Hardtop abrasions

[gugel]

My hardtop fits perfectly to my eye, but I notice after taking if off that it leaves tiny scratches on the paint just forward of the boot lid.  The hardtop gasket which touches that area is original, but seems to be in excellent shape.  The scratches are easy to polish out, but I would prefer not getting them at all.  

Does anyone else have this problem?  Does it sound like a new gasket would fix it?  Other suggestions?

Chris Earnest

Added by Admin:  'boot lid' is 'trunk lid' in US speak

[A Dalton]

A trick I use to refurbish the HT gasket is to lift open the gasket   and slip a piece of surgical tubing in the V , the full length of the gasket. This puffs them right back out . I secure the ends ...
 I also use a hard wax where they meet and I Talc the gasket..

[Tom]

Arthur,

What do you mean by you "talc" the gasket?  As in talc powder?

1971 280sl Tunis Beige Metallic (restored & enhanced)
1971 280sl Tobacco Brown (low mileage stock)
1970 280sl Deep Red (Project Car)

[A Dalton]

quote:Originally posted by Tom

Arthur,

What do you mean by you "talc" the gasket?  As in talc powder?

1971 280sl Tunis Beige Metallic (restored & enhanced)
1971 280sl Tobacco Brown (low mileage stock)
1970 280sl Deep Red (Project Car)

Yes

[Klaus]

Chris,
do you have the small rubber plug inserted into the rear center lock opening? It sort of lifts the hardtop a little bit.

Klaus
1969 280 SL

[TR]

Klaus -- I'm glad you mentioned this.  Good tip.

I just called Miller's (800/779-3774) and ordered one.  Not in stock, and a little expensive: $65, with a 1-2 week delivery.

[Vince Canepa]

$65 - wow.  If we are talking about the rubber plug that fits into the center of the top, the part # should be 113-795-11-22.  I bought two from my dealer about 18 months ago and dealer retail was $32.90/ea.

Vince Canepa
1967 250SL
113.043-10-001543
568H Signal Red
116 Caviar MB-Tex

[gugel]

Many thanks for the tips.

quote:
A trick I use to refurbish the HT gasket is to lift open the gasket and slip a piece of surgical tubing in the V , the full length of the gasket. This puffs them right back out. I secure the ends ...
I also use a hard wax where they meet and I talc the gasket..

Arthur:  Not sure I see why it helps to puff up the gasket.  Wouldn't a thinner gasket be better, to reduce the friction between it and the paint? Also, is talcum powder really safe?  It is a lubricant but also a super fine abrasive.

quote:
do you have the small rubber plug inserted into the rear center lock opening? It sort of lifts the hardtop a little bit.

Klaus:  I do have the center rubber plug, but it looks pretty squashed, so maybe I will replace it.

Chris

[A Dalton]

A flattened gasket that has lost its sealing curve is what causes
the surface wear. The hose restores the flex of the gasket surface and not only seals better, but also has less surface contact [ foot pattern] flat tire/inflated tire..
 Talc coating is a procedure  that Benz recommends on many rubber installation jobs.
 I don't believe it is abrasive, but it may be....
 I remember using it on suspension bushings and we always used it back in the old tire/tube days..
 A good, hard wax was suggested just for extra surface protection...

 Edit :
 Did some talc research and it is a very fine abrasive. But Tire Talc is the finest and used in the Aircraft industries as a rubber lube..so.. may be good with rubber as a lube , but also good as an abrasive on other surfaces..??
 I think Benzs recommends it for jobs mostly where compressing the part together, as on dry rubber it is slick..[ like the rear axle donuts and such]
??

[Vince Canepa]

The gasket does not (or should not) touch the paint.  The gasket should touch the chrome moulding on the soft top cover.  When you puff up the gasket, you are putting at little more cushion to compress if the top moves a bit as the chassis flexes, hopefully keeping the rear edge of the hardtop from touching the paint.

Vince Canepa
1967 250SL
113.043-10-001543
568H Signal Red
116 Caviar MB-Tex

[LFrank]

My since-solved search for a hardtop for my then-roadster led me to an eBay auction; a gent in Texas was auctioning what he believed to be a 113 hardtop. (Turned out tt was not.) When I queried as to its condition, he said as far as he knew it was fine.
 :?:  
"How did you acqire the top?"
"I found it."
"Found it? Where?"
"On the side of I-10."

Needless to say, it had a few "Hardtop abrasions"!

LFrank
Washington DC
65 230 sl - auto
DB334/Hellblau

[gugel]

quote:Originally posted by Vince Canepa

If we are talking about the rubber plug that fits into the center of the top, the part # should be 113-795-11-22.

I recently got a rubber plug through a local dealer, but it looks much smaller than the original.  The part number (which I got from Caliber) is 113 779 011 22.  Is this in fact the wrong part?  If so, where else on a 113 would it fit?

Chris