hardtop rear levers

[German Dude]

Hi all,
one of my hardtop rear tightening levers moves a lot harder than the other. How do you remove the lever from the hardtop to give it a nice clean and lube job?

Thanks.



Juergen
64 230SL #2933, 4sp, signal red, white hard top
93 Citroen XM station wagon

[Douglas]

Don't think it's advisable to remove the levers. I've heard it's quite difficult to do that and requires forcefully pounding the "pin" out from the center of the shaft.

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #016220

[Bob G ✝︎]

There is a  cone shaped bushing attached to each of the side levers. it might be that the bushing is not good or the pin at the end of the bushing are hanging up on some thing inside as the cone and levers are installed into the pitch hole.
Try and see if there is an object in the hole and if the bushings look the same on each end. Their is no direct replacment from Mercedes-Benz for these bushing but any machine shop can shape these bushings for you. I would recommend you get a copy of Gernold's article on restoring the SL hard top and read it. If you cannot fine this article send me an email with your address and I will send one to you.

Bob Geco

[German Dude]

Thanks for the input, gentlemen, and the offer, Bob.

Looks like I will try my luck with the levers installed.
Thing is, the hardtop sits in my basement and I never really put it on. I just stumbled across the lever situation as I was doing some chrome polishing.
It's a shame I never drive it with the hardtop on - I find the 568 signal red with 050 white hardtop combination to be extremely attractive - but that's just me. At least I have red rims and white hubcaps...

Juergen
64 230SL #2933, 4sp, signal red, white hard top
93 Citroen XM station wagon