoist and how you’ve set it up, let me know. I’m sure that would help those reading these posts!

]]> By: Denis LaCrosse http://halblog.com/wordpress/?p=86&cpage=1#comment-5 Denis LaCrosse Sat, 07 Apr 2007 18:39:37 +0000 http://halblog.com/wordpress/?p=86#comment-5 Hal: An excellent pair of articles! While many can figure the whole thing out by themselves, as you and I did (I was clueless as to how to open the top well), some on the SL blog need help. One note re top removal/replacement, hard and soft; you forgot to mention (or I missed) that the smaller lever controls the tang which locks the pin. This has caused some folks problems. I purchased a hoist, used, through ebay. It consiste of a pair of blocks, (triple, and double, with becket) and a bracket, similar to a car-top carrier, or ski/kayak carrier. It clamps, securely and safely, to the rain gutters, by the rear side windows. Once the car is in position, and everything released, I simply raise it to the roof, and tie the line off. There it can remain until I need it, hopefully no sooner than fall. Using webbing, as you describe, I would NOT think of storing it in that manner. The webbing runs under weatherstrip and seals, which will deform under these conditions. Use a storage rack, as you do. As for the strength and rigidity of the hard top; it is a little more than a square meter of sheet steel, with windows and headlining. It's built by Mercedes, remember, and is a pretty solid structure. It is my feeling (without any evidence) that it would probably survive a rollover, and protect the passengers. Storing it from a roof in the manner I describe is safe; but if it is lifted by any other purchase than the gutters, use the rack. Again, thanks for the extra work and effort- a boon to the community. Denis Hal:
An excellent pair of articles! While many can figure the whole thing out by themselves, as you and I did (I was clueless as to how to open the top well), some on the SL blog need help.
One note re top removal/replacement, hard and soft; you forgot to mention (or I missed) that the smaller lever controls the tang which locks the pin. This has caused some folks problems.
I purchased a hoist, used, through ebay. It consiste of a pair of blocks, (triple, and double, with becket) and a bracket, similar to a car-top carrier, or ski/kayak carrier. It clamps, securely and safely, to the rain gutters, by the rear side windows. Once the car is in position, and everything released, I simply raise it to the roof, and tie the line off. There it can remain until I need it, hopefully no sooner than fall.
Using webbing, as you describe, I would NOT think of storing it in that manner. The webbing runs under weatherstrip and seals, which will deform under these conditions. Use a storage rack, as you do.
As for the strength and rigidity of the hard top; it is a little more than a square meter of sheet steel, with windows and headlining. It’s built by Mercedes, remember, and is a pretty solid structure. It is my feeling (without any evidence) that it would probably survive a rollover, and protect the passengers. Storing it from a roof in the manner I describe is safe; but if it is lifted by any other purchase than the gutters, use the rack.
Again, thanks for the extra work and effort- a boon to the community.

Denis

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