Buying a hoist from a new T-Bird will it work?

[n/a]

I can get a power hoist for $50.  Used to be for a T-Bird.  Any risk using it for the 280SL?  How much does that top weigh?  

Yeah I tried a search found weight for whole car and how to disassemble the hardtop.  Close but no cigar.

Any advice would be appreciated especially along the lines that a hoist is a hoist.

Look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks.

Pete
1969 280SL 4-speed

[Ed Cave]

Whether or not a hoist is a hoist depends upon the hoist itself.  

Here is what I would suggest. Figure out who the manufacturer is, go to their website and determine if they offer different setups for different cars. Most likely they will. The expensive part is the motor so purchasing and switching out a few components to make it work with your Pagoda should be relatively cheap and easy. Using a hoist set up for a different car could certainly damage your hardtop as the better ones are made to 'lift' from very specific points so as not to damage the rubber seals and headliner.

These Pagoda hard tops are quite heavy.

Ed Cave
Atlanta, GA


1971 280SL
1973 911S
2004 A4 3.0
2006 GS430

[66andBlue]

quote:Originally posted by petesl

Yeah I tried a search found weight for whole car and how to disassemble the hardtop. ..

Hardtop weighs 49 kg (109 pounds). See: http://www.pagode.info/1.htm

Alfred
1966 blue 230SL automatic

[n/a]

Thanks Ed and Alfred. I went and looked at it today. Plenty large motor, can take up to 700 lbs. Bolted up to current owner's garage cieling. At the end of the cable is a J hook.

I always wondered how one guy working even a power hoist could align the top well enough using a button on the wall. Would seem like back and forth trial and error.

But this one had a hand held on / off button on a seprate cord. Pretty slick. He would lift the top off and then lower it to the ground not letting it hang in the air when it was off. Makes sense.

Said he found some guy in San Fernado Valley (Woodland Hills?) that made the cradle to fit the T-Bird. So I'll get on line and try to buy tht part and then install.

Pete
 
 

[66andBlue]

Hi Pete,
before you finalize your plans take a look at this topic:
http://sl113.com/forums/index.php?topic=5559
And when you are done please add some pics to the topic so we know how you fixed the hoist to the ceiling.

Alfred
1966 blue 230SL automatic